A fortified mansion in the village Kastania in Laconia. It has been renovated and is in good condition. It belonged to the family of Venetsanakis.

The tower was the location of a historical battle in the aftermath of the Orlov events, in the late 18th century.

Location & Strategic Scope

Kastania is 28km NW of Gythion at the southeastern slopes of mount Taygetos. The village is also named locally Kastanitza or Mikri Kastania (small Kastania), perhaps because sometimes is confused with the village Kastania in Messinia which is not far. Also, sometimes it is called Kastania of Sminos because until 2010 it belonged to the municipality of Sminos.

History

The tower was built in the 18th century. Actually in Kastania there are two towers belonging to the Venetsanakis family. Both are preserved.

In the 1770s, one of the towers belonged to Panagiotaros Venetsanakis and his companion Konstantinos Kolokotronis, father of the hero of the Greek War of independence Theodoros Kolokotronis. The other tower belonged to the father of Panagiotaros.

Panagiotaros Venetsanakis and Theodoros Kolokotronis were prominent warlords of Peloponnese in the 18th century. They built this tower in Kastania which became their base for raids against the Turks.

In 1780 the two chieftains refused to bow down to Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha who was sent to reinstate order in Peloponnese. The Turks besieged the towers of Kastania with an army of 10,000. The defenders were only 150. The siege lasted 12 days. At the end the Greeks attempted a sortie in which most of them were killed including their two leaders, Panagiotaros and Kolokotronis.

Sources