Wardija Tower

Wardija Tower
Wardija Tower
Torri tal-Wardija
Part of the De Redin towers
Żurrieq, Malta
	Wardija Tower prior to restoration, viewed from the north
Coordinates	35°49′9.5″N 14°28′23.2″E / 35.819306°N 14.473111°E
Type	Coastal watchtower
Site information
Owner	Government of Malta
Controlled by	Private tenant
Open to; the public	No
Condition	Intact
Site history
Built by	Order of Saint John
Materials	Limestone

Wardija Tower (Maltese: Torri tal-Wardija), originally known as Torre della Guardia di Giorno^[1] and also known as Bubaqra Tower (Maltese: Torri ta' Bubaqra),^[2] is a small watchtower in the limits of Żurrieq, Malta. It was completed in June 1659 as the last of the thirteen De Redin towers.^[3]

Wardija Tower was the last coastal watchtower to be built on the main island of Malta. It is situated between Żurrieq and Ħal Far, with the nearest tower to it being Sciuta Tower to the west. The tower follows the standard design of the De Redin towers, having a square plan with two floors and a turret on the roof, but it is slightly smaller. It was originally armed with 2 cannons and 2 mortars.

After the British period, the tower became abandoned and fell into disuse. In June 2022, the tower was restored by the Restoration Directorate, a scheme set up by the Żurrieq Local Council in order to carry out restoration projects on various sites in Żurrieq.^[4]

References

^ Ġrajjet Malta - It-Tielet Ktieb (in Maltese) (4 ed.). Sliema: Department of Education. 2006. p. 81.
^ Zammit, Vincent (1992). Il-Gran Mastri - Ġabra ta' Tagħrif dwar l-Istorja ta' Malta fi Żmienhom - L-Ewwel Volum 1530-1680 (in Maltese). Valletta: Valletta Publishing & Promotion Co. Ltd. p. 236.
^ "Palace & Towers". Żurrieq Local Council. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
^ "Fantastic news! Zurrieq's 360-year-old Wardija Tower gets FULLY restored". www.guidememalta.com. Retrieved 2022-10-11.