Ruins of a rectangular late-medieval watchtower of the Knights Hospitallers, part of the “chain” of coastal watchtowers protecting the island of Rhodes.
The Glyfada Bay on the Rhodian west coast below the settlement of Lakki opens in the direction of the island of Alimia. A few meters from the coast stands the watchtower.

Tower Description

General description
A few meters from the coast stands the tower probably built during the term of the Knights Hospitallers‘ Grandmaster Pierre d'Aubusson (ruled 1476-1505). While its sea-facing side has almost completely collapsed – debris from the masonry, which is made of quarry stone and large pebbles, lies on the beach and in the water – the land side is still almost at its original height (approx. 9 m). The side facing the sea was about 2 m higher because of its location in the embankment.

The tower has an approximately square floor plan (side lengths approx. 6.7 m) with a wall thickness of about 1.5 m. Its access was in the southwestern wall of the 1st floor. The tower‘s platform was probably crowned with merlons (cf. reconstructions of Poutiers 1989, p. 273; Spiteri 1994). Existing consoles are remnants of box-machicoulations. Inside the tower there were three floors; the two lower ones with beamed ceilings – five beam holes of the supporting beams on the 1st floor and a wall rebound on the floor above are remains of the former construction – the upper one a barrel vault. The room on the first floor was equipped with a fireplace.

History of the castle/tower
The tower was built during the Knights of St. John‘s (Hospitaller Knights‘) rule in the 15th century.

Other Info

Sources