Besides the village within the citadel, there must have been a caravanserai somewhere near the water, serving travellers, merchants, and soldiers using the only land route that connected western Central Greece and Epirus. Here they could find shelter and security for themselves and their goods. The caravanserai were usually spread at regular intervals dictated by the distance covered by the main pack animals of the day (camels, mules, donkeys, and horses), meaning a traveller could expect to find one every 30 km or so. Eventually, the caravanserai could act as growth poles that facilitated the growth of market towns and charitable institutions.