Paleokastro ( meaning old castle ) lies in the eastern part of Ios on the top of the island’s highest hill. On taking the road back from Pirgos , you will end up on the beautiful, winding, stone-paved road to Paleokastro. What looks like a scenically blessed place used to be a fortified area and was originally constructed to protect the local population from frequent pirate attacks. The site is completely isolated now but the ruins allow visitors to glimpse what life might have been like in the Middle Ages. One of the ruins is a Venetian Castle dating back to the 10th Century and within the middle is a beautiful Byzantine chapel. Part of it has fallen into the sea but a few walls still remain.