Section # 21
Towers and Castles
All along the coastline of Malta there are lookout posts or watch towers that were built by the Knights of Malta during the 17th century. The positioning of these towers was planned as such so that one could see both neighboring towers, which acted as an early warning system against invaders. As soon as one tower spotted a suspicious event, a fire signal was started which was picked up by the neighboring towers, in so doing carrying on the message.
A number of coastal towers were built during the reigns of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt (1601 – 1622), Grand Master Paul Lascaris Castellar (1636 – 1657) and Grand Master Martin de Redin (1657 – 1660). The aim was to strengthen Malta’s coastal guarding system.
Wignacourt Towers A total of seven towers were built under order of Grand Master Fra Alof de Wignacourt, of which five remain today. The Wignacourt towers were not just watch towers, but formed important strongpoints in the Kinghts’ tactical defence system for the Maltese islands, of which parts were vulnerable to attack from the coast. The Wignacourt towers were the first to be built, and the Maltese watch tower grid was to be expanded by the Grand Master’s two successors.
The Wignacourt Towers:
A number of coastal towers were built during the reigns of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt (1601 – 1622), Grand Master Paul Lascaris Castellar (1636 – 1657) and Grand Master Martin de Redin (1657 – 1660). The aim was to strengthen Malta’s coastal guarding system.
Wignacourt Towers A total of seven towers were built under order of Grand Master Fra Alof de Wignacourt, of which five remain today. The Wignacourt towers were not just watch towers, but formed important strongpoints in the Kinghts’ tactical defence system for the Maltese islands, of which parts were vulnerable to attack from the coast. The Wignacourt towers were the first to be built, and the Maltese watch tower grid was to be expanded by the Grand Master’s two successors.
The Wignacourt Towers:
- St Lucian Tower – Marsaxlokk
- St Thomas Tower – Marsascala
- St. Paul’s Bay Tower – St. Paul’s Bay
- St Mary’s Tower – Comino (island)
- Marsalforn Tower – Gozo (demolished)
- Santa Maria delle Grazie Tower – Xhajra (demolished)
St Lucian Tower – Marsaxlokk St Thomas Tower – Marsascala
St. Paul’s Bay Tower – St. Paul’s Bay St Mary’s Tower – Comino (island)
Under the reign of Grand Master Juan de Lascaris-Castellar, seven towers were built in the period 1637 – 1640. As well as Wignacourt, Grand Master Lascaris paid for the building of these towers out of his own pocket, such was his dedication to fortifying Malta’s coastal defences. With the exception of St. Agatha’s Tower in Mellieha (built in Wignacourt’s style), the Lascaris towers are smaller than Wignacourt’s and consisted of two storeys, a flat roof and a parapet. On some of the Lascaris towers a cannon was positioned.
The Lascaris Towers:
- Ta’ Lippija Tower – Gnejna Bay
- Ghajn Tuffieha Tower – Ghajn Tuffieha Bay
- Nadur Tower – Bingemma (Malta)
- Qawra Tower – Qawra (also known as Ta’ Fra Ben tower)
- St. George’s Bay Tower – St. Julian’s
- Wied iz-Zurrieq Tower – Zurrieq
- St. Agatha’s Tower – Mellieha (built in Wignacourt style
Ta’ Lippija Tower – Gnejna Bay Ghajn Tuffieha Tower – Ghajn Tuffieha Bay
Nadur Tower – Bingemma (Malta) Qawra Tower – Qawra ( Ta’ Fra Ben tower)
St. George’s Bay Tower – St. Julian’s Wied iz-Zurrieq Tower – Zurrieq
St. Agatha’s Tower (it-Torri l-Ahmar) – Mellieha (built in Wignacourt style)
Grand Master Marino de Redinwas a Frenchman a seasoned soldier and diplomat who was deeply concerned about the Island’s security and vulnerability to seaward attack. Aware of the deficiencies of the existing system, de Redin devised a coast-guarding plan.
He built thirteen such towers at his own expense at key tactical sites in Malta, starting from Mellieha in the North, eastwards to Zonqor, round to Benghajsa and ending near Zurrieq. The rugged Western coast was considered naturally inaccessible and needing no towers.
De Redin Towers:
( Four of theses towers were either demolished or are surrounded by other building and cannot be found)
He built thirteen such towers at his own expense at key tactical sites in Malta, starting from Mellieha in the North, eastwards to Zonqor, round to Benghajsa and ending near Zurrieq. The rugged Western coast was considered naturally inaccessible and needing no towers.
De Redin Towers:
- Ghajn Hadid Tower – Ghajn Hadid cliffs near Mellieha
- Għallis Tower – Salina Bay
- St. Mark’s Tower or Qalet Marku Tower – Bahar ic-Caghaq
- Madliena Tower – Madliena
- St.Julians Tower – St. Julian’s
- Ahrax (White) Tower – near Armier Bay at the Northern most tip of Malta
- Benghisa Tower – Benghisa (not found)
- Triq Il-Wisgha Tower – towards the East of Valletta
- Xrob l-Ghagin Tower – near Marsaxlokk (not found)
- Delimara Tower – Delimara point, near Pretty Bay, Birzebbuga (not found)
- Zonqor Tower (not found)
- Hamrija Tower – close to Siggiewi
- Wardija Tower – between Zurrieq and Hal Far
( Four of theses towers were either demolished or are surrounded by other building and cannot be found)