A tower on a headland looks like a lookout, and that is exactly what it was. Around Malta’s coast, small square stone buildings sit above the sea at intervals, each one placed so that its neighbours are in view. They were part of a system of communication long before telephones.
A chain of lookouts
The De Redin Towers are a series of thirteen small watchtowers around the perimeter of Malta. They are named after Martin de Redin, Grand Master of the Order of St John, who financed the building. The towers were built between 1658 and 1659.
The characteristic feature of the Maltese landscape is the abundance of towers, walls and other fortifications created during the repeated attacks of the Turkish army and the pirate raids of earlier centuries. The De Redin Towers belong to this tradition and were built to protect the coast.
How the system worked
The idea was simple. Soldiers in each tower could see the neighbouring towers, which kept the coast connected. When pirate ships approached, the signal passed from one tower to the next using smoke, cannon shots and fire. A warning could be relayed along the shore faster than a messenger on foot.
The towers themselves are small, with thick walls and little decoration. They served as a base for a few men, and their value lay in their position, not in their size.
Changes over time
In 1715 some of the towers were modernised and coastal batteries were installed. In 1760 entrenchments were built near the towers, and these remained in existence until the beginning of the twentieth century. During British rule some towers were decommissioned, and the British authorities demolished three of them to clear the space for new fortifications.
By the end of the twentieth century, nine of the thirteen towers remained. During the first decade of the twenty-first century they were restored, and they are now protected by Heritage Malta as important tourist attractions.
Towers with new roles
Several of the surviving towers have found new uses. The tower at St Julian’s now functions as a restaurant, a good example of old military architecture put to hospitable use. The Ħamrija Tower is part of the Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temple complex, so a visit to the prehistoric temples on the southern coast can include a look at a seventeenth-century watchtower too.
Other towers include the Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower, the Madliena Tower and more along the coast. Each one has its own setting, ranging from an urban street to a cliff above open sea.
How to see them
The towers are scattered, so it makes sense to pick the one closest to your route rather than trying to collect all nine. A coastal walk in St Julian’s, a visit to the temples at Ħaġar Qim or a drive along the northern coast can each include one.
Check Heritage Malta for current access before travelling to a specific tower, because some are visible from outside only. Bring a camera, a hat and water. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light on the stone, and the sea views are worth the stop in themselves.
If you are interested in the wider story of the Knights’ coastal defence, pair a De Redin Tower with a visit to one of the Lascaris Towers, which belong to an earlier phase of the same system.
Reading a tower from the outside
Walk once around the tower before looking for details. The walls are thick, the openings are small, and the roofline is flat enough for guards to move and for a cannon or fire to be set. The stonework is plain limestone, the traditional building material of the islands.
The battlements and parapet are worth a look too. They show where soldiers would have stood to watch the sea, and the views from the tower sites explain why each one was placed where it is. A line of sight to the next tower mattered more than comfort.
Making a small route
Because the towers lie around the coast, a loose route can be planned by area. In the south, the Ħamrija Tower pairs with the prehistoric temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra. In the east, the St Julian’s tower is surrounded by the bays and promenades of the resort. In the north, Madliena Tower suits a coastal drive.
Carry water, wear a hat, and check current access before travelling. Some towers can only be seen from outside, which is often enough for a photograph and a few minutes of imagination.
