Tower of Milutin

The tallest tower of Mount Athos is located near the Monastery of Chilandari, close to its small harbor, on the northeastern coast of the peninsula. It is called the "Tower of Milutin" or "Tower of Kavallaris" and is named after the Serbian King Stefan Uros II Milutin (1281-1321).

The tower stands at a height of 45 meters and overlooks the area surrounding the monastery. It features characteristics of other towers found in Halkidiki, and on its top floor, there is a chapel dedicated to the Transfiguration. Remarkably, the tower remains untouched by time since its construction in the late 13th or early 14th century, with the most probable year of its erection being 1302.

 It is an impressive landmark, both in appearance and as an architectural structure, representing the era when pirate raids were prevalent in the entire region of Mount Athos, and monasteries needed fortification. In the case of the Monastery of Chilandari, the defensive works were carried out with the financial support of Serbian rulers, such as Milutin, who sponsored the construction of this tower between the monastery complex and its arsenal.