Bubaqra Tower

This article is about the privately built tower. For the nearby coastal watchtower, see Wardija Tower.
Bubaqra Tower
Torri ta' Bubaqra

View of Bubaqra Tower
General information
Status Intact
Type Fortified house
Location Bubaqra, Żurrieq, Malta
Coordinates 35°49′30.6″N 14°28′33″E / 35.825167°N 14.47583°E / 35.825167; 14.47583
Completed c. 1579
Renovated 18th century
Owner Polly Fry[1]
Technical details
Material Limestone
Website
www.bubaqra-tower.com

Bubaqra Tower (Maltese: Torri ta' Bubaqra) is a fortified house in Bubaqra, limits of Żurrieq, Malta. It was built as a country retreat in the late 16th century. The tower and its gardens have been restored, and now serve as a family retreat. It is officially named as Bubaqra Palace (Maltese: Palazz Bubaqra) and it is a grade 2 national monument.

History

Bubaqra Tower was built in around 1579 by Don Matteolo Pisani, a Conventual Chaplin of the Order of St. John.[2] Fr. Luret Zammit confirms that it was built by Fr. Mattew (Matteolo) Pisani. Zammit says that initially it was named Torre del Greco for a Greek family, the Roncali family, who lived there.[3]

Although the structure was fortified, it was privately owned and was not meant for defensive purposes. Despite this, at some point it was probably used in Malta's defence system, as was done in other cases such as Gauci and Mamo Towers.[4]

The structure was modified in the 18th century,[5] during the rule of Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari and around 1760,[3] and it was reportedly used as an illicit meeting place between members of the Order (who were supposed to be celibate) and young females.[5]

The tower was requisitioned by the British military during World War II between 1939 and 1945,[3] but was returned to its owners after the war.[6]

Bubaqra Tower and its gardens have been restored,[5] and it is now a family retreat.[7] The tower is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[8] The building is officially known as Palazzo Bubaqra by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) and is scheduled as a grade 2 national monument.[9]

Architecture

Bubaqra Tower, (or Castle[10]) is situated in an agricultural estate, and it is surrounded by citrus gardens.[2] It is square in shape, and has four distinctive corner turrets.[8] Its architecture probably influenced the design of the Gourgion Tower, which was built in the late 17th century on Gozo.[2] Above the main entrance of the building is an inscription that calls upon God to give relief from the enemy at the recitation of the sign of the cross.[3]

Further reading

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bubaqra Tower.
  1. ↑ Fry, Polly (7 June 2016). Castle in Malta with private 5 acre walled garden and pool.. HomeAway. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Azzopardi, Joe (October 2013). "The Gourgion Tower – Gone but not Forgotten (Part 1)" (PDF). Vigilo. Din l-Art Ħelwa (44): 46. ISSN 1026-132X. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 11, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Guillaumier, Alfie (2005). Bliet u Rhula Maltin. Second Volume. Klabb Kotba Maltin. ISBN 99932-39-40-2. p. 1028.
  4. ↑ "Zurieq – Blue Grotto". maltassist.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Attard, Mary (22 November 2014). "Preti, Ball and catacombs". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Bubaqra Tower". Gozo Tourism Association. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "About". bubaqra-tower.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Bubaqra Tower" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  9. ↑ https://www.mepa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=10240. p. 4.
  10. ↑ Abela, Giovanni Francesco (1647). Della Descrizione di Malta Isola nel Mare Siciliano con le sue Antichità, ed Altre Notizie (in Italian). Paolo Bonacota. p. 95.
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