Għajn Tuffieħa Tower: A 17th-Century Coastal Watchtower in Malta
Site at a Glance
- Country
- Malta
- Primary era
- Early Modern
- Eras represented
- Early Modern
- Civilizations
- Crusader, Knights Hospitaller
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Tower
On this page4 sections
History
Construction and coastal defence
Għajn Tuffieħa Tower is a coastal watchtower on Malta’s northwest coast, completed in 1637 by the Order of Saint John, a Catholic religious and military order that governed Malta. Commissioned by Grand Master Jean-Paul de Lascaris-Castellar, the order’s leading official, it was the second of the Lascaris towers. The tower was built on a site used earlier as a medieval watch post.
Its role was to monitor the coast and alert the garrison to approaching raiders, pirates, or enemy fleets. Towers in the network could signal to one another and to larger forts. They were positioned within sight of each other and where the terrain permitted landings. The tower’s original weapon was a half-pounder, a small cannon named for the weight of its shot. Its garrison comprised a captain and three men, paid by the Università, Malta’s governing body at the time.
Restoration and later damage
After the tower fell into poor condition, restoration took place in 2000 with support from the Director of Public Projects and Din l-Art Ħelwa, a Maltese heritage-protection organization; local volunteers also contributed. The Gaia Foundation continued renovation work. The Government of Malta owns the tower, which is classified as a Grade 1 heritage property. Graffiti sprayed on two sides in 2012 was later removed. Cyclone Helios damaged the tower on the night of 9–10 February 2023.
Remains
The limestone tower has a square plan measuring about 6 by 6 metres and stands 11 metres high. Its two storeys each contain one room, with a flat roof and parapet above. The lower-storey walls are thicker and slope slightly inward. The entrance is on the landward side of the upper storey, which was originally accessed by a wooden ladder. Its form is almost identical to that of Lippija Tower, built at nearly the same time. The tower remains largely intact, though a section of upper masonry has collapsed, leaving a hole.
The tower stands on cliffs overlooking Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, near Mellieħa and Mġarr. Lippija and Nadur Towers are within its line of sight. Fissures are visible in the cliffs, and coastal erosion threatens the site. An associated peace grove contains more than 20 species of indigenous plants.
