Paleokastro

Paleokastro is located on the eastern side of Ios, between Agia Theodoti and Psathi, on a hill that dominates the coast of the island and offers an unobstructed view to Paros, Naxos, Amorgos and the Small Cyclades. The site is easily accessible and the visitor must take the road from Chora to Psathi by car or KTEL bus and follow the stone-paved path to the top on the hill of Paleokastro. The Venetian castle was built to protect the island from pirates in 1397, by the Venetian Marco Crispus and was probably based on a pre-existing Byzantine castle.

Inside the castle there is the picturesque church of Panagia Paleokastritissa. Several sections of the castle walls are preserved on the edge of the cliff and a part of it has already fallen from the rocks into the sea.