In the area of the village of Kochylos, on a hill-top plateau at 560 m, sits the Epano Kastro or the Castle of Kochylos (or Faneromeni or Gria). Research at Epano Kastro was carried out from 2004 to 2010 by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
The structure dates to the early phase of the Venetian rule (13th century), while extensive repairs were made during the time of the Turkish rule. Of the Castle set-up, parts of the fortification’s enclosure, towers, the triangular fortification of the final point of refuge (donjon), the church of Faneromeni, ruins of a shrine, and cisterns, as well as the remains of houses across the plateau have all survived. The Castle Gate is probably located in the northern wall of the enclosure, near the massive circular tower.
Bibliography Deligianni-Dori E., “Η έρευνα στο Επάνω Κάστρο της Άνδρου. Μερικές σκέψεις, Δελτίον Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, 4th series, vol. 27, Athens 2006, 471-480. Deligianni-Dori E., Νεότερα από το Επάνω Κάστρο: Οι ανασκαφές το 2009 και 2010 και ένα σύντομο οδοιπορικό, Άγκυρα. Δελτίο της Καϊρείου Βιβλιοθήκης 4 (2012), Andros 2006, 33-49.
