The castle was built to defend the southern coast of Cyprus and the harbor town of Larnaca. The article says it is not clear when the Byzantine fort was first built, though archaeological research suggests the late 12th century. Between 1382 and 1398, under James I, the small fort was upgraded into a more substantial castle. It names no architect, client or materials.
The traveler Giovanni Mariti theorized that the Ottomans built it, citing its Turkish style and inscriptions, but the article presents this only as a theory. The castle was semi-ruined by the 18th century. Under British rule it was a prison with a gallows, and the last execution took place in 1948.
After independence it became a museum, with a courtyard open-air theater for 200 people. The Department of Antiquities owns it. The article gives no hours or fees.
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