The Tower of Markellos was built, by the member of Philiki Eteria (= secret association that initiated/coordinated the uprising of the Greeks) and one of the leaders during the revolution of 1821 on Aegina, the notable and Member of Parliament Spyros Markellos, in approximately 1802.

The architectural form of the building leads us to conclude that it might have been built at the end of the 17th century in Morozini's time, at the same time as the fortress of Quay (Bourtzi), to protect the harbour.

During the revolution of 1821 and the Kapodistrian time the Tower was used by many fighters and politicians (G. Kountouriotis, N. Mexis, L. Kolletis, Favieros).

Between 1826 and the beginning of 1828 it housed the Greek Government which had then been transferred to Aegina.

During the Kapodistrian time (1828-1829) when Aegina was officially nominated as the capital of the Modern Greek State (thus becoming the first capital of modern Greece) the Tower housed Ministers as well as the temporary Commander of Aegina, Andreas Giannitsis from Psara.


At the same time, for a short period, the Treasury of the Greek State was also housed there.

Nowadays the building houses:

A) The "Kapodistrian Intellectual Centre of the Municipality of Aegina".

On the ground floor there is an exhibition consisting of photographs and printed material concerning the life and work of Jannis Kapodistrias.

The "Kapodistrian Intellectueal Centre of the Municipality of Aegina" is a legal entity of public law and was founded in 1997 (GV. GAZ. Number 435/97/B). It is seated on Aegina and is subject to the control and supervisions of the Municipality of Aegina. It is administered by a 7-member committee whose term coincides with the term in the offices of each Municipal Authority.

The objectives of the Kapodistrian Centre are:

* The encouragement, organization and promotion of scientific research, seminars and conventions relevant to the action of the Governor Jannis Kapodistrias.

* The public acknowledgement of studies and assignments concerning the various activities of the Governor's policy.

* The collecton of informative material and the organization of a connecting network with specialized Greek and international institutions which share similar objectives.

* The development and use of the intellectual and cultural resources of the population of the island as well as the preservation and the promotion of the intellectual and cultural inheritance and the folklore tradition of Aegina.

* The creation of the "Centre of Kapodistrian Studies".

B) The "Centre of Social Awareness Spyros Alexiou".

The objectives of the centre are realized by:


* The study and promotion of current topics of national, social and religious interest and speculation.

* The administration of an annual scholarship to a new journalist of the ecclesiastical reportage or a Theology student.

* The annual award of a distinction of honour to the best ecclesiastical reportage.


* The operation of the Library, donated by Spyros Alexiou

Spyros Alexiou = journalist from Aegina


Today, next to all the above, the Tower is also used for art exhibitions.

For example the Light and Image exibition had one exibition in the Tower which was held in Aegina 9 - 31 May 2003. See also www.light-image.net.