Mortella Tower (Torra di Mortella) is the site of an artillery tower built by the Genoese in the 17th Century. In 1794 a pair of British warships, HMS Fortitude (3rd rate) and HMS Juno (5th rate) with a total of 106 guns attempted to bombard the tower into submission without success. The tower was eventually captured by the British land forces after a land attack lasting two days. The British were impressed with the resilience of this tower, and adopted the concept for their own point defence on the coast and at dockyards. They called them Martello Towers rather than Martella Towers.
Mortella Tower although now a ruin, is important because it spawned a whole generation of Martello Towers in the United Kingdom and throughout the British Empire.
For more information on the development, design and distribution of the Martello Towers, please see details at https://pinkroutes.org/research/british-fortifications/martello-towers/.
Mortella Tower (Torra di Mortella) is the site of an artillery tower built by the Genoese in the 17th Century. In 1794 a pair of British warships, HMS Fortitude (3rd rate) and HMS Juno (5th rate) with a total of 106 guns attempted to bombard the tower into submission without success. The tower was eventually captured by the British land forces after a land attack lasting two days. The British were impressed with the resilience of this tower, and adopted the concept for their own point defence on the coast and at dockyards. They called them Martello Towers rather than Martella Towers.
Mortella Tower although now a ruin, is important because it spawned a whole generation of Martello Towers in the United Kingdom and throughout the British Empire.
For more information on the development, design and distribution of the Martello Towers, please see details at https://pinkroutes.org/research/british-fortifications/martello-towers/.