Palaiokastro or Paliokastro (Greek: Παλαιόκαστρο, Παλιόκαστρο) is a coastal village located 9 km west of Heraklion on the island of Crete. It is situated in front of a 70 meter long pebbled beach leading to a cove with rapidly deepening waters that are protected from the prevailing northerly winds. On the southern end of the beach rises a steep calcareous rock. During the Venetian occupation of Crete extensive fortifications were built on this rock, housing cannons that secured the bay of Heraklion. Ruins of the fortress walls survive until today.