Open tothe public No Built by Order of Saint John Year built 1638 | Condition Intact In use 1638–18731940s | |
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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 in a dilapidated state but it is currently being restored by Din l-Art Ħelwa.
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History
Sciutu Tower was built in 1638 in Wied iż-Żurrieq, close to Qrendi, on the site of a medieval watch post. It served as the prototype for the De Redin towers, which were built between 1658 and 1659.
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.
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.
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. The tower underwent restoration conservation until 2016, and is expected to be opened to the public by 2017.