Għajn Tuffieħa Tower
| Għajn Tuffieħa Tower | |
|---|---|
| Torri t'Għajn Tuffieħa | |
| Part of the Lascaris towers | |
| Mġarr, Malta | |
Għajn Tuffieħa Tower
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| Coordinates | 35°55′51.33″N 14°20′36.65″E / 35.9309250°N 14.3435139°E |
| Type | Coastal watchtower |
| Height | 11 m |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Controlled by | Gaia Foundation |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Intact |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1637 |
| Built by | Order of Saint John |
| Materials | Limestone |
Għajn Tuffieħa Tower (Maltese: Torri t'Għajn Tuffieħa), also known as Għajn Mixkuka Tower ([Torri t'Għajn Mixkuka, sometimes spelt Mixquqa] error: {{lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)), is a small watchtower in Għajn Tuffieħa, limits of Mġarr, Malta. It was completed in 1637 as the second of the Lascaris towers. Today, the tower is in good condition.
Għajn Tuffieħa Tower was built in 1637 on the cliffs overlooking Għajn Tuffieħa Bay close to Mellieħa and Mġarr on the north west coast of Malta. The tower has Lippija and Nadur Towers in its line of sight.
The tower was designed by the Italian architect Vincenzo Maculani. It is almost identical to Lippija Tower, having a square plan and two floors topped by a flat roof with a parapet. Each floor has a single room, and access to the upper floor was originally by a wooden ladder.
Għajn Tuffieħa Tower was built on the site of a medieval watch post. It was originally armed with a ½-pounder gun, and its garrison consisted of a captain and three men, who were paid by the Università of Mdina.
The tower was in poor condition until it was restored in 2000 with the support of the Director of Public Projects and Din l-Art Ħelwa. In 2012, vandals sprayed graffiti on two sides of the tower. This has since been removed.
The tower continued to be renovated by the Gaia Foundation, and it opened to the public in 2013 as part of a peace grove containing over 20 species of indigenous plants.
The tower is threatened by coastal erosion, and cracks can be seen on the cliffs on which the tower is built.
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