Punic Building, Żurrieq

The Punic building in Zurrieq is the most substantial surviving example of Phoenician-Punic architecture in Malta, featuring a 5.5 m-high tower of ashlar limestone blocks laid without mortar, crowned by an Egyptian-style cavetto cornice. Possibly dating to the late 6th century BC, its purpose remains debated -- theories include a monumental tomb, or the temple of Melqart described by Ptolemy. A 1964 excavation revealed stepped foundations and pottery spanning Punic to modern periods. Scheduled as a Class A archaeological site in 1998, it sits within the private garden of the Domus Curialis.