Rigas' Tower
The Tower of Rigas is 1 km from Eleochori (Giannitsa) and is located at a lower altitude from the Monastery of Dimiova, at a distance of 70 meters. It was a refuge for the monks every time the area was besieged. The Tower of Rigas and the Monastery of Dimiova suffered great damage in the earthquake of Kalamata, in 1986. The damage to the Monastery was repaired, while in the Tower it was not. Today, much of the Tower has collapsed, but its ruins are still visible up to a certain height. It is almost square, with side dimensions of about 7 meters.
We do not know the exact construction date of the tower. However, it is connected with the Monastery of Dimiova, which was built in the early 17th century. Of course, the possibility that it was built later than the Monastery should not be completely ruled out, since its size and the layout of its ruins are reminiscent of the towers of Western Mani in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nevertheless, based on what the tradition says about Rigas, (who was the lord of a group of villages that included the villages of Dikalo, Marmara, Armitsa, etc.), we must look for the date of construction in the period between the 13th, (with the beginning of the Frankish occupation) and 15th century, (when the Turks prevailed). So, the most logical version is to characterize the tower as Frankish.
Legends and traditions say that Rigas was a rich lord who lived in Armitsa. After a visit to Methoni, where his brother lived, Rigas fell in love with his bride. She, seeing that Rigas would leave Methoni, prepared food for him to have during his trip. The food, however, was poisoned and, thus, Rigas never reached his tower. He died at the top of a small hill, under an olive tree that still exists today and is known as the "olive tree of Riga". It is said, in fact, that the buzz in the gorge of Giannitsa is nothing but the cries of the poisoned Rigas.