Wignacourt towers

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Saint Paul's Bay Tower, the first Wignacourt Tower, which was built in 1610

The Wignacourt towers are a series of fortifications on the island of Malta built by the Knights of Malta between 1610 and 1649.

Official portrait of Alof de Wignacourt.

The initial towers of this type were built under the auspices of Grand Master Fra Aloph de Wignacourt. A total of seven towers of this type were constructed, and five remain.

Unlike the later Lascaris towers and De Redin towers, the Wignacourt towers were more than simply watchtowers. Instead they formed significant strongpoints intended to protect vulnerable sections of the coast from attack.

The five extant towers built in this style are:

Of these, St. Agatha's Tower, is not strictly speaking a Wignacourt tower. Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris, Wignacourt's successor, built the tower in the Wignacourt style.

Two Wignacourt towers have been demolished:

Notes

    Historic Watch Towers of Malta
    Wignacourt towers
    Lascaris towers
    De Redin towers
    Towers on Gozo

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