THE ACROCORINTH
VIEW FROM THE FIRST GATE. CORINTH, GREECE
Image Number 298
The Acrocorinth is one of the largest castles in Greece and one of the great fortresses of Europe.. It sits atop a rocky hill 1,800 feet high overlooking the famous city and harbour of Corinth. Its strategic location close to the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow strip of land connecting the Peloponnese with the rest of Greece, makes it one of the most important castles in the country. Acrocorinth is such an obvious point for defense that there’s been a castle here for more than 2,500 years – Greeks, Romans, the Crusaders, Venetians and Turks. The Venetians took the castle from the Ottomans in 1687 and many of the walls visible today are their handiwork. After a long war the Ottomans retook Acrocorinth, only to lose it for good to the Greeks in 1823 during the War of Independence. The view from the top is entrancing. Corinth lies at your feet, with the Aegean stretching beyond. Many visitors to the rugged hilltop with its medieval walls, Crusader keep, and remnants of temples, churches, and mosques find themselves entirely alone. Places like this are best seen in silence and solitude.
TECHNICAL NOTES
The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 200. Exposure of 1/500th of a second and aperture F5.6. 45 mm Phase One lens with focal plane shutter. The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.