The Red Tower, officially called St Agatha’s Tower, stands isolated (save for the occasional hikers) on a hill overlooking both sides of the fishtail that is Malta’s north. Standing at the imposing tower’s steps, one has a great view of the very popular Ghadira Bay, as well as of the quieter northwestern coast of the island.
The tower unfortunately gets a bad rep sometimes, as it’s sometimes the sole view of drivers stuck in traffic on their way to Cirkewwa for a weekend break in Gozo. But there’s more to the tower than just a roadside view, as acknowledged by the Department of Information, which recently shared a titbit of information on the tower.
Given its advantageous geographical position, it will come as no surprise that the Red Tower was built as a point of coastal defence against invasion of the island. Back in 1649, the Knights of St John erected the tower in a position that would offer unobstructed views of Comino and Gozo, allowing those within the tower to keep watch over all three islands.
What is a little more surprising and curious to locals and tourists alike is the tower’s colour, and the question looms – why was it painted red? Din l-Art Helwa has the answer! While it’s possible that the reddish hue was originally down to the type of brick used in its construction, the tower was then actually painted red, probably to help the sentinels in Naxxar and Mdina recognise it at a glance.
The White Tower, located further north at the limits of Mellieha, was (possibly for the same reason) built from a very white stone, and likewise, Tal-Hamrija Tower in Qrendi was built using a much darker stone, and was aptly named ‘Torre della Pietra Nigra’ back then. These distinct colours aided orientation back when Google Maps wasn’t a thing!
It was so important for the Red Tower to retain its colour that, more recently in its history, a tenant of the tower changed the colour from red to white ‘but was asked to repaint it red, because of its usefulness as a landmark for shipping’.
So, as you drive past this iconic fortress (hopefully traffic-free), remember that its fiery red isn’t just decorative – it’s a testament to Malta’s maritime and military legacy.
Have you ever visited Malta’s most colourful tower?