Sciuta Tower

Watchtower in Qrendi, Malta

35°49′9.62″N 14°27′12.97″E / 35.8193389°N 14.4536028°E / 35.8193389; 14.4536028TypeCoastal watchtowerSite informationOwnerGovernment of MaltaControlled byDin l-Art ĦelwaOpen to
the publicYesConditionIntactSite historyBuilt1638; 386 years ago (1638)Built byOrder of Saint JohnIn use1638–1873
1940sMaterialsLimestoneBattles/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 1637–1638 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 (365 years ago) (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 Royal Malta Fencible Artillery. 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

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]

References

^ Zammit, Vincent (1984). "Fortifications in the Middle Ages". Civilization. 1. Ħamrun: PEG Ltd: 33.
^ Attard, David P. "The De Redin Tower". Armed Forces of Malta. Archived from the original on 31 May 2015.
^ "Din l-Art Helwa to manage Wied iż-Żurrieq Tower". Times of Malta. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
^ "Wied iz Zurrieq tower gets much-needed clean-out". Times of Malta. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
^ "Corporate Responsibility". Malta International Airport. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
^ "TA' XUTU TOWER IN WIED IŻ-ŻURRIEQ IS RESTORED AND OPEN FOR VISITORS". Din l-Art Ħelwa. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2020.