The De Redin Towers are a series of thirteen small fortified watch towers that Grand Master Martin de Redin of the Knights of Malta built on the island of Malta between the year 1658 and 1659. The towers are in sight of each other, and provided a communication link between Gozo and Grand Harbour, in addition to functioning as watchtowers against attack by Corsairs.
The design is based on the design of the last of the five Lascaris towers, the Sciuta (Xuta) tower (1640) at Wied iz-Zurrieq, built by de Redin's predecessor, Grand Master Juan de Lascaris-Castellar. The locals refer to both the five Lascaris towers and the thirteen de Redin towers as "de Redin towers".
Many of the towers still exist in good condition today and most are accessible to the public.
List of the towers
Ahrax (White) Tower
, L-Aħrax,
Mellieħa
, Selmun,
Mellieħa
,
Salina,
Naxxar
,
Madliena,
Swieqi
St.Julians Tower
,
Sliema
Triq Il-Wisgha Tower
Zonqor Tower
, Żonqor,
Marsaskala
Xrob l-Ghagin Tower
, Xrob l-Għaġin,
Marsaxlokk
Delimara Tower
, Delimara,
Marsaxlokk
Benghisa Tower
,
Ħal Far,
Birżebbuġa
,
,
Approximate locations of the 13 towers on Malta
These are the de Redin towers in cronological order of construction.
- Ghajn Hadid Tower
- Għallis Tower
- St. Mark's Tower or Qalet Marku Tower
- Madliena Tower
- St.Julians Tower
- Ahrax (White) Tower
- Benghisa Tower
- Triq Il-Wisgha Tower
- Xrob l-Ghagin Tower
- Delimara Tower
- Zonqor Tower
- Hamrija Tower
- Wardija Tower
Bibliography
- Spiteri, Stephen C. (1989), The Knights' Fortifications, Valletta: Book Distributors Ltd.
- Hughes, Quentin (2001), Fortresses of the Knights, Valetta: Said International
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