Chartzani Twin Churches and Medieval Tower near Karystos

The Chartzani Twin Churches and Medieval Tower are among the most unusual historical landmarks near Karystos. Located (📍map) in the small plain of Chartzani, close to the village of Lala and Kalyvia, about 5 km north of Karystos, the site combines the remains of a medieval tower with two adjoining chapels that share a common wall.

Charming stone chapel with blue doors and a bell tower, set in the hills of Karystos, Euboea, Greece. Sunlit landscape surrounds it. — The twin churches of Chartzani

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The partially ruined Chartzani Tower is generally considered Byzantine, despite often being described online as Frankish. Its masonry differs from the Frankish and Venetian towers found elsewhere in Evia, while local tradition links it to Queen Chartzanna, a noblewoman said to have lived here during the reign of Byzantine emperor Basil II in the early 11th century. Although the story cannot be verified historically, it is thought that both the legend and the tower’s architectural style point to an 11th-century or slightly earlier construction. The surrounding plain is believed to have taken its name from the tower rather than the other way around.

Ruined stone structure stands amid dry grass and olive groves, set against rolling hills in Karystos, Euboea, Greece. — The medieval tower of Chartzani

The tower also appears briefly in the history of the Greek War of Independence. During the unsuccessful campaign against the Ottoman-held Castle of Karystos in February 1822, Odysseas Androutsos is said to have used the tower as a defensive position while leading a force of around 300 men in the area.

Just a few metres away stand the two attached chapels of the Ascension and Saint Luke, one of the site’s most distinctive features. The churches share a party wall, an unusual arrangement that is thought to date back to the Venetian period. In several parts of the Aegean, Venetian feudal lords built paired churches, with one serving the Orthodox community and the other the Catholic population. A similar example survives at the Bellonia Tower on Naxos.

old twin stone churches in chartzani village near karystos town on evia island — The shared façade of the twin churches

Another intriguing detail is the Maltese cross carved above the entrance of the northern chapel, which is believed to have been the Catholic one. Its presence is difficult to explain, as there is no evidence that the Knights Hospitaller ever established themselves in southern Evia.

If you’re already exploring the area, the nearby villages of Kalyvia, Nikasi, and Lala offer several worthwhile stops. Lala preserves traditional stone-paved lanes, old watermills, small stone bridges, and springs along two wooded ravines, while the surrounding landscape includes the Kefalari spring, the protected Stefania of Lala geological formations, and hiking opportunities on the lower slopes of Mount Ochi. The villages are also known for preserving the musical traditions of the Karystia region, where instruments such as the lyra, tsampouna, violin, and lute accompanied local dances, including the Kavodoritikos, Myloniatikos, and Karystinos Balos.

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