This Genoese fortress, whose dramatic walls dominate the town centre, was built in 1508 and repaired by Sultan Beyazıt II, son of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror (Mehmet Fatih), to defend the coast from attack by pirates. Later, the Rhodes-based Knights of St John of Jerusalem also made use of it. The battlements offer excellent views of Çeşme, and it’s good to walk around inside – under arches, up and down steps, and through towers.
