St Thomas Tower Marsascala - Malta
St Thomas Tower Marsascala Malta - Dji Mavic Air
Malta st thomas tower marsascala
Forgotten tower Marsascala malta with phantom 4 pro
St Thomas tower Marsaskala-Malta
Grand Master Alof Wignacourt began building Fort St Thomas in the exact location where the enemy had landed in 1614, on a plot of land bought previously by the same Grand Master.
The St Thomas Tower was the third tower for whose building Wignacourt himself paid the expenses. It is a much bigger tower than the ones usually seen on the coast, for it was intended to defend the bay and to store arms in it, not just as a look-out on the enemy.
It is believed that the plan of the tower was drawn by Vittorio Cassar, son of the illustrious Glormu, designer of the most celebrated buildings in Valletta. The tower, which cost the Grand Master 12,000 skudi, contains one high storey, divided into two big halls reaching an altitude of eighteen metres. There are four small bastions, one in every corner. The rooms are roofed over by a ceiling vault and their walls are five metres thick. A wide dry ditch runs all round the tower. The basement had a small window looking on the front battery which was armed with cannons and faced the sea. There were also rooms for watchmen on the roof. Entry into the tower was possible only over a drawbridge.
The tower was named after the small chapel of St Thomas which had existed in olden times at the bay with the same name.
Note: *All flights utilize a ground spotter (or more) for both visual and audio coverage, and any planes on range flights have tested, working stabilization and return to home features to ensure safety in the unlikely event of a link loss.
Virtual tour outside of St Thomas Tower Marsascala Malta
This would make a cool place to do archery. Watch for Gollum in the background!
St Thomas Tower Marsascala
Shot by DGI Spark drone.
St. Thomas Tower - Marsascala [4K]
St.Thomas Tower - Marsascala
Saint Thomas Tower was built above the shore on the seaward face of the headland of il-Hamriga in Marsaskala. It is a substantial fortification intended to prevent the landing of troops in the sheltered anchorages of Marsaskala Creek and St Thomas Bay. Construction of the tower was approved in July 1614, at the time of the raid of Żejtun, in which an Ottoman fleet managed to land at St Thomas Bay. The tower was named after a chapel dedicated to St Thomas which stood close to where the tower now lies. It cost 13,450 scudi, 6 tari and 4 grani to build, making it the second most expensive Wignacourt tower, after Saint Mary's Tower.
FPV Marsascala St Thomas Tower
FPV St. Thomas Tower Marsascala 2016
For this aerial footage multiple spotters observe the aircraft surroundings and a professional ground station has been used.
It is against the law to do copyright of this footage without permission given by the user.
Saint Thomas Tower was built above the shore on the seaward face of the headland of il-Hamrija in Marsaskala. It is a substantial fortification intended to prevent the landing of troops in the sheltered anchorages of Marsaskala Creek and St Thomas Bay. Construction of the tower was approved in July 1614, weeks after the raid of Żejtun, in which an Ottoman fleet managed to land at St Thomas Bay. The tower was named after a chapel dedicated to St Thomas which stood close to where the tower now lies. It cost 13,450 scudi, 6 tari and 4 grani to build, making it the second most expensive Wignacourt tower, after Saint Mary's Tower.
The tower's architect is unknown. There are claims that it was designed by Vittorio Cassar,[1] but these are disputed since Cassar was probably dead when work on the tower began.
The tower viewed from the southeast
The tower has very thick walls and has four pentagonal bastioned turrets projecting outwards on each corner. The tower's entrance was through a vaulted doorway with a wooden drawbridge. The drawbridge is still partially intact and it is the only original one to have survived in Malta. The tower is surrounded by a rock-hewn ditch.
After the De Redin towers were built, St Thomas had Żonqor and Xrobb l-Għaġin Towers in its line of sight, but these are now either in ruins or completely demolished.
In 1715, St Thomas Tower was reinforced by the addition of a battery on the seaward face. Construction of the battery cost a total of 382 scudi, 8 tarì, 11 grani and 1 piccolo, which was less than the cost of construction of other batteries around the coast.
During the French blockade of 1798–1800, the tower was stormed and captured by Maltese insurgents.
Painting of St Thomas Bay in World War I, viewed from the sea. The tower is visible in the centre.
The tower remained in use by the British until the 19th century. The British did not make any major alterations to the tower (like they did in Saint Lucian Tower), and only some minor changes to the structure were made. At some point, the tower was also used as a prison.
Mamo Tower, Marsascala, Malta
A tower built in 1657 by the Mamo family as a fortified home to guard against incursions by enemy forces.
St. Thomas Tower and Battery, M'Scala, Malta
St. Thomas Tower and Battery, M'Scala, Malta - 3D Model by Dr. Stephen C. Spiteri. More information available at militaryarchitecture.com
Marsascala Malta 2017
Marsacala Malta St. Anne celebrations
Hiking through Zejtun to Marsascala (via Hal Tmin and Xrobb l-Ghagin)
Starting in the alleyways of Zejtun, we walk past some of the town's several old chapels and niches and its imposing Parish Church dedicated to St. Catherine, heading east towards the hamlet of Hal Tmin and its chapel dedicated to Our Lady (1597) [3:44]. From there we take the road towards Marsaxlokk and Tas-Silg, through the hamlet of Misrah Strejnu and past St. Nicholas Church (San Niklaw, 1640) [4:42]. On the heights of Tas-Silg, we can observe an extensive archaeological complex hosting remnants from the prehistoric temple period that was subsequently modified and rebuilt by the Phoenicians, Romans and Byzantines [5:09]. As we head from there towards Xrobb l-Ghagin, a kestrel hovers in the air, searching for prey [6:38]. Past St. Paul's Battery (British, 1881-1886) [7:29], Xrobb l-Ghagin and the Munxar promontory, we arrive at St. Thomas Bay and Marsascala. St Thomas Bay was once protected by a small battery built by the knights in 1714-1716 [9:06]. In Marsascala we pass by the imposing but elegant St. Thomas Tower (Grand Master Wignacourt, 1614) [10:23].
St.Thomas bay, Marsascala, Malta. wmv
This is a bay close to Marsascala. There were only local people who have small summer houses there. In september it was quiet.There are two small sandy beaches and big flat limestones.
St Thomas Tower Malta
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St Thomas Tower Malta
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Marsascala Malta Aerial View HD 4K - BHV
This is an aerial view of Marsascala Malta by drone Phantom 3 Pro. Background music is a tradition Maltese song. Kindly subscribe if you wish to see more aerial views of Malta in the future. Thanks for watching
Torri Mamo Marsascala Malta
Although referred to as a tower this building was a fortified country residence built by the Mamo family in 1657 as protection against invading pirates from nearby St Thomas Bay.
The building has a unique shape with sixteen sides. On entering one finds a beautiful round domical-roofed room leading to four smaller rooms forming the four arms of the cross. On the left-hand side a staircase leads to the roof with wide views over the bay and surrounding countryside.
A two-metre ditch surrounds the Tower and there was formerly a draw-bridge. In the ditch there is a 4th-century Roman tomb which was probably originally from the Phoenician period. Over the years the Tower has had many owners. It was inherited by Lord Strickland, Prime Minister of Malta from 1927-33 and was then sold. In 1940 it was taken over by the British military authorities as a regional headquarters, and a pill box was constructed on the roof.
It was subsequently rented to a family from Zejtun but due to severe deterioration they gave up the lease in 1987. It was then handed over to Din l-Art Helwa by the Ministry for Culture, and a study of repairs required to the external walls was made in 1988, and deteriorated stone masonry was replaced. Pilasters were erected to be able to install a gate at the entrance from the road. Between 1994-95 flagstones were laid on the floor and the restoration of the external walls as well as the installation of internal and external lighting was completed.
Fortifications of Malta ????????
Using Google earth Studio, having a look at some of the countless bastions, cavaliers, ditches, counterguards, curtains and batteries which make up the vast network of fortifications on the Mediterranean island of Malta.
1). Fort St. Angelo (Antiquity) was built by the Knights of St. John over a ruins of a castle dating back to Norman times. It lies at the tip of Birgu, one of the three cities.
2). Birgu Forifications (1530 -1560). When the Knights of St. John moved to Malta in 1530, they established themselves in Birgu. The first modifications were made to the Castrum Maris, which was soon to be re-named Fort St. Angelo and used as the Grand Master's residence. The entire town slowly began to be surrounded by large walls, in a similar style to the Order's earlier defences in Rhodes. Birgu's land front was completed by 1540.
3). Santa Margherita Lines (1638 – 1736). The foundation stones was laid on 30th December 1638. When the three central bastions were completed in 1645, construction work stopped due to lack of funds and the lines remained unfinished for many years. Construction resumed in 1715 and was completed by 1736.4). Cottonera Lines (1670 - 1723). A six kilometer long line of fortifications, including ten bastions and seven main gates, in the shape of a semi-circle commissioned by Grand Master Nicola Cotoner.
5). Valletta Fortifications (1566 - 1635) in 1566 the foundation stone of the city was laid by the actual Master of Saint John`s order Jean de Valette, whose surname gave the name to the capital of Malta.
6). Floriana Lines (1635 - 1669) It was realised in 1635 that Valletta’s fortifications alone were not strong enough to withstand a long siege. Therefore, construction of the Floriana Lines commenced to enclose Valletta’s land front.
7). Senglea Fortifications (1552 - 1565) The first fortification to be built was Fort Saint Michael in 1552, and the majority of the fortifications were built over the next decade when it was founded by Grand Master Claude de la Sengle.
8). Mdina (Antiquity) was built far away from the sea, on a high hill, so that from its bastions and towers, any enemy who would dare attack could be clearly visible. The city’s walls provided shelter to all of the island’s inhabitants during the frequent attacks from corsairs.
9). Fort Ricasoli (1670 - 1698) a bastioned fort in Kalkara. After it was decommissioned in the 1960s, the fort was used for industrial purposes. Today, the fort remains mostly intact but in a dilapidated state, and it is used as a filming location and a tank cleaning facility.
10). Fort St. Elmo (1552 -1565). Best known for its role in the Great Seige of Malta in 1565. The fort withstood the siege for 28 days, falling to the Ottoman Turks on 23 June 1565. None of the defending knights survived, and only nine of the Maltese defenders survived by swimming across to Fort St. Angelo on the other side of the Grand Harbour after Fort St Elmo fell. The long siege bought much needed time for the preparation of the other two fortresses.
11). Fort Tingné (1723 - 1798) was built to protect the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour, and it is one of the oldest polygonal forts in the world. The fort was extensively altered by the British in the 19th century, and it remained in use by the military until 1979.
12). Saint Thomas Tower (1614) a large bastioned watchtower in Marsaskala. It was the third of six Wignacourt towers placed on stategic points around the island.
13). Fort Manoel (1723 - 1798) located to the north west of Valletta, and commands Marsamxett Harbour and the anchorage of Sliema Creek. The fort is an example of Baroque architecture, and it was designed with both functionality and aesthetics in mind.
13). Citadel (Antiquity) in Gozo. A major reconstruction of the southern walls of the Citadel was undertaken between 1599 and 1622, transforming it into a gunpowder fortress. The northern walls were left intact, and today they still retain a largely medieval form. The new fortifications were criticised in later decades, and plans to demolish the entire citadel were made multiple times in the 17th and 18th centuries, but were never carried out.
14). St. Julians is a town in the central Region. It is situated along the coast, north of the country's capital, Valletta. It is known for tourism-oriented businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and nightclubs which are centred mainly in an area known as Paceville.
#Malta #MaltaFortifications #KnightsofMalta
HISTORICAL PLACES OF MALTA IN GOOGLE EARTH PART ONE ( 1/2 )
1. ST.THOMAS TOWER 35°51'40.00N 14°34'23.16E
2. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHAPEL,MELLIEHA 35°59'18.22N 14°22'30.45E
3. MONUMENT 35°52'20.86N 14°31'8.99E
4. GHAJN TUFIEHA LASCARIS TOWER 35°55'50.83N 14°20'36.07E
5. SARRIA CHURCH 35°53'31.03N 14°30'13.67E
6. BIRZEBBUGIA CHURCH 35°49'36.96N 14°31'37.02E
7. BARRAKKA GARDENS 35°53'41.66N 14°30'43.49E
8. CHURCH OF ST.ANNA,MARSASKALA 35°51'56.97N 14°33'51.09E
9. FORT BINGEMMA,RABAT 35°54'12.55N 14°21'44.34E
10. KENUNA TOWER,NADUR 36° 2'7.93N 14°17'2.65E
11. FORT ST.ANGELO,BIRGU 35°53'31.99N 14°31'5.37E
12. MAGDALENE CHAPEL,DINGLI 35°51'6.14N 14°23'8.49E
13. FORT CHAMBRAY,GHAJNSIELEM 36° 1'21.45N 14°17'33.93E
14. ST.MARK'S TOWER,NAXXAR 35°56'47.37N 14°27'11.92E
15. FORT BENGHISA,BIRZEBBUGA 35°48'30.34N 14°31'56.95E
16. XEWKIJA CHURCH,XEWKIJA 36° 1'54.31N 14°15'39.89E
17. FORT CAMPBELL,MELLIEHA 35°57'50.62N 14°23'25.63E
18. LAFERLA CROSS,SIGGIEWI 35°51'1.21N 14°24'59.64E
19. FISH POOL 35°59'9.98N 14°19'54.54E
20. DWEJRA WATCHTOWER,GOZO 36° 2'58.26N 14°11'31.74E
21. SELMUN PALACE,MELLIEHA 35°57'32.81N 14°22'53.06E
St Thomas tower 360 -Malta by team stealth rotors
Saint Thomas Tower was built above the shore on the seaward face of the headland of il-Hamriga in Marsaskala. It is a substantial fortification intended to prevent the landing of troops in the sheltered anchorages of Marsaskala Creek and St Thomas Bay. Construction of the tower was approved in July 1614, weeks after the raid of Żejtun, in which an Ottoman fleet managed to land at St Thomas Bay.
Il Munxar, Marsascala
Panoramic view