KYRENIA
CASTLE
description - 1
Other sources: Dreghorn, Jeffery, Internet
castles
Cyprus overview | description - 2 The medieval remains
of this imposing fortress are in a much mutilated condition. The original
plan was a large square court surrounded by ranges of buildings against
the four curtain walls. At each angle of the square were large square
towers, of which that on the north-east angle was planned diagonally
to the rest. The entrance to the Castle was across the moat on the west
side, there is also a sally port on the north.
The entrance to
the Castle still survives within
the constructions of the XVIth century. The main archway is preserved
with the windows of two stories above it. This archway was defended
by a barbican which must have stood on about the same foundation as
the remarkable XVIth century wall, and carried the drawbridge.
As the Castle Gate is in a wall at right angles with the position of
the barbican there must have been some kind of platform in front of
the entrance. All this portion of the outer defence has disappeared,
and we can only follow the general outline of the medieval fortification
seen through the later additions.
The upper story above the entrance was occupied by a chapel of which
the apsidal plan is easily traced and the vestry on the north side is
perfectly preserved. The vestry has an elegantly trefoiled arch over
its door, within this is an almost obliterated cross of a floriated
pattern.
The entrance to the medieval Castle was perhaps its most singular and
picturesque feature. It is not clear where the main barbican may have
stood, but probably it protected the end of the moat-bridge towards
the town; at the other end of this bridge, against the curtain wall,
there seems to have been a platform in front of the main Castle Gate
which was presumably defended by an outwork or second barbican.
The Castle Gate facing north in a kind of recess within the line of
the curtain wall was on the right hand of a person crossing the bridge,
and on the left at the base of the north-west tower of the Castle stood
a church on the small space forming a continuation of the platform overlooking
the harbour. This little church still survives. It was enclosed by the
Venetians in their additions to the Castle and now forms a singular
subterranean chamber within the great circular tower of the XVIth century.
It certainly must be the 'S.
Giorgio del Castello' referred to
in mediaeval records of benefactions (De Mas Latrie).
The
chapel of St. Giorgio del Castello is a square vaulted building which
formerly had a circular cupola in the middle supported on arches carried
by four marble columns with Byzantine capitals. The appearance of the
interior is at first sight ancient and interesting, but on investigation
it will be found that it is in all probability a mere rebuilding, of
a very rough kind, of the original church. One of the columns is missing,
and the doors and windows now blocked up look like rough imitations
of those in the older building. The only means of lighting the chapel
in the XVIth century was by small windows in the cupola.
