A tower house at the center of the village Kastania of Laconia, in relatively good condition.

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 probably built in the 18th century.
As Kolokotronis recounts in his memoirs: “There were two towers, one belonging to Panagiotaros’ father and the other to my father and Panagiotaros.”
One of the two towers was definitely the tower on this page. We are not sure about the other one, as 7 towers survive in Kastania.

Sources