A Road Trip in the Peloponnese
Third Destination: Koroni
The city Koroni is located on the southern edge of the Messinian Gulf and the castle built on the Akritas cape. The castle was built by the Venetians in the 13th century and strengthened by the Ottomans in the 16th century. Similar to the Bourtzi in the castle of Methoni, the Castle of Koroni has also an octagon tower constructed by the Ottomans. In the center of the castle of Koroni, there is the monastery of Saint John the Baptist, the graves of the founders of the monastery, the ruins of a small cruciform basilica, and the church of Saint Sophia dating from the twelfth century.
Travelers' Views
The view of the city and the fortress was drawn by the Italian cartographer and encyclopedist Vincenzo Maria Coronelli in 1687. The drawing depicts the disposition of the troops and cannonry during the siege of the city by the Venetians in 1685. The 17th century map portrays that the castle was used as a military center and the majority of the inhabitants of Koroni resided outside of the fortresses, where the modern town of Koroni is located. During this period, the city was ruled by the Ottomans, therefore we see a mosque inside the fortress and also two Ottoman flags on the top of two fortresses. The person on the left corner with chains around his neck and elbow is a Turkish-Muslim person that symbolizes the weakened state of the Ottoman Empire. The siege of Koroni was led by the Venetians against the Ottoman army. The siege ended with the Venetian’s victory and they ruled the city until 1714 the second Ottoman rule of the city. http://eng.travelogues.gr/item.php?view=42901
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The following picture is drawn by the Austrian officer and author Amand Schweiger Lerchenfeld (1846-1910). In 1873, Lerchenfeld made his first trip to Italy and in 1875 he traveled in Greece. Lerchenfeld published his memoirs of his travels and also wrote a travel guide to Greece in 1890. This drawing displays Koroni in the 19th century. According to the painting, during this period the walls of the castle were fully standing, and the town inside the castle was still used. The painting has a more romantic style with the fisherman and the sailing boat that passes in front of the impressive castle.
The Church of Saint Sophia
The Church of Saint Sophia is built in 12th century on the ruins of an
Ancient Greek temple. It is situated across the monastery of Saint John the Baptist.
The view from the Church of Panagia Eleistria
