Leros preserves in its folk architecture a unique and nearly forgotten chapter: the tower houses. These are small, two-story, rectangular buildings resembling miniature towers, with an average area of about 30 sq.m. and a height of 7–8 meters. They belong to the cuboid-type single-house design and date back to the 17th–18th century, representing a distinctive example of the island’s rural vernacular architecture.
Uses and Distribution
The tower houses primarily served as rural homes and storage facilities for crops, especially in the western and southern parts of Leros, where agriculture and livestock farming were prominent. Their defensive function was essential during periods of raids, but when threats declined, they were mainly used as seasonal homes or storage spaces.
Until the mid-19th century, dozens of tower houses existed throughout the countryside of Leros. Today, unfortunately, only a few remain, most notably:
Most have fallen into ruin or have been demolished to make way for modern houses, resulting in the loss of a significant part of the island’s cultural heritage.
Architectural Features
The tower houses of Leros have a clear defensive character, adapted to the era of pirate raids in the Aegean. Their main morphological features include:
The machicolation (also called foneas or zematistra), an opening above the entrance from which inhabitants could pour hot water or oil on intruders.
The absence of large openings on the ground floor, with only small “shooting holes.”
Toothed parapet-like projections around the edge of the flat roof.
Two or more floors with successive mezzanines, storage areas, and stables.
Load-bearing walls made of stone and soil, 0.50–0.70 m thick, with exterior mortar joints and interior plaster.
Their modest scale, solidity, and restrained decoration show that these buildings were designed to be functional, durable, and secure.
Notable Example
One of the most remarkable tower houses is Maratos’, located in Vagia. There, the exterior and interior walls feature engraved, embossed, and relief decorations with geometric motifs, plant and bird designs, and Maltese crosses, giving the building unique aesthetic value.
The Importance of Maintenance and Reuse
Preserving the tower houses of Leros is not only a matter of architectural or historical memory. Maintenance allows them to be showcased as living monuments of folk culture, while reuse can give them new functions as holiday homes, spaces for cultural activities, or small open-air museums of rural life.
Restoration and adaptive reuse of the tower houses can connect the past with the present, maintaining the island’s historical identity while providing practical solutions for residents and visitors. Tradition and modern use can coexist harmoniously, preventing the complete disappearance of these unique buildings.
The Legacy of the Tower Houses
The tower houses of Leros, dating back to the 17th–18th century, are living monuments of vernacular architecture and rural life in the Aegean. Despite their decline, they remain vital testimonies for understanding the social and economic history of the island. Each surviving tower house tells a story of the lives of its inhabitants, their crops, and their defensive needs—and deserves to be preserved, maintained, and reused.
Source: Aslanidi D. (2013). Tower Houses of Leros: Research – Documentation – Proposal for Restoration & Reuse. Metsovio National Technical University of Athens – School of Civil Engineering.
