After the Saracenes and the Venetians, the Ottomans took their turn to rule the wild island of Crete. But their power over the Greeks would not last, and in 1866 unruly Crete revolted. In a last effort to keep the island under control, Grandvizier Ali Pasha built a number of small forts, or 'koules', to control the strategic Isthmus of Ierapetra. The koules of Episkopi is the central fortress, from its towers the guards could communicate with the smaller towers in Kentri and Vasiliki. Thirty years later, in 1898, the Ottoman forces were finally expelled and the fortress was abandoned. The ruins of the old fortress have since been slowly crumbling away, all but forgotten by the locals, and unnoticed by most passersby. But if you look up towards the low towers in early dusk, you might still catch a glimpse of a lonely Turkish guard, peering alternately at the northern and southern coastline, forever waiting to be relieved from duty.
No signposts lead to this derelict fortress, so use the waypoints to find your way up. It is a fifteen minute walk from the main road, mostly on dirt roads. As there is no official path, you'll have to scramble the last one hundred meters through an olive grove and thorny mountain herbs.
Entering the fortress is at your own risk, and I would advise against climbing into the small catacomb or the few still standing rooms.
No luck finding the cache? Try hint and spoiler picture.
Many thanks to OMILOS for agreeing to assist in maintenance!
FTF: Bernielog
STF: Dani&Michi
TTF: strobilus
Συγχαρητήρια!