Pass through the single gate and let the town reveal itself one vaulted lane at a time
The causeway and rock create the drama, but the lower town supplies the detail. Once through the gate, the main lane leads past small shops toward Elkomenos Christos square, while side passages reveal vaulted undercrofts, restored houses and routes to the sea wall. Do not rush only to the upper fortress; the surviving urban fabric explains how a defended town functioned with almost no level ground.
Vehicles stop outside the gate, and every visit involves cobbles, slopes and steps. Arrive early or stay overnight to experience the lanes before day traffic builds. Keep doorways clear because many buildings are homes or hotels. Download a map but allow deliberate detours, then use the archaeological collection to distinguish Byzantine, Venetian and later additions rather than treating all old stone as one period.
Good to know
Fortress town, Byzantine heritage, Cobbled lanes, Car free, and Early visit
