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Kos
island
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The
Neratzia Castle
It
is situated in the entrance of the Kos harbour on a place where, in antiquity,
there was an island, communicating with the inland through a brigde, that
one sees even today (The bridge of the Phoenicians' street).
It
is formed of two defensive precincts. The interior one has four circular
Towers in the corners; the southeastern Tower forms part of the exterior
precinct, which is larger than the first, with massive bastions on the
four corners, battlements and gunports. The two precincts are separated
by a large moat and communicate with a drawbridge.
The
castle was built of local stone as well as parts of ancient buildings (columns,
architraves, bases etc.) from the ruins of the ancient city. On the upper
part of its masorry, one can see many blazons.
Over
the main gate' s one sees an hellenistic frieze with masks and garlands.
On the gates ceiling (central gate, Carmadino gate) there are basalt columns
placed obliquely, which come probably from the early christian basilica
of Limen.
On
the northen side, between the two precincts, there was a warehouse made
by the knights; it was restored during the Italian
occupation
and today is a museum, where one can see altars, sculpures and inscriptions |
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