Castle of Ano Poula or Castle of Makryna or Ano Kipoula
The flat plateau of Ano Poula was the citadel of the ancient city of Ippola. At a higher altitude from the village of Kipoula (Kippoula), there is the Castle of Ano Poula, with a unique view of the entire Mesa (inland) Mani and the sea.
On the steep sides of the Ano Poula plateau, there are many small caves (called thyrides - lockers), and for this reason, it has been mentioned with the name of Cape Thyrides (Lockers) since antiquity. It is a complex of small ruined settlements protected by a stone-built defence wall. The dating of the wall and the settlements is not known to us. According to some scholars, Ano Poula is considered a possible location of the castle of Grand Mainis, which, as mentioned in the Chronicle of Moreas, was built by Villarduin in 1248 on a steep rock.
The castle was built by locals who had no special knowledge of fortification techniques and, most likely, during the Middle Byzantine period. In fact, at that time, the castle proved to be a safe haven with the advent of piracy and the Saracens. Later, the castle passed into the hands of the family of the Niklians, and it became their family base. During the Kapodistrian period, pirates from Kipoula had an active presence in the area of Cavo Grosso.
On the east side of the Ano Poula plateau, there is a wall 400 metres long. We have no information about the construction of the megalithic fortification. Nevertheless, we can undoubtedly say that the wall is neither Frankish nor Post-Byzantine, as it is too bulky for the time, without plaster. On the west side, there is no fortification since the cliff and the sea naturally protect it. Remains of observatories, gates, tanks and loopholes can be seen on the wall. The megalithic construction consists of irregular stones without binder mortar. The height of the wall does not exceed 3 meters.
At Ano Poula, there are six settlements, one of which is lower than the plateau, on the slope. The three settlements are located inside the walled section. In the largest, with an area of 30 acres and with the ruins of 25 houses, there are the churches of Agios Theodoros and Agios Georgios. In fact, for some reason, they are built very close to each other. On the south side of the plateau, there are four more settlements. In total, at Ano Poula, inside and outside the fortification, there are scattered ruins of 70 houses and 7-8 churches.
Finally, at the southern end of the plateau, not far from the last settlement of the castle, there is a hill almost above Cape Grosso. On this hill, there is another castle, known as the Castle of Oria or Ohia (Viper). This castle is also one of the candidates for the legendary castle of Great Mainis.