Lascaris towers
The Lascaris towers are a series of towers built as military fortifications on the island of Malta.
Commissioning and construction
Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, Juan de Lascaris-Castellar, commissioned five towers for the Maltese coast. The military architect Vincenzo Maculani, who had been sent to Malta by Pope Innocent X, was responsible for their design and construction, which took place between 1637 and 1640.
Modern day locals often refer to both the five Lascaris towers and the thirteen later de Redin towers collectively as "de Redin towers". The Wignacourt towers are the predecessors to the de Lascaris towers.
Towers
Many of the towers still exist in good condition today and most are accessible to the public.
- Ta' Lippija Tower
- Ghajn Tuffieha Tower
- Nadur Tower
- Qawra Tower - also known as Ta' Fra Ben tower
- Sciuta (Ta' Xuta) Tower
In addition, de Lascaris constructed St. Agatha's Tower, while Juan de Lascaris-Castellar constructed Wied iz-Zurrieq Tower.
Gozo
In 1650, during the tenure of Grandmaster Lascaris, a tower was built to guard the mouth of Xlendi Bay in Gozo. The Xlendi Tower, whose design is similar to that of the Lascaris towers on Malta, is still standing. The British Army made use of the tower but since then it was long-abandoned until recently. Since 2010, responsibility for the tower has devolved to the local council and Din L'Art Helwa.
See also
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