Location: south of Sangri, in the central part of the island.

 

Description: Its name derives from “apaliries”, a kind of bush that sprouts at the Kastro. This is a strong Byzantine structure in which Genovese priates in 1207 had entrenched themselves. Marco Sanudo, wanting to conquer the Kastro, set fire to his fleet’s ships and called on his comrades to fight for the Kastro’s seizure, or die.

 

The Kastro was especially fortified and the pirates’ defense vigorous, but Sanudo’s warriors, after five weeks of a choking blockade, managed to take over the island and become lords and masters. After that, Sanudo founded the Aegean Duchy that endured for about four centuries.