Better visitor facilities at Wignacourt Tower

Din l-Art Helwa and Bank of Valletta yesterday inaugurated embellishment works they jointly carried out at the Wignacourt Tower, in St Paul's Bay.

The works, commissioned by DLH as guardians of the tower and sponsored by the bank, have improved visitor facilities at the centuries-old tower.

Presenting the sponsorship, BOV chairman Joseph F.X. Zahra said the bank was committed to playing an active role in the Maltese community.

"The restoration of the Wignacourt Tower forms part of the bank's tangible contribution towards the preservation, promotion and enrichment of Malta's cultural and historical heritage," he said.

Mr Zahra congratulated Din l-Art Helwa for their initiative. He said BOV has built a strong "association" with Grandmaster Wignacourt through several initiatives it has undertaken in its efforts to promote Maltese heritage.

"Foremost amongst these initiatives was the financing of the restoration of Grandmaster Wignacourt's Parade Armour as part of the Bank's Millennium Project.

"Today, the restored artefact can be viewed in all its splendour at the Palace Armoury. The bank is also planning to rebuild the Wignacourt Gate in Sta Venera near the site currently being developed to house the new BOV Operations Centre," Mr Zahra said.

DLH president Martin Scicluna thanked BOV for its commitment towards the restoration of heritage sites.

He said a whole series of improvements were carried out at the tower. "A modern lighting system was installed over the exhibits, a closed-circuit TV system was set up, bookcases to offer promotional literature to the visitors were placed in the tower as well as a monitor showing a documentary about the tower through the ages. All this could not have been possible without BOV's generous financial input."

Wignacourt Tower was the first of a number of coastal defence towers built round Malta. It was built by Grandmaster Alof de Wignacourt in 1610 and designed by the Maltese architect Vittorio Cassar. From 1610 to 1649, the tower was Malta's northernmost defensive outpost until St Agatha's Tower was built in Mellieha. In 1715 a coastal battery was added to increase its firepower.

During the 18th century, the tower was equipped with two six-pounder and three 18-pounder cannon and in the following century it was used as a police station and telegraph post.

The tower will be open to the public on weekday mornings up till 12 p.m. except for Friday. On Monday and Tuesday, it will also be open in the afternoon up till 3 p.m.