Mylopotamos Castle in Kythira was built by the Venetians in 1566. The carved lion of Saint Markos, a symbol of Venetian domination, still adorns the central gate of the castle. The lion holds a book with the inscription: PAX TIBI MARCE EVANGELISTA MEUS, MDLXV ('Peace to you Evangelist Marco, 1565'). Obviously there was an older settlement there, since at least the 14th century, that gradually was developed and after the destruction of other parts of the island in 1537, it became more impoortant and was rebuilt. The position controls the west coast of Kythira and the Ionian sea, but the primary usage of the fortification was rather the protection of the local population.
Narrow streets and semi-ruined two-storey houses mostly with flat roofs, travel the visitors back in time. The ground floor of the houses used to serve as warehouses while access to the upper floor was through an external stone staircase. Inside the castle there are the remains of nine single-aisle churches of the 16th-17th century decorated with Byzantine and post-Byzantine frescos.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.