Gauci Tower (Maltese: Torri Gauci, Italian: Torre Gauci) is a tower in Naxxar, Malta. It was built before 1548 by the Gauci family. Today, the tower is in good condition.
Gauci Tower was built sometime before 1548 by Francesco Gauci to protect his family from corsair raids. Construction cost a total of 400 scudi. In 1548, it was requisitioned by the Order of Saint John, who ruled the Maltese Islands, to house the Captain of the Naxxar militia. Gauci petitioned against this move, and the tower was returned to him on 16 May 1548. Eventually, the Order built the nearby Captain's Tower to house the Captain of the militia.
The tower is quite small, and it has a square plan, with its lower half being slightly more pronounced. A number of box machicolations are located at the crest of its high parapet. It also has musketry loopholes and vision slits. A townhouse, which was also built by Gauci, is located next to the tower.[1]
By the late 17th century, Gauci Tower had lost most of its defensive value. The Chapel of St. Paul was built in front of it in 1696.[2]
The tower and adjacent townhouse needed a lot of repairs and restoration, as they were uninhabited for multiple years. A lot of the construction materials had to be imported to the island. The most difficult renovation included dismantling the air-raid shelter on the ground floor of the tower, which had been used during WWII. This air-raid shelter was built by British forces during the war to protect Malta's highest judge, Sir Arturo Mercieca. In the tower, 30cm steel cement was cutting through the three arches, supported by giant pillars. On the 450th Birthday of the tower – May 16, 1998 – all restoration work was finally finished, and a ceremony led by the mayor of Naxxar led to the switching-on of the flood-light system of this beautiful tower and adjacent St. Pawl's Chapel.
Further reading
Women's Places (Itineraries). (Ch 19). p. 391.
References
^"Naxxar's Torre Gauci". Times of Malta. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
^Spiteri, Stephen C. . MilitaryArchitecture.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gauci Tower.
National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands
January 20, 2023
gauci, tower, maltese, torri, gauci, italian, torre, gauci, tower, naxxar, malta, built, before, 1548, gauci, family, today, tower, good, condition, torri, gaucinaxxar, maltaview, coordinates35, 919861, 442528, 919861, 442528typetowersite, informationownerpriv. Gauci Tower Maltese Torri Gauci Italian Torre Gauci is a tower in Naxxar Malta It was built before 1548 by the Gauci family Today the tower is in good condition Gauci TowerTorri GauciNaxxar MaltaView of Gauci TowerCoordinates35 55 11 5 N 14 26 33 1 E 35 919861 N 14 442528 E 35 919861 14 442528TypeTowerSite informationOwnerPrivateOpen tothe publicNoConditionIntactSite historyBuiltbefore 1548Built byGauci familyMaterialsLimestone Contents 1 History 2 Further reading 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditGauci Tower was built sometime before 1548 by Francesco Gauci to protect his family from corsair raids Construction cost a total of 400 scudi In 1548 it was requisitioned by the Order of Saint John who ruled the Maltese Islands to house the Captain of the Naxxar militia Gauci petitioned against this move and the tower was returned to him on 16 May 1548 Eventually the Order built the nearby Captain s Tower to house the Captain of the militia The tower is quite small and it has a square plan with its lower half being slightly more pronounced A number of box machicolations are located at the crest of its high parapet It also has musketry loopholes and vision slits A townhouse which was also built by Gauci is located next to the tower 1 By the late 17th century Gauci Tower had lost most of its defensive value The Chapel of St Paul was built in front of it in 1696 2 The tower and adjacent townhouse needed a lot of repairs and restoration as they were uninhabited for multiple years A lot of the construction materials had to be imported to the island The most difficult renovation included dismantling the air raid shelter on the ground floor of the tower which had been used during WWII This air raid shelter was built by British forces during the war to protect Malta s highest judge Sir Arturo Mercieca In the tower 30cm steel cement was cutting through the three arches supported by giant pillars On the 450th Birthday of the tower May 16 1998 all restoration work was finally finished and a ceremony led by the mayor of Naxxar led to the switching on of the flood light system of this beautiful tower and adjacent St Pawl s Chapel Further reading EditWomen s Places Itineraries From Floriana to Naxxar via Sliema Ch 19 p 391 References Edit Naxxar s Torre Gauci Times of Malta 28 February 2012 Retrieved 25 July 2015 Spiteri Stephen C Naxxar and its fortifications MilitaryArchitecture com Archived from the original on 20 January 2016 Retrieved 25 July 2015 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gauci Tower National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gauci Tower amp oldid 1123531094, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
