| This
tower as it stands today was built around the 19th century and derives
its name from the ‘Cumbo’ family which used to reside
in it. This tower and its grounds are enclosed by a high boundary
wall. The tower itself is a three-storey building, surrounded by its
gardens which occupy the grounds within the tower’s precincts.
Within this same area there are also the servants’ quarters
and the coach-houses.
 With
regards to its past and historic owner, Julius Cumbo, he was a well-known
criminal lawyer in his time. Besides, he also occupied the post
of jurat of the Mdina Universitas (local government). Married to
Vittoria Manduca, they had a daughter, Marianna. This girl is the
protagonist of one of the well-known legends pertaining to that
time – the Legend of the Bride of Mosta.
One
version says that in 1526, Marianna was engulfed in last-minute
preparations to betroth Toni, a young member of the powerful Manduca
family. While she was at the Tower, the corsairs of the Barbary
Coast, helped by a former slave in the service of the Cumbo family,
broke into Marianna’s residence and carried her off into captivity.
Toni, her husband-to-be found out that his beloved was taken to
Tripoli. Thus, posing as a wool merchant, he went to that city to
rescue her. This he managed to do, but due to her vicissitudes in
slavery, his dear Marianna died soon after she reached Malta, mourned
by the whole population.
This
is the romantic setting which Cumbo Tower presents, a building very
close to Ta’ Qali, a part of Mosta still considered on the
outskirts of the town.
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