Monuments

It is estimated that around 5000 BC, on the coastal hill where the tower of Nea Fokea stands today, there used to be a remarkable prehistoric settlement, which existed for approximately 3000 years, marked by successive destructions but also revival. Its most important phases were the Neolithic and the Bronze Age, but the precise date of abandonment remains unknown, although it seems that it ceased to exist around 1000 BC. Back then, the hill was much higher towards the coast and the sea level was lower, thus the coastline was much further inland than it is today.

The establishment of the metochi (dependency) in Kassandra was part of a wider resettlement policy of the peninsula by John VII Palaiologos, despot of Thessaloniki who commenced its implementation in 1407-1408, as evidenced by Athonite documents. Thus, in February 1407 he issued a chrysobull, according to which a large part of the state revenue of Kassandreia would be granted to five Athonite monasteries, one of which was the newly established St. Paul monastery. It seems that this official document confirmed the rights of the monastery in the region where the metochi is located today. This was one of the most valuable metochia of St. Paul monastery. Over the centuries, many buildings were incorporated to the initial core. In a dominant and naturally fortified position, the building complex was one of the most imposing of its kind in Kassandra. We do not know the exact date that the tower was built, though it is widely believed that it was built in 1407. It is the only tower in Chalkidiki with surviving battlements. We can safely say that it has only one construction phase and it is that which we see today. Its external dimensions are 6.65×6.60m at the base and 6.50×6.30m at the top. The height of the tower is 15m from the visible foundation to the top. The masonry is 1.5m thick at the base and 1.25 m at the top.

In 1968, the entire hill with its buildings was declared an archaeological site (Ministerial Decision 24597/25-10-1968 Greek Government Gazette 608/B/8-11-1968). The Tower, the church of the Holy Apostles, the “monastic edifice” (Old School)) are included in the Decision on the declaration of the hill and are protected under MD MoC/ARCH/A1/Φ43/31754/1601/19-7-2000 GGG 979/B/9-8-2000. Also, the preserved building of the eastern wing (Old School) and the dormitories were listed as historic monuments by the 4th Ephorate of Contemporary Monuments under MD MoC /Directorate of Popular Culture/C/41877/2584/24-10-88 GGG 818/B/7 -11-88.

Athanasios Nakos