Għajn Tuffieħa Tower

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Għajn Tuffieħa Tower
Torri t'Għajn Tuffieħa
Part of the Lascaris towers
Mġarr, Malta
Malta - Mgarr - Triq Ghajn Tuffieha - Ghajn Tuffieha Tower 03 ies.jpg
Għajn Tuffieħa Tower
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Type Coastal watchtower
Height 11 m
Site information
Owner Government of Malta
Controlled by Gaia Foundation
Open to
the public		 Yes
Condition Intact
Site history
Built 1637
Built by Order of Saint John
Materials Limestone

Għajn Tuffieħa Tower (Maltese: Torri t'Għajn Tuffieħa), also known as Għajn Mixkuka Tower (Maltese: Torri t'Għajn Mixkuka), is a small watchtower in Għajn Tuffieħa, limits of Mġarr, Malta. It was completed in 1637 as the second of the Lascaris towers. Today, the tower is in good conition.

History

Għajn Tuffieħa Tower was built in 1637 on the cliffs overlooking Għajn Tuffieħa Bay close to Mellieħa and Mġarr on the north west coast of Malta. The tower has Lippija and Nadur Towers in its line of sight.

The tower was designed by the Italian architect Vincenzo Maculani. It is almost identical to Lippija Tower, having a square plan and two floors topped by a flat roof with a parapet. Each floor has a single room, and access to the upper floor was originally by a wooden ladder.

Għajn Tuffieħa Tower was built on the site of a medieval watch post.[1] It was originally armed with a ½-pounder gun, and its garrison consisted of a captain and three men, who were paid by the Università of Mdina.[2]

Present day

The tower was in poor condition until it was restored in 2000 with the support of the Director of Public Projects and Din l-Art Ħelwa. In 2012, vandals sprayed graffiti on two sides of the tower. This has since been removed.[3]

The tower continued to be renovated by the Gaia Foundation, and it opened to the public in 2013 as part of a peace grove containing over 20 species of indigenous plants.[4]

The tower is threatened by coastal erosion, and cracks can be seen on the cliffs on which the tower is built.

Gallery

  • Malta - Mgarr - Triq Ghajn Tuffieha - Ghajn Tuffieha Tower 08 ies.jpg

    The tower overlooking Għajn Tuffieħa

  • Malta - Mgarr - Triq Ghajn Tuffieha - Ghajn Tuffieha Tower 04 ies.jpg

    The tower viewed from the east

  • Malta Ghajn Tuffieha one.jpg

    The tower viewed from the north

  • Malta - Mellieha - Triq Ghajn Tuffieha(Mgarr) - Gaia Peace Grove + Ghajn Tuffieha Tower 01 ies.jpg

    Gaia Peace Grove

  • Malta - Mellieha - Triq in-Nahhalija - Ghajn Tuffieha Tower (N) 01 ies.jpg

    The tower as seen from the distance

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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