Glyfada

A few metres from the shore of Glyfada Bay, on Rhodes’ west coast below the village of Lakki, stands a late-medieval watchtower built by the Knights Hospitallers, probably during the grandmastership of Pierre d’Aubusson (1476-1505). It formed part of the island’s chain of coastal lookout posts, guarding the approach towards Alimia. The condition is rather poor. The sea-facing wall has almost entirely collapsed, its quarry-stone and pebble masonry scattered across the beach and into the water, but the landward side still stands near its original height of about nine metres. The tower is roughly square, with sides of around 6.7 metres and walls about 1.5 metres thick. Its entrance was on the first floor, in the southwestern wall, and it contained three storeys: two with beamed ceilings, traces of which survive as beam holes, and an upper one barrel-vaulted. A fireplace served the first-floor room. Remnants of box-machicoulations and consoles suggest a crenellated platform.