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Għallis Tower

Not to be confused with Għallis Battery.
Għallis Tower
Torri tal-Għallis
Part of the De Redin towers
Salina, Naxxar, Malta
Għallis Tower viewed from the west
Coordinates35°57′11.8″N 14°26′03.9″E / 35.953278°N 14.434417°E / 35.953278; 14.434417
TypeCoastal watchtower
Height12 m
Site information
OwnerGovernment of Malta
Controlled byDin l-Art Ħelwa
Open to
the public		Yes (by appointment)
ConditionIntact
Site history
Built1658
Built byOrder of Saint John
MaterialsLimestone

Għallis Tower (Maltese: Torri tal-Għallis), originally known as Torre delle Saline,[1] is a small watchtower in Salina, limits of Naxxar, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the second of the De Redin towers. Today, the tower is in fair condition.

History

Għallis Tower was built in 1658 on the eastern shore of Għallis Point (Maltese: Ras l-Għallis), commanding the entrance to Salina Bay along with Qawra Tower, one of the Lascaris towers. The tower was built on or near the site of a medieval watch post.[2] It follows the standard design of the De Redin towers, having a square plan with two floors and a turret on the roof. The external wall is made of upper coralline limestone which is weather resistant whilst the inner wall is made of the softer globigerina limestone. It originally had a garrison consisting of a bombardier and three gunners, who manned a three-pounder iron cannon.

During the British period, Għallis Tower was modified by opening a doorway at ground level and the insertion of roof slabs.

On 9 March 1955, the corpse of Toninu Aquilina, a 35-year-old employee of the Malta Millers Association, was found inside the tower's well. Aquilina had gone missing in Valletta on 24 February whilst carrying a large sum of cash and cheques from his workplace to a bank, and the 31-year-old cashier George Terreni was later convicted of his murder.[3][4][5]

Present day

Plaque on the tower

By the 1990s, Għallis Tower was in a state of disrepair, with parts of its exterior being covered with plaster and cement, and many weeds growing around it. The interior was also damaged due to soot from the many fires lit inside the tower.

Din l-Art Ħelwa restored the tower between 1995 and 1996, and much of the stonework had to be replaced. Today, it is still under the control of Din l-Art Ħelwa and is in good condition.[6] It is open to the public by appointment.[7]

In 2015, an LED lighting system was installed at Għallis Tower. Since the tower is off Malta's electricity grid, the energy was provided by solar panels installed on the tower's roof.[8]

References

  1. ^ Ġrajjet Malta - It-Tielet Ktieb (in Maltese) (4 ed.). Sliema: Department of Education. 2006. p. 81.
  2. ^ Zammit, Vincent (1984). "Fortifications in the Middle Ages". Civilization. 1. Ħamrun: PEG Ltd: 33.
  3. ^ Attard, Eddie (8 March 2015). "The 1956 Għallis Tower murder trial revisited". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019.
  4. ^ Abela-Bambinu, M. (1955). Id-delitt fatali fuq Toninu Aquilina fit-torri ta' l’Għallis. Malta : Lombardi Press.
  5. ^ "'My father's life was only worth eight years'". 15 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Ghallis Tower, Salina". Din l-Art Ħelwa. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Malta's coastal watch towers". MaltaUncovered.com. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Ghallis Tower illuminated". Times of Malta. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
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