Santa Cecilia Tower

36°1′44.8″N 14°16′26.2″E / 36.029111°N 14.273944°E / 36.029111; 14.273944TypeTowerSite informationOwnerPrivateOpen to
the publicNoConditionIntactSite historyBuilt1613Built byFra Bernardo MacedoniaMaterialsLimestone

Santa Cecilia Tower (Maltese: It-Torri ta' Santa Ċeċilja or ta' Santa Ċilja) is a tower in Għajnsielem, Gozo, Malta. It was built in 1613 by a member of the Order of St. John, and it could relay messages across the island. The tower remains in good condition and is a private residence.^[1]

History

Santa Cecilia Tower was built in 1613 by Fra Bernardo Macedonia, Commander of Artillery of the Order of St. John.^[2]^[3] It got its name from the nearby Santa Cecilia Chapel, the oldest surviving chapel on Gozo.^[2] The chapel eventually became an ancillary building to the tower.^[4]^[5]

The tower was able to communicate with the batteries at Ramla Bay as well as Mġarr ix-Xini Tower, so it could relay messages across Gozo. It was also able to provide refuge for the local population in case of a corsair raid.^[6]^[7]

Today, the tower is a private residence. It was included on the Antiquities List of 1925.^[8] The tower is now scheduled as a Grade 1 monument,^[4] and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.^[3]

Architecture

Santa Cecilia Tower is a small rectangular structure made of limestone. It is rather plain, but it has finials and other decorative features.^[3]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Cecilia Tower.

^ Vella, Fiona (14 October 2020). "Walk along Għajnsielem's historical route". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020.
^ ^a ^b Caruana, Joseph (2011). "Toponomi t'Għajnsielem (1)" (PDF). L-Imnara. 9 (4). Rivista tal-Għaqda Maltija tal-Folklor: 187–189. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Sta Ċeċilja Tower" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Santa Cecilia Medieval Chapel". Wirt Għawdex. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015.
^ "Santa Ċeċilja – Kappella Medjevali f'Għawdex". schoolnet.gov.mt (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 20 June 2016.
^ Graham, Jimmy (17 March 2015). "Le Crac". Archived from the original on 22 November 2015.
^ Bezzina, Joseph. "Il-Kappella ta' Santa Ċeċilja - Għajnsielem Għawdex". kappellimaltin.com (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 15 May 2015.
^ "Protection of Antiquities Regulations 21st November, 1932 Government Notice 402 of 1932, as Amended by Government Notices 127 of 1935 and 338 of 1939". Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016.