The tower is located at the top of the hill of Katochi, very close to the right bank of the river Acheloos. It belonged to a larger fortress complex of strategic importance, which controlled the narrowest crossing of the river and it has been designated a historical monument. It is known as Koulia of Kyra Vassiliki, as the Kapodistrias government granted to Kyra Vassiliki the tower as a residence in 1830. The tower was formerly called the Tower of Theodora, because, according to another tradition, it was built by Theodora, wife of the Despot of Epirus Michael II; she was later declared a saint. Vassiliki Kitsou, wife of Ali Pasha, spent the last years of her life in this tower. References to the building can be found in the Chronicle of the Tocchi, where the importance of its location is stressed.
The tower is square, with a side length of 6.5 m. The corners are built of worked stones. It has four windows – arched openings – on the sides of the first storey, and an entrance door opening also at the first storey level. The interior floor that separated the storeys internally has collapsed. At the south-west corner of the tower there is a part of an enclosure that seems to have marked off a flat area in front of the eastern side of the tower, where there were probably buildings for the accommodation of the garrison staff.
This fortress complex served as an outpost of the castle of Angelokastro. It dates to the 14th century, probably the second half, and is directly linked to the historical events of the period of the Despotate of Epirus. It displays Late Byzantine architectural features, a walling style that was common in the Palaeologan period and other features of a fortress building of the period, such as walls that incline slightly inwards as they rise (skarpa). It was probably built by local craftsmen.
The monument was restored in 2000 by the 8th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities.
