Captain's Tower

Captain’s Tower stands in Naxxar on the northern coast of Malta. Built after 1548 by the Order of Saint John, it was one of the earliest Hospitaller fortifications on the island. The tower was designed to house the captain of the local militia and resembles earlier Hospitaller towers in Rhodes. It has a square plan with three floors and features box machicolations for defence. A columbaria inside once held carrier pigeons to send messages to Mdina or Valletta. The tower’s history includes a brief role as a temporary hospital during the plague epidemic of 1675–6. By the late 17th century, newer fortifications made it less useful for defence. Its design shares similarities with the nearby Gauci Tower, which the Order had unsuccessfully tried to take over earlier. The Captain’s Tower is one of the few surviving examples of early Hospitaller military architecture in Malta. Today the tower remains in good condition and is privately owned. Its sturdy stone walls and machicolations still mark its original purpose. The columbaria and internal layout give a sense of how messages and orders were once managed. Though not open to visitors, its exterior offers a clear view of Malta’s military heritage from the 16th century.