St Mary's Tower

St Mary's Tower stands on the southern side of Comino, built in 1618 as part of the Wignacourt chain to close the channel between Malta and Gozo, which had been used by raiders as a base. It is a large square block on a plinth with four corner turrets, standing about twelve metres, and it dominates the small island. It was restored by a heritage organisation and is opened by volunteers, and it appeared as the Château d'If in a Count of Monte Cristo film.

History

The tower was paid for mainly by selling Comino brushwood, and at 18,628 scudi it was the most expensive of the Wignacourt towers, probably because of the difficulty of building on a barren island. It stands about 80 metres above sea level, and it was used by the Armed Forces of Malta until 2002 before passing to Din l-Art Ħelwa (Wikipedia, Saint Mary's Tower).

Highlights

• The square block - a substantial tower on a raised plinth with corner turrets.
• The channel position - the tower closing the passage between Malta and Gozo.
• The Comino views - the whole island and both channels from the roof.
• The restoration - the volunteer-run conservation and opening of the building.

When to go

April to October when the Comino ferries run frequently. Opening is by volunteers and limited to certain days. The walk up from the ferry is exposed.

Things to know

Opening depends on volunteers and the tower is often closed. The walk from the ferry landing is uphill with no shade. Comino has almost no facilities and is packed in summer.

Nearby

The Blue Lagoon is north, and Santa Marija Bay is northeast.

Key facts