Gourgion Tower, Fortified house in Xewkija, Malta.
Gourgion Tower was a rectangular fortified residence in Xewkija with thick stone walls, narrow defensive windows, and a domed stair-hood. The structure followed military building principles typical of late 17th-century construction and served as both home and defensive stronghold.
Giovanni Gourgion, a nobleman who accumulated wealth through corsairing against Ottoman vessels, built this fortified residence in 1690 while serving as secretary to the Grand Masters. The tower represented the power and prosperity of a prominent family on the islands.
The tower stones and inscriptions now rest in the Heritage Malta collection, preserving fragments of architectural elements from the original structure.
The site is no longer accessible as the structure was demolished during World War II. Stone fragments and inscriptions can be viewed at Heritage Malta collections, where they have been preserved for study.
Around 300 local workers participated in the demolition in 1943, and some accounts suggest the stones were marked, possibly for future reconstruction. These markings indicate that preserving or rebuilding the historical structure after the war may have been considered.
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