On a hilltop of the west entrance of the Macedonian Straits, was once built the castle of Rendina. It was protecting the byzantine settlement and had the complete control of the passage at the same time. The now ruined castle was built on the ancient Via Egnatia, in a place where a roman fortress was constructed during the Justinian era. It used to be also a temple of the goddesses of Athena and Aphrodite. During the 10th century this same place became the seat of the diocese of Liti and Rendina. Three churches were built upon and within the already existing buildings. The site is a historic one as it has been continuously inhabited since the ancient times to the early years of the Turkish rule. The city Atherousa of Mygdonia where the poet Euripides was living and according t the legend was killed by the dogs of Arcellaos, was also in that same area. The story of this castle during the years is similar as that of Macedonia; in 1204 it was occupied by the Frankish crusaders and passed into the jurisdiction f the Epirus. During the 2nd Byzantine civil war in 1342, it was occupied by Ioannis Kantakouzinos. The Paleologean era was decisive for its development as repairs and newly built fortifications took place. A small temple with a dome ruins of which exist up to this day was also constructed at that time. Rendina was occupied successively by the Serbs, the Greeks and the Turks in 1383 and then again by the Greeks in 1402. Then for 400 years the Ottomans had the control. That was the time when the decline of the castle started.