The Venetian tower at Avlonari is one of the most impressive towers in Euboea.

History

The tower was apparently a Venetian construction (judging from the typical swallow-type loopholes crenelations.
From the beginning of the 14th century the island was under the control of the Catalans of the Duchy of Athens. The settlement there became the center of the region as Capitaneus Avalone. That was the origin of the modern name of the village.

But the tower was not built in that period. It must have been built later, when the Venetians prevailed in Euboea, i.e. around the end of the 14th to early 15th century.

The Ottomans occupied Euboea in 1470. During the Tourkokratia, the tower must have served as the mansion of the local agha.

The tower was repaired in the 19th century by Bavarian soldiers who stationed there after the foundation of the Greek state, during the reign of king Otto. Later the building was the town hall for many decades. It was rennovated, for a last time, in 1953.

Structure, Fortification & Buildings

The tower stands at its original height of 19m. Its basis is almost a square 8.10m✖8.05m.

Sources