Wignacourt towers

The Wignacourt towers are a series of fortifications on the island of Malta built by the Knights of Malta between 1610 and 1649.

The initial towers of this type were built under the auspices of Grand Master Fra Aloph de Wignacourt. A total of seven towers of this type were constructed, and five remain.

Unlike the later Lascaris towers and De Redin towers, the Wignacourt towers were more than simply watchtowers. Instead they formed significant strongpoints intended to protect vulnerable sections of the coast from attack.

The five extant towers built in this style are:


 * Saint Paul's Bay Tower (built 1610)
 * Saint Lucian Tower (built 1610-1611)
 * Saint Thomas Tower (built 1614)
 * Saint Mary's Tower (built 1618)
 * Saint Agatha's Tower (built 1649)

Of these, St. Agatha's Tower, is not strictly speaking a Wignacourt tower. Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris, Wignacourt's successor, built the tower in the Wignacourt style.

Two Wignacourt towers have been demolished:


 * Marsalforn Tower (built 1616, collapsed 1716)
 * Santa Maria delle Grazie Tower (built 1620, demolished 1888)