A brief outline of the Windmills
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There have been a lot of windmills on Malta and on Gozo. At least 69 stone windmills. Almost all the windmills were grain mills. There were about 56 on Malta and 22 on Gozo. Only 3 of these mills still have sails. Before the windmills there were postmills. Already in 1530 there was a postmill on Malta and in 1565 two. Those were postmills in what now is Senglea. The technology was introduced by the Knight of St John from Rhodes, which they had occupied from 1309 to 1523. A postmill is a type of windmill in which the whole body (the millhouse containing the machinery) is mounted on a single central vertical post, around which the body can rotate to bring the sails into the wind. There were two of these in Malta built in 1530 and 1565 although details are sparse |  |
Windmills of Gozo
A fairly comprehensive list of 22 Windmills with a page and photographs where possible some have been destroyed over timeTa' Kola Windmill, Gozo (Heritage Malta)
The best-preserved example is Ta' Kola Windmill in Xagħra, Gozo, which is operated as a museum by Heritage Malta. Ta’ Kola Windmill in Xagħra, Gozo, is one of the best-preserved windmills from the Knights’ period, originally built in 1725 during the rule of Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena. Reconstructed in the 18th century, it served as a vital centre for grinding grain into flour and supporting village life. Named after its last miller, Ġużeppi Grech (“ta’ Kola”), the windmill remained in use until the 20th century and was later restored and opened as a museum in 1992, offering insight into traditional rural life, craftsmanship, and bread-making practices in Gozo.Windmills of Malta
A fairly comprehensive list of 56 Windmills with a page and photographs where possible a number have been destroyed over timeA windmill built in the 1700s typically reflects the robust, functional architecture of the early modern period, designed to harness wind power for essential milling work. Constructed from thick, locally quarried stone, these towers were built to withstand both time and the coastal winds that powered them. Most featured a cylindrical or slightly tapered structure, topped with a rotating wooden cap that allowed the sails to be turned into the wind. Inside, multiple levels housed heavy milling machinery—stone grinding wheels, wooden gears, and storage space for grain and flour. Operated by skilled millers who relied on wind direction and seasonal rhythms, 18th-century windmills were vital to rural communities, providing a reliable means of producing flour long before industrialized mills emerged. Today, surviving examples stand as remarkable testimonies to early engineering and the agricultural heritage of the period.
FAQ
Q: Are there windmills in Malta?A: Yes. Malta has several historic windmills, most of which were built during the 17th and 18th centuries under the Knights of St John. The best-preserved example is Ta' Kola Windmill in Xagħra, Gozo, which is operated as a museum by Heritage Malta.
Q: What is Ta' Kola Windmill in Gozo?
A: Ta' Kola Windmill is a fully preserved 18th-century windmill in Xagħra, Gozo, built in 1725 during the rule of Grand Master Ramon Perellos. It operated as a working grain mill and is now a Heritage Malta museum showcasing traditional milling equipment.
Q: Why did Malta have windmills?
A: Malta developed windmills primarily during the Knights of St John era (1530–1798) to mill grain for the fortress island. The Mediterranean wind was a reliable power source, and the windmills were strategically placed on hilltops to maximise airflow.
Q: Can you visit windmills in Malta?
A: Yes. Ta' Kola Windmill in Xagħra, Gozo is open to visitors as part of Heritage Malta. Entry is included with a combo ticket alongside the nearby Ġgantija Temples. Check Heritage Malta's website for current opening times.