Here’s a detailed account of St Agatha's,more famously known as the Red Tower or Torri L-Aħmar in Maltese:
St Agatha's Tower
📍 Location
Marfa Ridge, Mellieha, Malta
On top of Marfa Ridge, overlooking Mellieħa Bay, Ghadira Bay, and with panoramic views over the islands of Comino and Gozo. Its address is Triq It-Torri, L-Aħmar, Mellieħa, Malta..
Coordinates: approx. 35.974518, 14.342938.
🏗️ Overview & Historical Context
St. Agatha's Tower is one of the most prominent and well-preserved coastal watchtowers built by the Knights of Malta in the 17th century. Its strategic location, distinctive red colour, and impressive structure make it a significant historical landmark.
Official Name: St. Agatha's Tower (Torri ta' Sant'Agata)
Common Name: The Red Tower (It-Torri l-Aħmar)
Location: On top of Marfa Ridge, overlooking Mellieħa Bay, Ghadira Bay, and with panoramic views over the islands of Comino and Gozo. Its address is Triq It-Torri, L-Aħmar, Mellieħa, Malta.
Date of Construction: 1647–1649
Commissioned by: Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris de Castellar
Primary Function: A coastal watchtower and signal station, part of a sophisticated chain of defensive communications.
Following the devastating Ottoman raid on Gozo in 1637 and the increasing threat of Barbary corsairs, Grand Master Lascaris initiated an ambitious building program to strengthen the islands' coastal defences. The Red Tower was a key part of this project, designed to be a large, robust structure capable of housing a significant garrison and commanding views over the critical northern channels.
🏰 Architectural Features
The Red Tower is a classic example of a Lascaris Tower, but it is notably larger and more complex than the earlier Wignacourt towers.
Structure: It is a square, massive tower with four corner towers (or turrets) projecting from the top, giving it a distinctive silhouette.
Dimensions: The tower is approximately 12 metres long on each side and stands about 11 metres high.
Walls: The walls are incredibly thick, measuring about 4 metres at ground level, making it highly resistant to cannon fire.
Entrance: Access was originally via a retractable wooden ladder to a first-floor doorway, a common defensive feature to prevent easy access for attackers. Today, a permanent stone staircase has been added for visitors.
Interior: The interior is spread over two floors:
Ground Floor: Served as a storage area for supplies and ammunition. It features a central pillar that supports the vaulted ceiling of the first floor.
First Floor: This was the living quarters for the garrison, which typically consisted of around 30-50 men. It includes a large main room with a fireplace, oven, and stone benches. A small chapel is also built into the wall.
Roof: The roof is a flat, stone-flagged terrace surrounded by a high parapet. It was the primary signalling platform, where a bronze cannon was mounted (now replaced by a replica) and where signal fires could be lit.
🔹 The Name & Colour
St. Agatha: The tower is dedicated to St. Agatha, a Christian martyr from Catania, Sicily. It is believed a relic of the saint (a piece of her veil) was kept in the small chapel inside the tower to protect the garrison. The Knights had a strong devotion to St. Agatha, who is also the patron saint of Malta's neighbouring island, Gozo.
The Red Colour: The tower's vivid red ochre wash is its most famous feature. This was not merely decorative; the lime wash mixture, which included red earth and animal fat, served a crucial purpose. It acted as a protective sealant, waterproofing the limestone walls against the harsh sea salt and weather, thereby preserving the structure. Its colour made it highly visible from other towers, aiding in daytime signalling.
📜 Strategic Importance & Communication
The Red Tower was the linchpin of the northern defensive network.
Visibility: Its elevated position (at 140m above sea level) provided unmatched 360-degree views of the surrounding seas. The garrison could see signals from the towers of Gozo, Comino, and the rest of Malta, and vice versa.
Signalling: It communicated with the following towers via fire and smoke signals (at night and day, respectively):
West: Nadur Tower on Gozo
East: St. Paul's Bay Tower and White Tower (since demolished)
South: Naxxar Tower (now largely destroyed) and the high ground of Mdina.
Garrison: It was one of the most heavily armed towers, designed to house a large garrison that could quickly respond to threats on the nearby beaches.
🏛 ️Restoration and Present Dayy
After the British period, the tower fell into a state of disrepair. A major, meticulous restoration project was undertaken by Din l-Art Ħelwa (The National Trust of Malta) between 1999 and 2001.
Restoration Work: The project involved repairing stonework, re-pointing walls, restoring the internal features (fireplace, oven, chapel), and most famously, re-applying the traditional red ochre wash using historically accurate materials and methods.
Current Use: Today, the tower is fully accessible to the public and operates as a museum.
Opening Hours: It is open several days a week (typically Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, but checking ahead is advised).
What to See: Inside, you can see the restored rooms, informational panels about its history, and a replica bronze cannon on the roof.
The View: The primary reason for a visit is the absolutely breathtaking panoramic view from the roof, encompassing Mellieħa Bay, Comino, Gozo, and on a clear day, even Sicily.
🗂️Key Facts at a Glances
Detail
Detail
Built
1647 - 1649
Commissioned
Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris
Type
Lascaris Tower (Large)
Primary Function
Watchtower & Signal Station
Garrison
~30-50 men
Colour
Red Ochre Wash (for protection)
Current Status
Restored, open to the public as a museum
Managed by
Din l-Art Ħelwa (The National Trust of Malta)
✅ Summary:
The Red Tower stands not just as a stone relic, but as a brilliantly restored symbol of Malta's martial history and a testament to modern conservation efforts. It is one of the most rewarding historical sites to visit on the island.
