Chalcis, Evia: Karababa Castle

The site of the castle is said to be on the ancient town of Kanitho as traces of buildings and graves have been found on the surface of the ground. The hill was probably fortified for the first time during the Roman period but it is certain that it had no fortifications during the Byzantine period ,the Venetian occupation and the first centuries of the Turkish domination.
The fortress which exists today was built by the Turks in 1684 for the purpose of protecting Chalkida from the Venetians. It was designed by Beneto Gerolimo Galopo and its architecture is more European than Turkish. The fort was unsuccessfully besieged by Morozini in 1688 and the Turks were able to maintain their domination until the liberation of Greece.
The Karababa castle is situated on Viotias hill which is called Fourna.It is in a strategic position as it controls the Strait of Euripus and the city of Chalkida.
It is of Venetian style with an oblong enclosure, orientated east-west, with a rampart on the northern side, three bastions and a large tower. The southern part of the wall is in very bad condition. Ancient architectural structures have been built into some parts of the enclosure. The most complex hexagonal bastion can be found on the eastern side overlooking Chalkida. On the ramparts there are two Russian cannons, dating from the 19th century. The only column in the fortress can be found on the south-east side of the wall which is surrounded by buildings of a military nature. On the eastern wall of the enclosure, between the column and the eastern tower, there is a bell tower built where the emergency bell of the fortress existed. The only well-preserved building inside the enclosure is the Chapel of the Prophet Elijah which was built in 1895.At the end of the western wall there is a seven-sided tower the dignified defence building of the fortress. The entrance to the tower is from a narrow archway which looks like a labyrinth.