One of the Genoan viglas or watchtowers of the east coast of Chios. This one is at the cape “Nenita”, or “Kavo Kotsas” at the location Profitis Elias.

There are two rather unusual features here: First, the perimeter of its base is smaller that the other viglas of the island. Second, it has been built at the edge of a cliff over the coast.

The “viglas” are small medieval cylindrical towers built on the island’s capes and shores for the purpose of monitoring the sea and to give an early warning to the islanders for a possible attack by pirates or other invaders. Most of them have been erected around the 15th century (or a few decades earlier or later).

Today, 35 such watchtowers have been located on the island, twenty-four of which have been designated as listed monuments.

At short distances and in full view of one another, they constituted a coastal observation and message transmission network.

A comprehensive article about the history and the construction of the vigles of Chios, is published in the blog of Kastrologos: Βίγλες της Χίου. (In Greek only).

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