Malta in a Minute: St Agatha’s Tower

Everything you need to know about Malta – one minute at a time.

The Red Tower, Mellieha

St Agatha's Tower or, as it is more popularly known, the Red Tower, is a watchtower in Mellieha, in the north part of Malta. It was built between 1647 and 1649 and consists of a square plan with four corner towers. The outer walls of At Agatha's Tower are an impressive 4 metres thick. A small chapel dedicated to St Agatha is located inside the tower. The reason why it is painted red is now known but it may have been for it to be easily recognised by sentinels or to act as a deterrent to corsairs or would-be invaders. It served as a military fortification for over 300 years and then fell into disrepair.

Extensive restoration works were carried out between 1999 and 2001.

It is now in the care of Din l-Art Helwa and is open to the public.
The Red Tower, Mellieha
Winter Opening Hours: 16th September – 14th June Monday to Sunday  10.00hrs – 16:00hrs 
Summer Opening Hours: 15th June – 15th September Monday to Sunday  10.00hrs - 17.00hrs

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4 comments

  1. I am going to google inside of it. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Always good to hear when historic buildings are saved and restored.

    As for the suffering by St. Agatha, I read in the linked article of her hideous torture which included cutting off her breasts - and now know why she is the patron saint of, among others, breast cancer patients.

    Thanks for sharing more of Malta's colorful history Loree.

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  3. Loree it would be interesting to know why it was red. Beautiful building. Glad to read it is still being used today for a chapel. Have a lovely week friend. Hugs! Thank you too for visiting me in my part of the world :)!

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  4. Interesting color of this building ! Looks a bit Italian.

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