Question: Where is the only functioning windmill in Malta ?

text: List of windmills in Malta
List -- Malta

This is a list of windmills in Malta, that include those on Malta and Gozo. Most windmills (Maltese: imtieħen tar-riħ) in Malta were built while the islands were under the rule of the Order of St. John, by the Cottoner and the Manoel Foundations, while other were built in the British Colonial period. There are 48 windmills (apart from those demolished that would add up to at least 69) which were included on the antiques list of 1932 and scheduled as cultural buildings by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA). The windmills form an integral part of Maltese history. Those in the countryside were used exclusively for food production, such as wheat, barley or vines, while some of those within the fortified walled cities in Valletta and the Three Cities had a military use, for the production of gunpowder. At the time of construction, each windmills' tower could site the next windmill from distance, similar to military watchtowers, in order to learn whether the others are working on that day. An instrument called bronja, colloquially known as tronga, is commonly associated with the functioning of windmills. The tronja is a sea snail that is modified, with a hole at one end, and when blown it creates a strong noise reaching a large distance in a given Maltese village. This was useful to inform the people that the windmills are operating that day due to being a windy day, by which the sails turn for general function. The architecture of a windmill could differ from one to another, but in general a Maltese windmill has similar characteristics. A tower has a built circular staircase inside it that leads to the top. Rooms are built around the tower, giving both support to the tower and used for the general storage of production.
Location Name of mill and coordinates Type Built Notes
Birkirkara Għar il-Ġobon Windmill 35°54′12.9″N 14°27′59.1″E / 35.903583°N 14.466417°E / 35.903583 ; 14.466417 Tower c. 1685 Built by Gregorio Carafa . Remained in use until 1930 , and sails were subsequently removed . Converted into a house
Birkirkara Mrieħel Windmill 35°53′34.6″N 14°27′42.9″E / 35.892944°N 14.461917°E / 35.892944 ; 14.461917 Tower c. 1685 Built by Gregorio Carafa , and possibly rebuilt in 1807 . Remained in use until 1886 . The base still exist while the mills parts were sold out in 1889 . It has been a residence since then
Birkirkara Ta ' Ganu Windmill 35°53′59.9″N 14°27′21.5″E / 35.899972°N 14.455972°E / 35.899972 ; 14.455972 Tower 1724 Built by the Manoel Foundation . Contains a niche of St. Michael . Remained in use until 1929 , and sails were subsequently removed . Later used as a blacksmith 's workshop . Restored in 1985-89 and converted into an artist 's studio
Birkirkara Ta ' Triq San Ġiljan Windmill 35°54′7.5″N 14°28′17.3″E / 35.902083°N 14.471472°E / 35.902083 ; 14.471472 Tower 1855 Remained in use until 1900 . Tower demolished and base converted into a house
Cospicua T'Għuxa Windmill 35°52′44″N 14°31′7.7″E / 35.87889°N 14.518806°E / 35.87889 ; 14.518806 Tower 1674 Built by the Cottoner Foundation . Remained in use until 1879 . Sails removed
Cospicua Santa Margherita Windmill 35°53′0.2″N 14°31′28.7″E / 35.883389°N 14.524639°E / 35.883389 ; 14.524639 Tower 1674 Built by the Cottoner Foundation . Remained in use until c. 1916 . Sails removed . Its mechanism was used to restore the Xarolla Windmill
Floriana Saint Francis Ravelin/Sarria Street Windmill 1 Tower c. 1670 Built by the Cottoner Foundation . Demolished
Floriana Saint Francis Ravelin/Sarria Street Windmill 2 Tower c. 1670 Built by the Cottoner Foundation . Demolished
Floriana Robert Samut Square Windmill Tower  Demolished
Għargħur Għargħur Windmill 35°55′31.6″N 14°27′7.5″E / 35.925444°N 14.452083°E / 35.925444 ; 14.452083 Tower 1838 Remained in use until c. 1910 , and sails were subsequently removed . Converted into a house
Gudja Gudja Windmill Tower c. 1670 Built by the Cottoner Foundation . Demolished in 1930
Kirkop Kirkop Windmill Tower  Demolished , no details known
Lija Tal-Mirakli Windmill / Tal-Għadiriet il-Bordi Windmill 35°53′50.9″N 14°26′21.9″E / 35.897472°N 14.439417°E / 35.897472 ; 14.439417 Tower 1674 Built by the Cottoner Foundation . Has a round base . Remained in use until 1889 , and sails were subsequently removed . Later used as a blacksmith 's forge . Restored in 1991-92 and used for socio-cultural activities
Luqa Ta ' Caraffa Windmill 35°51′23.3″N 14°29′17.4″E / 35.856472°N 14.488167°E / 35.856472 ; 14.488167 Tower c. 1684 Probably built by Giovanni Paolo Lascaris or Gregorio Carafa . Remained in use until c. 1889 , and pulled down in July 1943 . Rebuilt after World War II but demolished again in c. 1985
Mellieħa Windmill near Salib tal-Pellegrini 35°57′23.6″N 14°21′54.1″E / 35.956556°N 14.365028°E / 35.956556 ; 14.365028 Tower Late 17th century Rebuilt 1849 Sails removed in 1938 . Now used as a restaurant known as Il-Mitħna Restaurant
Mellieħa Il-Qadima Windmill 35°57′15.4″N 14°21′50.3″E / 35.954278°N 14.363972°E / 35.954278 ; 14.363972 Tower c. 1843 Remained in use until c. 1920 . Tower demolished and base converted to a house
Mellieħa Il-Ġdida Windmill Tower c. 1849 Demolished , exact location unknown
Mosta Jesus of Nazareth Windmill / Il-Qadima Windmill 35°54′15.5″N 14°25′34.5″E / 35.904306°N 14.426250°E / 35.904306 ; 14.426250 Tower c. 1685 Rebuilt 1757 Façade bears the coat of arms of Gregorio Carafa ( reigned 1680-90 ) . It was rebuilt in 1757 by the architect Francesco Zerafa and master mason Nicola Camilleri , and this is commemorated by an inscription below the coat of arms . Remained in use until 1925 , and sails were removed in c. 1928
Mosta Il-Ġdida Windmill 35°54′19.2″N 14°25′32.6″E / 35.905333°N 14.425722°E / 35.905333 ; 14.425722 Tower c. 1800 Contains a niche of St. Anthony of Padua . Remained in use until 1979 , and sails were subsequently removed . Converted into a house
Mosta Ta ' Triq San Silvestru Windmill 35°54′14.6″N 14°25′24.8″E / 35.904056°N 14.423556°E / 35.904056 ; 14.423556 Tower c. 1800 Tower demolished and base converted into a house