A castle on a rock above the sea, a marble drinking fountain in the square and wall paintings in a small church: Kritinia can be explored through specific historical features. These places offer different perspectives, from the square with its dated fountain to the castle in the nearby area. The name Kastellos also appears in two contexts: as Kritinia’s former name and as another name for the castle.
The Square, Fountain and Church
A marble drinking fountain stands in Kritinia’s square. It was built by the Italians in 1914. Its material and date offer a specific, dated insight into the village’s architectural history; its construction is attributed to the Italians. There is also a small café in the square, beneath the shade of an old plane tree. If you plan to stop there, check in advance whether the café is open.
Just a few metres from the square is the small Church of Saint John. It has wall paintings dating from the 16th century. Together, the church and fountain offer a specific comparison: the fountain is notable for its marble and the year 1914, while the wall paintings and their historical period are the focus at Saint John. These are different cultural traces, close to one another but telling different stories. For travellers interested in culture, these features help ensure that Kritinia is not reduced to a single building.
The Castle and Village History
Kritinia Castle is in the nearby area, on a rock above the sea, and is also called Kastellos. During the Italian occupation, it served as a naval base. The castle contains the remains of the buildings where the guards lived, as well as the ruins of the Catholic Church of Hagios Pavlos, also called Saint Paul. The castle is therefore notable not only for its position above the sea, but also for its associated remains and former use. The church ruins also give the castle grounds a distinct religious connection.
Kritinia itself was formerly called Kastellos and was renamed Kritinia in 1948. When the name Kastellos appears, it may therefore refer either to the village’s former name or to the castle; these two references should be distinguished. The dates provide a chronological context for this pair of names: the wall paintings date from the 16th century, the fountain was built in 1914, and the renaming took place in 1948. By contrast, the castle’s use as a naval base is linked to the period of the Italian occupation.
Kritinia for Travellers Interested in Culture
To decide whether Kritinia is right for your trip, you can consider the village according to your interests. If you want to explore buildings and historical names, you’ll find the square, church and castle here; if you’re mainly interested in art history, the wall paintings in the small Church of Saint John offer a specific starting point. The fountain adds a precisely dated architectural feature with the year 1914. When looking for hotels in Kritinia, this cultural profile can help you get a sense of the destination; you can then choose accommodation according to your individual travel requirements.
Discover more destinations: Rhodes, Faliraki, KremastĂ, Monolithos, Profilia, Haraki, Lakhaniá, Kastellorizon
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