History of Marsaskala

el channels formed in the rock face. Some of Malta's cart-ruts, mysteriously, lead straight into the sea. Difficulties and uncertainties still abound as regards their use as well as the time and the way they were made, though it seems that they served to transport heavy burdens from one place to another.

Early Christian catacombs as well as Roman era villa remains, were also discovered in Marsaskala, the latter suggesting that Marsaskala was also a Roman port. Remains ofRoman Baths were found in a field at il-Gżira, a rock peninsula behind the Jerma Palace Hotel.

The still standing magnificent St Thomas Tower was built by the Knights Hospitaller (The Knights Of St John) soon after an attack on the south of Malta by 60 Turkish ships carrying 6000 soldiers, landing in Marsaskala in 1614. This brought back fear and terrifying memories of the 1565 Great Siege of Malta by the Ottoman Turks. Marsaskala's vulnerability to sea borne attacks was reduced by the building of this fortified tower by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt. Other fortified towers still exist in the area, notably Mamo Tower and a De Redin watch tower.

St. Paul's Shipwreck controversy

In 2003, U.S. amateur archaeologist Bob Cornuke caused a controversy with statements written in his book The Lost Shipwreck of St. Paul, where he claimed that the Apostle Paul had been shipwrecked in St Thomas' Bay, in Marsaskala. These claims were rebuked by other experts