OKAY, HERE’S THE STORY

Set the scene.

Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt decided to build Santa Marija Tower in 1618. It formed part of a system linking defence with communication.

Here’s the twist.

Its elevated position, around eighty metres above sea level, gave watchers a broad view. The tower helped link Mdina in Malta and the Cittadella in Gozo.

Why it still matters.

Imagine needing to send an urgent warning without a phone. Height and visibility could turn a building into part of a communications network.

🧠 One to think about +

What does this story change about the way you see Malta today? Pick one detail you’d tell a friend — then check its source below.