Remains of a small castle on a rocky hill above an old quarry, NE of the village Xerochori and the settlement Riza, on the upcountry road from Xerochori to Smerna in Elis.

History

We do not know the history of the castle neither its chronology. It must have been a small medieval settlement with some fortification, which was not strong enough to be qualified as a real castle.

Xerochori is mentioned in the Chronicle of the Morea in relation to the events in Araklovon castle circa 1275, when that castle was captured by Geoffroy de Bruieres, a claimant of the title of the barony of Karytaina.
The proximity of Riza with Xerochori, together with some other characteristics mentioned in the Chronicle (small size, rocky hill, etc) generated the hypothesis that this might have been the famous Araklovon. But it is disappointingly unimposing and insignificant, while Araklovon has been identified in the 1990s by M.Kordosis with the castle above Minthi village, 10km to the east.
If Riza is not Araklovon, then probably didn't exist at the time of the Araklovon events, otherwise it would have played a role and would be mentioned by the sources.

The most probable period of construction is the end of the 14th century to the beginning of 15th century, when the status of the area was unclear and disputed between the Franks and the Byzantines of the Despotate of Mystras. Perhaps it was created by the local population for protection against the perils of turbulent times or perhaps to promote their autonomy (the place was inhabited mainly by Slavs, at the time).

Structure, Fortification & Buildings

Atop the hill there is a plateau 70m✖15m protected by a fortification (now mostly in ruins). There are remains of a wall at the northern side of the plateau. At the highest point there are the ruins of a rectangular building 25m✖18m with two rooms. It does not seem to have been a tower.

Lower, at the west and south sides, there are ruins of buildings. Here might have been the settlement protected by something that looks like an external wall.

Remains of a small fortification wall is found also at the eastern side. Antoin Bon reported the ruins of a church dedicated to Agios Georgios at the NE side of the hill.

layout by ΑΜΦΙΤΡΕΙΔΗΣ

Sources