Sciuta Tower

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Sciuta Tower
Torri ta' Xutu
Part of the Lascaris towers
Qrendi, Malta
Ta Sciuta Tower.jpg
Sciuta Tower
Coordinates35°49′9.62″N 14°27′12.97″E / 35.8193389°N 14.4536028°E / 35.8193389; 14.4536028
TypeCoastal watchtower
Site information
OwnerGovernment of Malta
Controlled byDin l-Art Ħelwa
Open to
the public		Yes
ConditionIntact
Site history
Built1638
Built byOrder of Saint John
In use1638–1873
1940s
MaterialsLimestone
Battles/warsWorld War II

Sciuta Tower (Maltese: Torri ta' Xuta), also known as Sciutu Tower (Maltese: Torri ta' Xutu) or Wied iż-Żurrieq Tower (Maltese: Torri ta' Wied iż-Żurrieq), is a small watchtower in Qrendi, Malta. It was completed in 1638 as the fifth of the Lascaris towers. The tower was restored by Din l-Art Ħelwa.

History[]

Sciutu Tower (aka locally as Torri ta’ Xutu and Torri Sciuto) was built in 1637–8 in Wied iż-Żurrieq, located within the Qrendi boundaries, on the site of a medieval watch post.[1] It served as the prototype for the De Redin towers, which were built between 1658 and 1659.[2]

After the British took over Malta in 1800, Sciutu Tower remained in use and was manned by the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment and later the . It was abandoned in 1873 but was manned by the Coast Police once again during World War II. The tower subsequently used as a police station until 2002. An original cannon dating back to the Order's rule can still be found on the tower's roof.[citation needed]

Present day[]

The tower viewed from the east

In March 2013, Din l-Art Ħelwa was entrusted by the Government with the conservation of this tower for a period of 10 years.[3]

In September 2014, the tower and the surrounding area was cleaned of waste and debris by Din l-Art Ħelwa volunteers as well as the Qrendi Scouts.[4] The tower underwent restoration conservation until 2016, and was inaugurated and opened to the public in 2019.[5][6]

Further reading[]

References[]

  1. ^ Zammit, Vincent (1984). "Fortifications in the Middle Ages". Civilization. Ħamrun: PEG Ltd. 1: 33.
  2. ^ Attard, David P. "The De Redin Tower". Armed Forces of Malta. Archived from the original on 31 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Din l-Art Helwa to manage Wied iż-Żurrieq Tower". Times of Malta. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Wied iz Zurrieq tower gets much-needed clean-out". Times of Malta. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Corporate Responsibility". Malta International Airport. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  6. ^ "TA' XUTU TOWER IN WIED IŻ-ŻURRIEQ IS RESTORED AND OPEN FOR VISITORS". Din l-Art Ħelwa. Retrieved 22 March 2020.

External links[]


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