The castle was built by Marco Sanudo using parts of a 6th-century BC temple dedicated to Athena.
The defensive wall was designed as a circular enclosure, a rarity for fortifications of that period in the Cyclades.
Many of the white marble blocks seen in the castle walls are salvaged temple ruins clearly visible to the naked eye.
The fortification is structurally embedded into the existing homes of the Old Town, making the distinction between 'castle' and 'private residence' blurred.
It is one of the few surviving examples of a Frankish-period castle that has been continuously inhabited for centuries.
The Frankish Castle (Kastro) of Paroikia was constructed in 1260 by the Venetian Duke of Naxos, Marco Sanudo. Its unique construction methodology incorporated salvaged marble architectural members from the ancient temple of Athena that previously occupied the site. The structure served as a defensive fortification integrated directly into the urban fabric of Parikia. It was built using a mix of stone and materials scavenged from nearby ancient monuments, including columns and triglyphs. Today, remnants of the circular wall and the foundations of the castle remain integrated into the surrounding residential architecture. The site represents a layered history where Byzantine and Venetian military construction overlaps with classical Greek ruins.
The western section where the ancient marble blocks are most visibly embedded in the Frankish masonry.
Walk the narrow alleys slowly, as the historical masonry is often incorporated into modern wall facades.
Visit the Church of Panagia Katapoliani nearby to see how the marble from the same ancient temple was reused in ecclesiastical architecture.
Wear stable, flat footwear to navigate the uneven stone pathways of the castle district.
Do not attempt to climb the remaining walls or remove loose stone fragments as souvenirs.
The area is a residential neighborhood; maintain a quiet demeanor and respect private property boundaries.
