Granmaster Pinto’s Lodge
Pinto’s Lodge is situated in the square near the St. Sebastian parish church in Ħal Qormi, where according to tradition the Grand Master Fra Manuel Pinto de Fonseca used to shade himself during horse racing. The lodge, (Tribuna ta’ Pinto) was built in 1772, when Pinto celebrated his 31st year as Grandmaster of the Order of St. John. This lodge is made up of four columns which are roofed, and on it there is Pinto’s coat of arms and the inscription in latin stating: ‘Celebrating 31 years as Grandmaster’. This lodge formed part of a greater building which housed the stables of the knights. This building was demolished and the adjacent square was rehabilitated and named ‘Il-Kortil ta-GranMastru’ The Grandmaster Square. Every year on the 25th of May, Ħal Qormi Day, the Council organises a music-literary evening, with this lodge as background. This lodge was restoed in 2002 and it has become the symbol, or landmark of Ħal Qormi.
The Ħal Qormi Windmill
The Maltese Windmill is in structure and layout similar to that of the Balearic Islands. This association is not surprising, as it was the Majorcan Grandmaster Cottoner who encouraged their construction. The windmill consists of a central tower around which a number of rooms form the rectangular base of the windmill itself. These rooms served as the storage area and the living quarters of the family operating the windmill. The grinding apparatus lies in the upper part of the circular tower.
The windmill at Ħal Qormi has been out of use for a number of years and can still be located near the Mrieħel bypass. A similar windmill, found at Tax-Xarolla in Zurrieq, has been restored.