Περιγραφή προϊόντος

One of the best preserved castles of Evia dominates imposing atop a rocky and steep hill in sheets.

The history of the castle is connected with the life of the legendary knight Likario, who was active in the 13th century, so it would be good to know some things about the history of this person.

He was a poor knight in the service of the ruler of Central Evia Guiberto Dalle Carceri. The origin of his father was from the Italian city of Vicenza and his mother said came from Karystos.

The Likario fell in love and secretly married nice Feliza, protected the family Carceri. Then, the relatives and the prince himself terribly annoyed and react to couple with insults and humiliations. The Likario, embittered and angry, returned to Karystos and settled on a rocky froutio the area, called “Anemopylai”. Determined to revenge created a horde of warriors with whom scattered terror in neighboring areas.

These attacks did not meet the Likario who hungered for more revenge. So he came in contact with the Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus and proposed to undertake on behalf of Byzantine allegiance of all feudal Frankish Evia, provided that it will given enough military forces. The emperor accepted his proposals and then began a very painful for the Franks war in the form of raids. One after the other the Frankish castles of Evia fell into the hands of Likario and his army. After the fall of the mighty castle of Karystos “Castel-Rosso”, the Likario richly rewarded by the emperor.

Moreover, Michael spent the brave knight over the island as a fief and gave him as wife a noble and rich Greek woman who took the position of fatal for Feliz Evia. He even honored with the highest offices, those of Great Kontostavlos and Megadouka. Revenge of Likario completed when the great enemy, Baron Guilberto Dalle Carceri so hard that he had humiliated, was taken prisoner in the emperor’s court and died after seeing the formerly obscure knight to enjoy the friendship and favor of Michael.

Returning from Constantinople in Euboea, the Likario triumphant now, chose for permanent residence powerful fortress Sheets. Since then, his name disappeared from history and do not know even the end of the legendary knight.

The residence while his base Likario, the familiar “Kastelli” experienced in the 13th century great glories. Today, however, has been abandoned and anyone who wants to visit it must pass a number of difficulties due to soil roughness until you reach the top of the hill. ((From summer 1999 the newly Lilantia began a series of works for the cleaning of the premises and the easiest access to the fort, the access road construction has improved. Considered by the municipality and the Mayor as prime importance work the restoration of the historic fort and works in this direction)). Anyone climb into Castelli despite quitting are sure to be rewarded by the magnificent views offered. But the castle itself is very impressive, as several parts kept well and have the magical power to take us back in time.

The best preserved sides of the castle is the north and west, looking respectively to Afrati and Halkida, while the southeast is almost completely destroyed.

Once you finish the road leading to Castelli, the visitor first sees the ruins of the east side and then passes inside the castle. He discovers that the high wall that faced by low includes a mansion mansion in the west and other auxiliary buildings. The interior of the mansion that had two floors is sufficiently large. At the top of the rubble where the second floor was the private chambers of the master, are preserved in the wall or window openings, arched and decorated with ceramic plates, arranged with great diligence, according to the Byzantine decorative architecture.

Next to the ruins of the palace are the remains of other buildings that served the needs of the building people. A fact of these buildings (the local) is internally coated with a protective mortar. Behind these ruins rises, in good condition, part of the castle walls, separated from the remains of these buildings with a narrow straight corridor almost invisible.

Inside are preserved even stone stairs leading up to the wall of the northern side. When visitors climb these stairs, unfolds in front of the central Evia and a large part of the southern Evian gulf. At the same panoramic views and had his warriors when behind the ramparts vigilantly watched and controlled the movement down to the plain.

It is worth to highlight the key elements of the whole defensive philosophy castle Sheets. First, the selection of a dominant, but extremely inaccessible location, so it is not easy nor approach, neither the transport of siege machines from the enemy. Second, the construction of a wall with at least one tower or a fort inside, where the residence of the ruler was also the hall for all important social events of the castle’s inhabitants.

Once these walls were besieged by the Turks … Today some modern Greeks barbarians leave their own marks …

Let us recall, finally, that when the Turks conquered Euboea in mid 15th Century, the castle was handed over to them by treaty. Then they demolished part of the walls to render inoperable as a fortress. Since then, the castle remains Likario deserted and forgotten hilltop, reminding our old glorious times.