The castle is at the top of a hill that overlooks the city. This hill has the shape of a pyramid.
The grandiose fortifications of Nafpaktos built in successive construction phases, climax from the ancient times to the Ottoman Empire and, in spite of the catastrophes and damage suffered remain as one of the most important and best preserved examples of castle architecture in Greece.
We cannot say with certainty what was the form of the castle in ancient times, but it is certain that the walls existed. Remains of ancient walls are still found today on the sea side as well as the western side of the castle. It is quite possible that the castle may not have always had the form it has today with the five levels. This form was given mainly during Venetian rule.
The top of the hill is surrounded by a circular wall that is 100 meters in diameter. Two arms that follow the slope of the ground come down one to the east and one to the west and once they bend they approach again to one another and close the ports entrance with two towers.
Four transverse walls join these two arms, forming five defence lines or levels from the top to the sea. The defence levels h are reduced in size as they get closer to the top and each is an independent fort.
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