Riniasa Castle

Riniasa Castle (Greek: Κάστρο Ῥινιάσας), originally known as Thomokastron (Greek: Θωμόκαστρον, lit. 'Castle of Thomas'), is a medieval Byzantine fortress on the coast of Epirus, close to the modern village of Riza near Preveza. The castle is today in a ruinous condition.

Riniasa Castle
Κάστρο Ῥινιάσας
Riza, Western Greece
Site information
Type	hilltop citadel
Owner	Greek Ministry of Culture
Controlled by	Despotate of Epirus 14th century Ottoman Empire 1463
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	ruin
Location
Riniasa Castle
Coordinates	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)

History

The castle was built (or rebuilt) by Thomas I the Despot 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 the Ottoman 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 of Despo Botsi and her family, after which it is also known as Despo's Castle (Κάστρο της Δέσπως).