St Mark's Tower

Saint Mark’s Tower stands on a rocky point called Qrejten in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, on Malta’s north coast. It was built in 1658 as one of the De Redin towers, a chain of small watchtowers meant to guard against pirates. The tower replaced an older medieval watch post that once stood on the same site. From its roof turret it once looked west to Għallis Tower and east to Madliena Tower. The stone structure follows the standard De Redin plan: two storeys topped by a small lookout turret. The tower’s history includes a fougasse, a buried explosive chamber dug in 1741 and lost until road workers found it again in 2014. By 1743 the tower had been abandoned, yet in 1792 the Congregation of War ordered it rearmed with a 3-pounder iron gun. Later the British added a guard room, though only ruins of it remain today. The tower was restored in 1997 by Din l-Art Ħelwa, a Maltese heritage group. Visitors find a solid stone tower with two floors and a turret offering views over the surrounding coast. The interior is simple, with rooms arranged around a central staircase. Outside, the rocky peninsula is littered with rubbish left by campers, which spoils the scene. Despite this, the tower itself stands in good condition and can be viewed from close by.