🏰 Xlejli Tower (Torri Xlejli), Gudja
📍 Location
Found in the grounds of Palazzo Dorell, a historic country residence in Gudja, in the south of Malta, not far from the Malta International Airport.
The tower stands out due to its unusual circular design, quite distinct from the square-plan fortified houses common in Malta.
📜 Historical Background
Period of Construction: Built by Count Ignatius Francesco Moscati Falsoni Navarra in 1670.
Purpose:
Unlike the later coastal towers, this was not a military watchtower of the Order of St John but a private defensive structure, probably erected by local landowners.
Connection to Palazzo Dorell:
The Dorell family incorporated the tower into the landscaped grounds of their Baroque palace (built in the early 18th century).
By then, the tower was already a historic landmark, and it was preserved as part of the estate.
🏗️ Architecture & Design
Form:
A tall, circular stone tower, rising well above the surrounding countryside.
Its cylindrical design is very unusual in Malta, as most towers of the period are square.
Features:
Built of local limestone, with thick defensive walls.
Likely had a raised entrance and small openings for surveillance.
A roof platform would have been used for keeping watch across the plains.
Style: Shows a blend of medieval defensive design with hints of influence from southern European feudal towers, reflecting Malta’s crossroads position.
⚔️ Historical Role
The tower was likely constructed by wealthy landowners in Gudja to defend their lands against pirate incursions, which were frequent before the systematic tower chains were built by the Knights of St John.
It may also have been used as a status symbol, demonstrating power and authority, in addition to practical defense.
During the period when Palazzo Dorell served as headquarters for British troops in the early 19th century, the tower remained a landmark within the estate.
🌍 Later Use and Present Day
Over the centuries, the tower lost its defensive role and became an architectural feature within the gardens of Palazzo Dorell.
Today, the tower is:
Privately owned (as part of Palazzo Dorell estate).
Protected as a heritage monument due to its rarity and age.
Not generally open to the public, but it can be appreciated as part of the historical fabric of Gudja.
🗂️ Quick Facts
| Feature | Detail |
| Name | Xlejli Tower (Torri Xlejli) |
| Location | Grounds of Palazzo Dorell, Gudja, Malta |
| Built | 15th–16th century |
| Type | Inland defensive tower |
| Shape | Circular (rare in Malta) |
| Purpose | Private defense, lookout, refuge |
| Current Status | Standing, privately owned, heritage monument |
✅ Summary:
Xlejli Tower in Gudja is a rare circular tower, one of Malta’s few examples of this type of medieval fortified structure. Built in the 15th or 16th century as a private lookout and refuge, it later became part of the Palazzo Dorell gardens when the Palazzo Dorell was build in 1670 by Count Ignatius Francesco Moscati Falsoni Navarra. Its unusual cylindrical design makes it architecturally unique among Malta’s inland towers, most of which were square. Today, it survives as a protected heritage monument, privately owned but visible within Gudja’s historic core.
