Castle Koskina (or Castle of Nikaria or Castle of Messaria) is located in the village Kosoikia, in the middle of the island. It used to be the strongest fortification of the Byzantine city Dolichi. It was built by the Byzantines on the top of a hill in the 10th century in order to host a small military unit that could oversee the surrounding area and the sea routes. Parts of the wall surrounding the top of the hill can still be seen nowadays. There is also the church of St. George Dorgana, a vaulted basilica, within which you can see columns of ancient buildings. On the northwest slope of the hill below the castle, you will see the remnants of an ancient settlement. The Castle was strengthened when the Genoese (1362-1481) were on the island, but was deserted when they decided to leave the island and go to Chios. Ikaria then came under the possession of the Hospitallers Knights of Rhodes until the middle of the 16th century, when the Turks took over. The history of the Castle is kept alive in legends and medieval folk songs, such as the "Riva of the Castle of Nikaria", which describes the conquest of Ikaria from the Genoese.
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