Lija Belvedere Tower

The Lija Belvedere Tower is a limestone structure standing at a roundabout on Transfiguration Avenue. It features symmetrical columns and classical proportions that date from the mid-1800s period.

Architect Giuseppe Bonavia designed this structure in 1857 as part of the Villa Gourigon gardens, which belonged to the Marquis Depiro family. It later transformed from a private garden feature into a public roundabout centerpiece following mid-twentieth century urban development.

The tower displays European architectural styles that took hold in Malta during British rule. Its symmetrical columns and classical form reflected the taste of wealthy families who built such structures as symbols of their status during that era.

The structure stands centrally in Lija at a busy roundabout and serves as an easily recognizable landmark in the street network. The area is walkable, and visitors can view and photograph it from various angles.

The tower was originally conceived as a pure garden ornament with no connection to the modern traffic system that now flows around it. Its transformation into a roundabout centerpiece shows how urban change can repurpose older structures in unexpected ways.

Location: Lija

Inception: 1857

Architects: Giuseppe Bonavia

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

GPS coordinates: 35.90197,14.44872

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:40