Torre dello Standardo

Tourist Office and Tower in Mdina

CC BY-SA 3.0 / C T Johansson

The Torre dello Standardo (Tower of the Standard) is one of Mdina's most recognizable landmarks — a proud sentinel that has watched over the city's entrance for nearly three centuries. Built between 1725 and 1726 by the Order of St. John, this limestone tower forms part of the fortified city's defensive architecture. Standing beside the Mdina Gate, it replaced an earlier medieval structure known as the Torre Mastra or Torre de la Bandiera, which had been severely damaged during the 1693 Sicily earthquake. Designed by the French military engineer Charles François de Mondion, the same architect responsible for Mdina Gate, the Torre dello Standardo was constructed as part of a broader Baroque redesign of the city's entrance under Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena.

From Medieval Watchtower to Baroque Masterpiece

The site of the Torre dello Standardo has long been strategic. Its medieval predecessor, the Torre Mastra, was an essential part of Mdina's early warning system — a fortified tower used to communicate signals between the city and the rest of Malta. When the original tower was demolished in 1725, de Mondion's new design combined military functionality with Baroque elegance, giving the tower both defensive strength and architectural refinement. Completed in July 1726, the Torre dello Standardo became not just a symbol of protection but also a ceremonial structure, proudly displaying the standard (flag) of the Order of St. John.

The Tower's Role in Communication and Defense

The Torre dello Standardo's purpose was primarily to relay signals across Malta, an essential function in the pre-telegraph era. Fires were lit atop the tower to send warnings of invasions or emergencies, while cannons were fired in the evening as part of the city's nightly closure rituals. During the Maltese uprising of 1798 against the French occupation, the tower gained symbolic importance when rebels raised Maltese, Neapolitan, and Portuguese flags atop it to signal solidarity and resistance. Although its military role diminished under British rule, the tower continued to serve as a key site for communication, even housing a Telegraph Office by 1888 and later serving as a police station.

The Torre dello Standardo Today

Today, the Torre dello Standardo stands fully intact and beautifully preserved, a testament to Malta's layered history. Since 2011, it has served as a tourist information center managed by the Malta Tourism Authority, welcoming visitors to Mdina and introducing them to the city's rich heritage. Occasionally, the tower also hosts cultural events and exhibitions, making it not only a relic of the past but also a living part of Mdina's cultural landscape. The tower's elegant façade, intricate stonework, and commanding presence beside the city gate make it an unmissable stop for anyone exploring Malta's former capital.

The Torre dello Standardo appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Mdina!

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!