Impressive formations of honeycomb weathering appears on the volcanic rocks of the hill on which the medieval castle of Myrina is constructed.

The volcanic rocks comprise a large volcanic dome that formed 19 million years ago as a result of andesitic lava penetrating pre-existing rocks. The erosion of the surface rocks revealed Myrina’s volcanic dome. On the surface of these volcanic rocks, modern erosion processes have created large or small erosion caverns in the rocks such as these “tafoni,” or honeycomb structures.

“Tafoni” are the formations which created by the differential erosion of the rock surface, caused primarily by the features of the rock (granular composition, strength, lithology), but also by external factors.

The term “tafoni” is derived from the Corsican word for “window” and is used around the world to characterize these distinctive structures of erosion found mostly in igneous rocks.