Lavra monastery, Athos
Tower of Morfonou
| Location: |
| Dependency of Megisti Lavra Monastery, Athos mountain |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| Athos Mount Athos | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
• Lavra monastery | |
| Altitude: | |
| Elevation ≈ 70 m |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| 16th century | Post-BYZANTINE  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Castle-Monastery |
Average
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Morfonou Tower is what remains of the old monastery of Amalfinon, one of the first major monasteries of Mount Athos, founded in the 10th century by seven monks from Amalfi, Italy. The monastery -and the tower- was built in the 10th or 11th century.
With the decline of Byzantium, the community of the Amalfi merchants in Constantinople declined also. The monastery was finally abandoned after the Fourth Crusade. Deserted by monks, it was granted in 1287 by Andronikos II Palaiologos to the Monastery of Megisti Lavra.
Apparently, the tower remained in use -probably to support the defense of the area against pirates. It was refurbished in the 16th century and essentially a new fortification was built over the old byzantine tower.
| First entry in Kastrologos: | November 2012 |
Sources
- «Οχυρωματικοί πύργοι του 16ου αιώνα στις Μονές του Αγίου Όρους», Πασχάλης Ανδρούδης, Πρακτικά Στ’ Επιστημονικού Συνεδρίου "ΤΟ ΑΓΙΟΝ ΟΡΟΣ στον 15ο και 16ο ΑΙΩΝΑ", σελ.487, ΑΓΙΟΡΕΙΤΙΚΗ ΕΣΤΙΑ, Θεσσαλονίκη 2012
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| Access |
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| Approach to the monument: |
| The outer side of the peninsula of Athos is approached by boat from Ierissos which docks at the port of Lavra monastery, south of which is this isolated tower. |
| Entrance: |
| You need a special permit and 25€ entrance fee to visit mount Athos. Women are not allowed in. |
| Similar |
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| Arsanas of Zografou Monastery |
| Tower of Panagia of Vatopedion |