Davlia Castle #1233

Description

Davlia was once known as the Catalan fortress "La Dablia," though few remains from the medieval era survive today. Most of the ruins are from the Hellenistic and Classical periods. The base of the walls appears to date back to the Pelasgian era, built with polygonal and rectangular stones. The fortification forms a circular shape, with the only entrance located on the northwest side, protected by two towers. Of these towers, only the left one belongs to the original ancient wall, while the right one is a later medieval addition, evidence of the long-term use of the Acropolis of Davlia.

The medieval walls are mostly preserved around the gate area, while the rest of the standing walls date from the Hellenistic period. The main entrance to the acropolis is known as "Sideroporta."

Inside the castle are the ruins of the church of St. Theodore, where Christian and pagan traditions meet. The medieval church was built on the foundations of the ancient temple of Athena Polias, and some of its construction materials were taken from the ancient temple. Some columns, as well as parts of the church’s synthronon, still survive today.

At the top of the hill, where the Army's Geographical Service column is located, the remains of a tower were discovered relatively recently, in 1984. The tower is preserved to a height of about 2 meters, with dimensions of 5 by 5 meters. The walls are approximately 0.80 meters thick.