This is the view one sees from Ghadira Bay, on the side of the valley opposite to Mellieha. St Agatha’s Tower dominates this part of the land. It forms part of the network of fortifications/towers which The Knights erect around the whole Island to protect it/ provide an early warning system against incursions by pirates and muslim forces.
St. Agatha's Tower, or the Red Tower as it more popularly known for its red paint, is in the style of the Wignacourt towers, though it was completed in 1649 during the Grand Mastership of Juan de Lascaris-Castellar. Built on the crest of Marfa Ridge as a square tower with four square corner towers with cannon ports in the towers, it has a commanding position over Ghadira (Mellieha) Bay with clear views over to Comino and Gozo. The outer walls of the tower are approximately four meters thick at the base. It was the Knights' primary stronghold in the west of Malta, and was manned by a garrison of 30 men, with ammunition and supplies to withstand a siege of 40 days.
It continued to have a military function throughout the British period, and was manned during both World Wars. Its military function later continued as a radar station of the Armed Forces of Malta.
In 1999 the tower was handed to the Din l-Art Helwa National Trust, was extensively restored and is now open to the public.
Thank you very much all of you for looking at my pictures and for the wonderful comments I received on the one posted yesterday.
@johnnyfrs@shanne Thank you so much both of you. Shanne, there were many British servicemen who spent time in Malta during their service years. Some got married to Maltese girls and finished living here or took their wives back to the UK with them.
