Here’s a full account of Garzes Tower (Torri Garzes), an important but now-lost fortification of Gozo:
🏰 Garzes Tower, Gozo
📍 Location
Built on the western point of Mġarr harbour, near today’s Mġarr ix-Xini Bay, on the outskirts of Mġarr, Gozo.
Its purpose was to guard Gozo’s main harbour approaches and provide early warning of enemy ships.
The tower no longer survives — it was demolished in the 19th century, but its foundations have been identified near modern port developments.
📜 History
Origins
Constructed in 1605 under Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt, making it the very first coastal watchtower in Gozo.
It was named after Fra Bernard Garzes, a Knight of the Order of St John, who financed its construction.
Strategic Role
Its main duty was to protect the harbour of Mġarr, the lifeline of Gozo.
Provided early warning against Ottoman and Barbary corsair raids, which had long plagued the island.
Staffed with a small garrison, typically a bombardier and a few soldiers, and equipped with cannon and small arms.
Could also signal to Cittadella (Victoria, Gozo) and nearby towers via fires and flags.
Military Use
From the 17th to 18th centuries, it was a key part of Gozo’s coastal defense network.
Unlike the later De Redin towers, Garzes Tower was larger and more heavily armed, as were all the Wignacourt towers in Malta.
Decline & Demolition
By the 19th century, under British rule, the tower was no longer militarily useful.
It was demolished in 1848 to make way for new harbor facilities and modernization works.
Stones from the tower may have been reused in other constructions around Mġarr.
🏗️ Architecture & Design
Rectangular plan, with thick limestone walls.
Heavier and bulkier than the later De Redin standard plan.
Two floors and a roof platform, with gun embrasures for cannon.
Entrance likely raised above ground for defensive purposes.
🌍 Present Day
No standing remains — the site is occupied by later developments at Mġarr Harbour.
The memory of the tower survives in historical documents, engravings, and maps.
Garzes Tower is commemorated in local history as the first coastal tower in Gozo, and a forerunner of the later Wignacourt and De Redin chains.
🗂️ Quick Facts
| Feature | Detail |
| Name | Garzes Tower (Torri Garzes) |
| Built | 1605 |
| Builder | Knights of St John (funded by Fra Bernard Garzes) |
| Location | Western side of Mġarr Harbour, Gozo |
| Purpose | Protect Gozo’s main harbour, early warning |
| Type | Wignacourt-style watchtower |
| Fate | Demolished in 1848 |
| Status Today | Lost, foundations gone under modern development |
✅ Summary:
Garzes Tower, built in 1605, was Gozo’s first coastal watchtower and an essential part of its defenses against raids. It stood at Mġarr Harbour, protecting Gozo’s main gateway, until its demolition in the 19th century. Though gone, it paved the way for Malta and Gozo’s later network of coastal towers.