| Riniasa Castle | |
|---|---|
Κάστρο Ῥινιάσας | |
| Riza,Western Greece | |
| Site information | |
| Type | hilltopcitadel |
| Owner | Greek Ministry of Culture |
| Controlled by |
|
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | ruin |
| Location | |
  Riniasa Castle | |
| Coordinates | 39°04′49″N20°21′12″E / 39.0803°N 20.3533°E /39.0803; 20.3533 |
| Height | 185 m |
| Site history | |
| Built | late 13th century/early 14th century |
| Built by | Byzantine Empire |
| Materials | hewn stone (ashlar) |
Riniasa Castle (Greek:Κάστρο Ῥινιάσας), originally known asThomokastron (Greek:Θωμόκαστρον,lit. 'Castle ofThomas'), is a medievalByzantine fortress on the coast ofEpirus, close to the modern village ofRiza nearPreveza. The castle is today in a ruinous condition.
The castle was built (or rebuilt) byThomas I theDespot of Epirus, at the beginning of the 14th century. Hence, was named Thomokastron ("Thomas' castle") or the "castle of the despotes." It was conquered by theOttoman Empire in 1463 and liberated from the Turks and the rest of Greek Epirus during the 20th century.[1][2][3] It is the site of the 1803 self-immolation ofDespo Botsi and her family, after which it is also known asDespo's Castle (Κάστρο της Δέσπως).
