If you could look down on Chios, you would notice in a large part of the coastline some cylindrical towers at a certain distance from each other, which would remind you of another era.
These "Viglas", as they are called on Chios, are medieval constructions placed on coasts and capes with a basic purpose. The observation of the sea and the timely notification of the inhabitants in case of enemy invasion.
Each Vigla of Chios is constructed in a cylindrical shape with a conical base. The aim was to shield from the enemy fire. Also, this increases the base for stability. The height of each cylinder reached twelve meters and the average diameter was 7.5 meters. At a height of eight meters, a room was built for whoever lived in Vigla, while from one end of a dome communication between the interior and the roof of Vigla was made possible. The walls of the towers were made of stones in the area, which were connected with very strong materials.
About the functioning of the Viglas-watchtowers, foreign travelers have written: "To guard the villages, they built towers all around the island, at a distance of 3 or 4 miles from each other. In each neighboring village two men were sent to guard, and if they saw boats, ships, or galleys, they gave warning and left, or even defended themselves.
These imposing tower-cylinders were built at short distances from each other, within sight of each other. In fact, they were built more densely on the south and west coasts of the island, as they were used for pirate landings. In fact, they formed a strong coastal network for observation and transmission of messages and were built by the Genoese for the defense of Chios. They functioned until the middle of the 18th century, when piracy began to disappear.
One of the well-preserved Viglas is located on the west side of Chios, about 20 km from the town.
