Nea Skiti

Nea Skiti is a monastic settlement on the western flank of the Athos peninsula, perched beneath the mountain and above a rocky shore. It belongs to the Monastery of Agios Pavlos, and its defensive tower stands on a crag at the northern edge of the settlement, some 80 metres above the sea. Local tradition would have the tower date back to the reign of Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, but the more plausible construction date is around 1150, in the Byzantine period. The tower has been recently renovated and is in good condition. It rises to 20 metres across four floors, with a base measuring 8 by 7.8 metres. As a castle-monastery, it blends the practicalities of defence with the rhythms of monastic life, a compact and sturdy survivor of the Holy Mountain's long and layered history.