On a hill on the northwestern slope of Mount Varassova, east of Perithori, there is a small fortress, known as Palaiokastro, reached by a dirt road that starts east of the village. Today, part of the fortress walls are preserved, while the naturally steep terrain has been exploited to defend the site.
The castle is mentioned by Piero Sanudo, and is recorded too by the Venetian chronicler Marin Sanudo as one of the four important fortresses (Galatas, Perithori, Uromiari and Neokastro) that existed during the Venetian occupation in the wider area of Nafpaktos. These fortresses functioned as ‘gates’, as they controlled the three roads leading to Nafpaktos.
It is said of the Fortress of Perithori at the end of the 15th century that, despite its important position, it was now in a state of neglect. In particular, it is described as having its walls in poor condition and without their binding mortar in many places, the cistern was broken, ammunition was short – and its small garrison was not well paid.
