Dwejra Tower, Gozo (MT)

FORTE CULTURA Stop: Dwejra Tower, Malta (MT)

One of the best-preserved Lascaris towers

The Dwejra Tower (known in Maltese as „Torri tad-Dwejra“) was built in 1652 by the Order of St John under Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris It was built and is one of the Lascaris towers erected to protect the Maltese coastline from attacks by Ottoman and Barbary corsairs. The tower is situated on the west coast of the island of Gozo, overlooking Dwejra Bay in the village of San Lawrenz. Thanks to its strategic location, overlooking the surrounding coastline and Fungus Rock, soldiers were able to monitor approaching ships and communicate with other defensive positions using smoke and fire signals. The tower was funded by the Università di Gozo, whilst its upkeep was partly supported by the salt harvested from nearby salt pans.

In the 18th century, the tower was armed with three six-pounder cannons and became particularly important for controlling access to Fungus Rock. In 1744, Grand Master Manuel Pinto de Fonseca banned access to the rock due to the medicinal properties attributed to the Maltese mushroom growing there, and Dwejra Tower served to prevent people from reaching it. During British rule, the tower retained its military function and was manned by the Royal Malta Fencible Artillery until 1873. It was later abandoned, before being restored and returned to use as a heritage site.

Architecturally, the Dwejra Tower follows the design features of the smaller Lascaris towers. It was built from local limestone and has a square floor plan measuring approximately 6 by 6 metres, two internal levels, thick defensive walls and a flat roof surrounded by a parapet. The entrance was located on the upper level and was originally accessed via a removable ladder, which provided additional protection against attackers. The tower was restored by Din l-Art Ħelwa between 1997 and 1999 and has remained largely intact to this day.

Today, visitors can explore the restored tower and enjoy panoramic views of Dwejra Bay, Fungus Rock and the west coast of Gozo. The tower is also an excellent starting point for exploring the wider Dwejra area, including the Blue Hole, the Inland Sea and the former site of the Azure Window, an iconic natural arch that sadly collapsed in 2017 following a storm.