Today, many of these towers have been carefully restored.
Dotted along the Maltese shoreline are 30 historic towers, built between the 17th and 18th centuries to protect the islands from sea attacks.
Their strategic placement created a vital communication chain, linking Malta to Gozo with signals of warning whenever danger loomed offshore.
Today, many of these towers have been carefully restored, offering visitors both a glimpse into history and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. Among them is the Wignacourt Tower in St Paul’s Bay (1610), the oldest surviving coastal tower, commissioned by Grand Master Wignacourt. Equally iconic is the Red Tower in Mellieħa (1658), restored and reopened in 2021, instantly recognisable for its bold colour.
On Gozo, the Dwejra Tower (1652) stands watch over dramatic coastal scenery, while the Mġarr ix-Xini Tower (1661), the island’s largest, showcases the Knights’ engineering prowess.
These watchtowers remain enduring symbols of resilience, heritage, and identity. More than stone sentinels of the past, they now welcome the public to connect with Malta’s layered history while enjoying some of the most spectacular vistas the islands have to offer.
Have you ever visited any of these towers in Malta?