Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower |
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| Torri ta' Triq il-Wiesgħa | |
| Part of the De Redin towers | |
| Żabbar, Malta | |
Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower
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| Coordinates | 35°52′40.7″N 14°33′51.4″E / 35.877972°N 14.564278°E |
| Type | Coastal watchtower |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Controlled by | Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Intact |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1659 |
| Built by | Order of Saint John |
| Materials | Limestone |
Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower, also known as Torri ta' Triq il-Wiesgħa in Maltese, is a small old tower in Żabbar, Malta. It was built a long time ago in 1659. This tower was the ninth of many similar towers called the De Redin towers. These towers were built to watch over the coast. The Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower got quite damaged in the 1900s. But don't worry, it was fixed up nicely between 2008 and 2009. Now it looks good again!
History of the Tower
Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower was built in 1659. It stands on the coast, east of the Grand Harbour. Its name means "Wide Street" because it watched over a long, wide part of the coastline.
This tower looks like other De Redin towers. It has a square shape with two floors. There is also a small turret, which is a little tower, on its roof.
Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower could see two other towers. To its west was the Santa Maria delle Grazie Tower. To its east was the Żonqor Tower. Sadly, these two towers are gone now. The British military took them down a long time ago.
In the 1870s, a new fort called Fort Leonardo was built. It was about 350 meters away from Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower. The fort was on higher ground. Luckily, the tower was not in the way of the fort's cannons.
If the tower had been in the way, it would probably have been knocked down. Other towers, like Delimara Tower, were demolished. They were removed to make sure forts like Fort Delimara had a clear view for shooting.
By the early 1900s, the back part of the tower had fallen apart. The tower was in ruins. But it was fixed up again in the 1930s.
During World War II, the top part of the tower, called the parapet, and its turret were removed. Small concrete shelters called pillboxes were built nearby. The tower was damaged even more when an airplane crashed close to it.
The Tower Today
After World War II, the tower became damaged again. Part of its base had fallen apart. In 2004, a group called Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna took over the tower.
They started fixing it up four years later, in September 2008. The work was finished by March 2009. During this restoration, the parts that were removed during World War II were rebuilt. Now, the tower is in good shape and looks much better!
See also
In Spanish: Torre Triq il-Wiesgha para niños
