Beş Kapılar Castle

Beş Kapılar Castle, locally known as Beş Kapılar Kalesi, lies at the harbor of the town of Foça, in the province of Izmir in Turkey.

Modern day Foça is situated on a site which was part of the ancient Greek city of Phocaea. On the small peninsula stretching into the bay also stood a Temple of Athena. It was defended by city walls following the outline of the peninsula. These walls were continually rebuilt and repaired during Byzantine, Genoan and Ottoman times.

Beş Kapılar Castle, which translates to 'Five Doors Castle', was built into a stretch of the city wall in Ottoman times, between 1538 and 1539, by Silahtar Iskender Ağa. In those days the sea would have reached the castle's walls. The castle was probably more a defensible boathouse than a real castle. It was restored in 1983.

A nice castle in a nice town, although heavily restored. Also a large stretch of city wall connected to the castle was rebuilt in recent years. The castle itself seems not to be used and is not accessible.

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