Medieval tower house at a distance of 100 meters from the church of Agia Paraskevi. The site is located on the slope of a hill, 3 km north of Dafnonas in Chios.

History

The wider area of Dafnonas – fertile and with lots of water – is scattered with remains of Byzantine and Genoese tower houses, about which very little is known. They may have been the residences of landowners (Genoese or Greek) or they may have been towers of Nea Moni (something like the towers of Halkidiki which were administrative centers of the dependencies of Mount Athos). The latter is possible given that Nea Moni owned the area until 1912 (unknown since when, probably after the 17th century).
Some of these buildings are Paphylida, Lavrina tower, Efta tower, Kanavoutsato, Vestarchato, Stratigato, Agia Paraskevi etc.

We know nothing about the history of this particular tower. It does not appear to be a monastic tower, but rather a manor house. It probably belongs to the time when the island of Chios was occupied by the Genoese (1346-1566), so the most likely construction period is around the 15th century (or a little before, a little after).

The complex consists of the central two-story building, the enclosure –at a sufficient height– and a roofed gate. The building on the north side abuts the enclosure. Next to the entrance there is a battlement.

Sources