Kastrologos

Castles of Greece
 

Pyrgadikia, Aristotelis, Chalkidiki,Central Macedonia

Tower of Perigardikeia

  
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Location:
On a low hill of Kampos beach 2km northeast of Pyrgadikia in Chalkidiki
Region > Prefecture: Greek Map
Central Macedonia
Chalkidiki
Municipality > Town:
City of Aristotelis
• Pyrgadikia
Altitude:
Elevation ≈ 8 m 
Time of Construction   Origin
Early 15th cent.  
Late-BYZANTINE
H 
Castle Type   Condition
Tower  
Rather Poor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ruins of another monastic tower in Chalkidiki.


History

This was one of the more than 70 towers which protected the dependencies of the Monasteries of Mount Athos in Chalkidiki. The tower of Perigardikeia was part of a dependancy (metochi) named Perigardikeia that belonged to the Docheiarion monastery. According to Athos documents, the area belonged to the monastery since 1037.

Perigardikeia means “around Gardikeia”. “Gardikeia” was a common name for remote places. Later “Perigardikeia” was transformed to “Pyrgadikia” which was given to the nearby village.

The tower is on a low hill in the middle of the Kampos beach, around 100m away from the sea, 2km northeast of modern Pyrgadikia. A tower in this place was first mentioned in a document of 1409, therefore it is reasonable to assume that it was built around the beginning of the 15th century.


Structure, Fortification & Buildings

The tower is not in good condition. Its maximum height today is around 6.5m and the best preserved side is the northeastern façade, where part of the opening of the main entrance is still visible. The interior is full of rubble.

The dimensions at the base were 10✖8 m. The hill and the tower were protected by an exterior wall, 85m of which are still preserved, though not in full height. The name of this exterior wall in monasteries and dependencies was “barbakas”. The initial perimeter of the barbakas in Perigardikeia was around 300 m and the enclosed area around 0.5 ha.


First entry in Kastrologos:    August 2017




Road map to Tower of Perigardikeia

Access
Approach to the monument:
In Pyrgadikia take the road to the road leading after 2km to the beach of Kampos, in the middle of which, around 100m from the sea, lies the tower.
Entrance:
Free access. A dirt road from the beach takes through some fields close to the tower.


Other castles around
Tower of Chrysokamaro
Castle of Profitis Elias of Arnea
Tower of Orfanos
Tower of Koutsaki
Krouna Tower
Tower of Madem Aga
Neposi Castle
Tower of Psalida
Tower of Ozolimnos
Tower at Pyrgoudia
Tower of Sidirokafsia