Fortress of Trikala

Meteora & Thessaly


Trikala’s castle crowns a hilltop just back from the northern side of the river, 400m west of the central squares. Although it stands on the site of Trikala’s ancient acropolis, its surviving incarnation dates from the Ottoman era. You can’t enter the castle itself or the 16th-century clock tower that’s set slightly apart, but the surrounding gardens make for a pleasant stroll, and there’s a good cafe on a terrace immediately below.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Meteora & Thessaly attractions

1. Varousi

0.09 MILES

The Varousi quarter, just east of the fortress, was home to Trikala’s wealthiest Christians under Ottoman rule. Their fine old mansions, sporting…

2. Sanctuary of Asclepius

0.19 MILES

A grassy fenced-off enclosure, 200m west of Plateia Iroon Polytechniou towards the fortress, is stubbled with the ruins of what’s said to be the ancient…

3. Tsitsanis Museum

0.66 MILES

Trikala's best museum, housed in the city’s former Ottoman baths (later a prison), houses an intriguing and unusual mixture of exhibits. Displays…

4. Osman Shah Mosque

0.76 MILES

The amazing brick-built dome of this imposing mosque, built in the 16th century for the nephew of Süleyman the Magnificent, rises above the southern…

5. Theopetra Cave

9.43 MILES

Theopetra Cave, 7km southeast of Kalambaka, has been closed to visitors since 2016 due to the fear of landslides. Its first human occupation has been…

6. Church of Porta Panagia

10.61 MILES

To reach this superb little 13th-century Byzantine church in a lovely riverside setting, cross the Portaikos river in modern Pyli, 18km southwest of…

7. Moni Agiou Vissarion

10.74 MILES

Founded during the 16th century, Moni Agiou Vissarion sustained heavy damage during the Greek struggle for independence, though its central church still…

8. Natural History & Mushroom Museum

12.12 MILES

Once you pass its forbidding modern exterior, this museum comes as a quirky surprise. Downstairs, dioramas display stuffed birds and animals ranging from…