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Marsalforn Tower or Ix-Xaghra Tower was built in 1616 while Fra Alof de Wignacourt was Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John, and thus is one of the Wignacourt towers. The tower's design is attributed to the military engineer Giovanni Rinaldini. To the west the tower commanded Marsalforn Bay and to the east it commanded ir-Ramla Bay, thus guarding the northern approach to Gozo. Unfortunately, having been built on the edge of a cliff, it collapsed in 1716.
In 1720, Fra Ramon Perellos y Roccaful, 64th Grandmaster of the Knights of Malta had a second Marsalforn Tower, also known as the Perellos Tower, built in the center of the tal-Qortin plateau. The architect was the military engineer Charles François de Mondion, who gave it the form of a redoubt, mounting several cannon. It was demolished in 1915, but reportedly one can still see some of its foundations.
