Ruins of a rectangular late-medieval watchtower (vigla) at Cape Kasaro on the west coast of Rhodes, next to Monolithos Castle, built by the Knights of St John (Hospitaller Knights).

Tower Description

General description
Cape Kásaro is a peninsula west-southwest of Monólithos castle, not far from the village of Monolithos. The ruins of the small rectangular, heavily destroyed tower stand on a now nearly inaccessible, north-facing cliff over a narrow bay used as a boat harbour. Its masonry identifies it as a tower of the Knights of St John. The tower may have controlled a small port which belonged to Monólithos castle.
On the peninsula of Kásaro itself, whose plateau was perhaps fortified in antiquity and/or Byzantine times, foundations are recognizable and in its vicinity are countless fragments of bricks and ceramics.

Access (route / entrance)
Getting there by car: From the village of Monolithos (direction Monolithos Castle/Kástro), branch to the little church of St George.
Hike to the tower: From the village of Monolithos via the road (approx. 7 km) or over partly still preserved old mule trails (Monopatia) in combination with road sections (difficult for non-locals to find), direction St. George/Aj. Ioannis church approx. 4,5 km.
Access to the tower only for climbers. The tower is clearly visible from the shore.

History of the castle
The tower was built in the context of the construction of the watchtower system of the Order of the Knights of St. John (Hospitaller Knights) on the island of Rhdos towards the end of the 15th century, when the Knights started to built a “chain of watchtowers” around the island. Details and exact dates are not known.

Other Info

Sources