The Bonifacio Castle is located west of the modern village Kastelli of Monifatsio (old name: Tsifout Kastelli), 44km south of Heraklion, on a hill now called Apano Kasteli or Psilo Aloni. The fort is in the records since 1212 and was built by the Genoan pirate Enrico Pescatore.

Pescatore named it Castel Bonifacio, after a castle in Corsica, which was built by Bonifacio Pisano and was captured by the Genoans in 1195.

When the Venetians evicted Pescatore from Crete and Bonifacio fell into their hands, acknowledged its importance, so they repaired it and upgraded to a seat of the 'master of the castle', the Castellan of Bonifacio.

In 1230, Bonifacio was attacked by Cretan rebels during the uprising of Skordilis and Melissinos. The rebels, under the commands of the Byzantines, occupied several forts of Crete, but they failed to occupy Bonifacio as they encountered strong resistance from the Venetian Cataldo Avonale.

The modern province of Monofatsi takes its name after the fort.
The fort was fortified with walls, interrupted by square towers. A tower protected the main gate on the south side and another tower dominated at the highest point of the castle.
Today the fortress is in ruins, with only a few walls still standing. Inside the fort, there is still the paved path leading to its center where you can still see the remains of some buildings, a domed church and a large water tank.

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