Frangokastello.
Frangokastello.
CRETE
247
366. Frangokastello, fortress (Φραγκοκάστελλο, φρούριο)
366.
Frangokastello
.
E of the Frangokastello fortress are found the ruins of a three-
aisled, timber-roofed basilica with pastophories and mosaic
floors from the second half of the 6th c. The bema is occupied
by the barrel-vaulted, single-nave church of Aghios Niketas
with wall-paintings of the 13th c. W of Frangokastello survive
at a good height the ruins of one more three-aisled, timber-
roofed basilica, the bema of which was taken over by the ru-
ined, painted church of Archangel Michael (also called Aghios
Astratigos). The church of Saint John Theologos (13th c.)
and the twin-naved catholicon of Aghios Charalambos mon-
astery, W of Frangokastello, feature marble spolia from the
basilicas embedded in the walls. The quadrilateral fortress
Frangokastello, with four towers at its corners, was built in
the second half of the 14th c. (and extensively repaired), in
order to control the insubordinate inhabitants of the area. At
the nearby settlements of Patsianos and Kapsodasos are the
churches of Saint John and Aghios Athanasios, decorated in
the 14th c. Near Skaloti stands the barrel-vaulted, single-nave
church of Prophet Elias with wall-paintings dating from the first
half of the 14th c.
