A_ERDF 039 Book PDF copy

Cittadella

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

ERDF project survey
drawings showing plan and
elevation with deterioration
mapping of St. Michael
Bastion prior to restoration
(CTD 02).

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Cittadella

Aerial view of the main land front
fortifications of the Cittadella, showing a
restored St. Michael Bastion and works in
progress along the adjoining curtain and
St. Martin Demi-Bastion.

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

Erection of scaffolding on
St. Michael Bastion

and adjoining curtain during the initial
stages of the restoration works.

Detriorated masonry fabric on left face of
St. Michael Bastion and the state of ditch
prior to commencement of restoration.

State of preservation of the orillion and
left flank of St. Michael Bastion prior to
restoration.

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Cittadella

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

Above, Views of a section of the medieval enceinte of the Citadel
prior to the commencement of restoration interventions, revealing the
highly consumed state of the masonry elements of the old ramparts
and the breaches in the revetments. Left, ERDF project plans and
drawings showing the location of the various intervention areas and
types of repairs involving rock-bolting, under-walling, nailing and
permanent steel net protection.

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Cittadella

Restoration works in progress
along the ramparts and cliff-face
of the northern medieval section
of the Cittadella’s enceinte.

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

Northern Cliff face

Cittadella’s northern cliff-face, which is crowned
by a medieval enceinte, is heavily fissured and
undermined by cavities. Various sections of
this bedrock had collapsed over time, the latest
incident of which occurred in 2005 (as shown in the
accompanying photographs).

A secondary feature of the cliff-face was the use of
masonry revetments which were employed by the
Knights to seal off and plug-in various caves and
recesses which were thought at the time to constitute
a danger to the safety of the stronghold. Many of
these revetments were found to be partially collapsed
and were in a dire need of repair.

Close-up views of the collapsed cliff-face
at the foot of the northern enceinte of the
Cittadella prior to restoration.
Aerial view of the Cittadella’s northern
enceinte showing the consumed and
collapsed masonry revetments at the foot
of the cliff-face prior to restoration.

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Cittadella

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

Right, Various views of different sections
of the highly consumed state of the
masonry revetments built within the cliff-
face of the Cittadella’s northern enceinte
prior to and after the commencement
of restoration interventions. Below, The
insertion of steel ties, designed to brace
the fissured bedrock, reached depths of
24m.

Above, Close-up view of the
reconstructed masonry revetment on
cliff-face of the Cittadella’s northern
enceinte.

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Cittadella

Above, plans and drawings showing the
location and type of rock consolidation
interventions on the cliff-face.

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SengleaCittà Invicta

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

Senglea - Città Invicta

Senglea is the second oldest settlement within the Grand
Harbour area and one of Malta’s bastioned maritime
fortresses. It constitutes an important fortified historic
location within the Grand Harbour landscape and today
it is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in
the south of Malta, largely because of its direct historical
connections to the Knights of St. John and the Great
Siege of 1565. Its other name, Città Invicta (meaning ‘the
unconquered city’), as a matter of fact, was bestowed
on the city to commemorate the Knights’ victory over the
Ottoman army and to acknowledge the city’s crucial role in
the defence of the island.

The ERDF project has sought to restore and rehabilitate
one of Senglea’s most iconographic landmarks, known
as the Sperone, or the Spur of Senglea, a large bastion
occupying the salient northern-most tip of the promontory.
Together with its large masonry echaugette (known locally
as a gardjola) the bastion’s distinctive profile has become a
familiar landmark within the Grand Harbour and one of the
sights that greet many of the large cruise liners which berth
within the inner reaches of the port. The Spur also contains
a beautiful public garden with breathtaking panoramic views
of the Grand Harbour, the fortress of Valletta and Fort St.
Angelo. It is considered one of the most important touristic
viewpoints in the harbour.

The ERDF project was designed to restore the Spur’s
consumed and decaying physical fabric as well as
emphasize its overall legibility.

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Senglea

Above, Eighteenth century plan of a section of the
fortifications of Senglea. Many of the ramparts were swept
away in the course of the nineteenth century to make way
for the construction of a dockyard (Image source: National
Library of Malta).

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

Right, Detail from Historical Significance
Matteo Perez
D’Aleccio’s depiction The fortress of Senglea came in to existence after 1552,
of the Ottoman Siege when the Knights established a small tower on the site to
of Malta in 1565, protect the adjoining town of Birgu. Up until that time it had
shoingthe fortress of been known as St. Julian’s Hill, after a chapel erected there
Senglea. in the fourteenth century and, later, as Monte del Molino
Below, Views of the because of the wind mills which occupied the heights of the
Spur of Senglea today promontory. In 1553, Grand Master de la Sengle decided
and in the late 19tth to enclose both the tower and rest of the promontory within
century (bottom). a bastioned enceinte to create a new fortified town. The
design of the new fortress seems to have been undertaken
by the Italian engineer Niccolò Bellavanti.

The fortress suffered heavily during the Ottoman siege of
1565 and was rebuilt slowly throughout the course of the
sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.
A significant process of transformation was undertaken in
the late 1680s when a large sea-level battery was added
to the defences at the tip of the promontory while the
land front was refitted with a new Baroque gateway and
extensive outer works were added to it by French military
engineers in the early 1700s.

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Senglea

The original fortifications on the Corradino side of the
enceinte were remodelled during the 19th century to make
way for the construction of a dry-dock and the city suffered
further punishment from aerial bombing during the Second
World War. Notwithstanding, the city has managed to
retain its historic character and most of its fortifications,
and continues to exert its presence on the landscape of the
Grand Harbour.

In 2004, the Restoration Directorate had initiated an
extensive programme of restoration of the Senglea land
front enceinte which saw the repair and rehabilitation of
St. Michael Bastion, the remains of the cavalier and the
adjoining casemated ramparts. The ERDF funds have
allowed a continuation of that initial effort, undertaken
by departmental funds, in order to cover other parts of
Senglea’s extensive enceinte.

Nature and Scope of Restoration Works

The ERDF restoration project on the Senglea fortifications
involved two major objectives, namely, the restoration and
repair of the Spur of Senglea and its immediate enceinte,
which involved the repair of the ramparts’ consumed
masonry fabric and bedrock overlooking Fort St. Angelo.

Above, Restoration works on the Senglea
land front and gate undertaken by the
Restoration Unit in 2004 (prior to ERDF 039).

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

Lo Sperone

The main emphasis of the ERDF project in Senglea
is the restoration of the Sperone, or the Spur. This
project was largely motivated by the importance
of this landmark in the harbour landscape and its
heavily consumed and decaying physical fabric,
which in various places had also become a public
hazard.
The Spur’s large masonry echaugette (known locally
as the gardjola), which was dismantled in 1940 and
rebuilt after the War, gives a distinctive profile to this
work of fortification and at the same time makes it a
familiar landmark within the Grand Harbour area.
The Spur also contains a beautiful public garden with
breathtaking panoramic views of the Grand Harbour,
Valletta, and Fort St. Angelo and is today considered
as one of the most important touristic viewpoints in
Malta.

A 19th-century view of the Spur of
Senglea.
The Spur of Senglea prior to the
commencement of restoration works.

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Senglea

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

ERDF project survey
photogrammetric elevations
documenting state of
deterioration prior to
restoration.

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Senglea

ERDF project survey drawings with
deterioration mapping showing elevations
documenting of the Senglea ramparts prior to
restoration.
Right, Close-up view of the echaugette at the
Spur of Senglea.

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

Above, Restoration
works in progress along
the ramparts at Senglea
Point.

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Senglea

Left, Restoration works
in progress along the
ramparts at Senglea
Point.

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ForInttiefripcretaatitoinoCenntsre

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

Fortifications only ones that were intended to protect rather than destroy
Interpretation Centre life and the idea behind the interpretation centre, therefore,
was intended to draw attention to the creative rather than
The Fortress Builders the destructive aspects of human ingenuity by seeking to
instil, first and foremost, a feeling and an appreciation for
architecture, engineering, and art, as well as the manner
in which all these three elements were brought together to
fashion the formidable and unique fortifications of Malta and
Gozo.

The holistic approach towards the restoration and The theme of the centre was designed to focus on the
rehabilitation of Malta’s historic fortifications adopted by fortress as a structure, and on its design and construction,
the ERDF programme provided a unique opportunity for primarily within the local context – hence the name ‘The
the creation of a suitable medium designed specifically for Fortress Builders’ which was given to the centre. Another
the proper presentation and interpretation of the fortified important decision that was made by the designers was that
heritage of the Maltese Islands. Prior to the commencement the centre was to make use of multimedia technology in
of the ERDF project, there existed no museum or cultural conjunction with traditional displays to create an interactive
centre which drew attention to the value, significance, and educational experience rather than simply rely upon a fixed
diversity of the rich military architectural heritage of the static display of information panels and scale models.
Maltese Islands.
To this end the centre was designed to function as a
The creation of a Fortifications Interpretation Centre by stepping stone to the proper appreciation of the military
the Restoration Directorate, therefore, was specifically architecture heritage of the Maltese islands. It introduces
designed to showcase, explain, and interpret, for the benefit visitors to the variety, complexity and sophistication of
of both Maltese and foreign visitors alike, the history and Malta’s fortifications and does so by placing the fortifications
architecture of Malta’s rich legacy of fortifications. This was within their proper historical, architectural, technical and
considered to be an important step towards promoting the military contexts.
revalorization of this aspect of Malta’s unique architectural
patrimony. Through its reference library and its lecture hall, the
Fortifications Interpretation Centre is also intended to
The Fortifications Interpretation Centre was designed as serve as an educational institution providing information
a public institution dedicated specifically to communicate and assistance to anybody willing to learn more and
and exhibit the history and significance of Malta’s military delve deeper into the subject. The centre is also meant to
architecture heritage. It is a cross between a museum, an function as a documentation centre and as a database of
information point and a resource centre. From the outset, all things related to the history and conservation of Maltese
it was decided that the centre was not to serve as another fortifications.
‘museum’ intended to glorify or commemorate war. Indeed,
of all the weapons of war, fortifications were perhaps the The building chosen to house the Fortifications
Interpretation Centre is a large sixteenth century warehouse
situated near Biagio Steps, at the farther end of St. Mark
Street, in Valletta. It was chosen to house the permanent

Left, Various views of the doorway
and structural details of the
Biagio Steps building prior to the
commencement of restoration works.

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Interpretation Centre

Above, A late-nineteenth
century view of the building
(Image source: Courtesy of
the Richard Ellis Archive,
Malta).
Left, Various views of the
façade, terrace and interior
of the Biagio Steps building
prior to the commencement
of restoration works.

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ERDF 039 The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Historic Fortifications of Malta

Elevation drawings
of the Biagio
Steps Examination
Centre prior to the
commencement of
restoration works (right)
and as re-designed
to serve as the
Fortifications
Interpretation Centre
(below and right).
Far right, View of the
main façade during
restoration works, and
Bottom, Construction
works in progress.

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Interpretation Centre

also suggests some form of military use. As a matter of
fact, the upper floor of the building was used as an artillery
school (scuola per gettare bombe) by the Knights of St.
John. Another important asset which helped influence the
choice of the building was its very location which places it
on an important access route into Valletta and more over,
provides direct immediate access to the Valletta’s main
bastioned enceinte, providing excellent panoramic views of
the fortifications inside Marsamxett Harbour, namely Fort
Manoel, Fort Tigné and the sea walls along the northern
flank of the city itself.

exhibition largely for its vast interior spaces and its central Besides its location, the building’s other important asset
location, which sits right next to St. Andrew’s Bastion, and is its spacious interior which comprises some 1,200 m2
provides direct access to Valletta’s ramparts. The creation of exhibition space over three floors. The centre was
of the Centre provided an opportunity to rehabilitate this designed around the existing historical building together
structure which had lain derelict for numerous years. Until with a new annexe that houses the circulation and ancillary
recently, part of the building served as an examination spaces. The brief for the project evolved very closely with
hall, while the upper most floor, level with Melita Street, the building itself. Its constraints were transformed into
was demolished during the Second World War and never design opportunities which led to the formation of a series
rebuilt. Little is known about this majestic building itself, of spaces, individual yet interrelated, that were designed to
with its imposing, if somewhat, sombre and plain façade. house the various functions and activities of the centre.
Escutcheons with the coat of arms of Grand Master Hugues
Loubenx de Verdalle, fixed on the main façade, suggest The project comprised a myriad of interventions which
that it was constructed, or completed, sometime during were required for the rehabilitation of the derelict historical
the rule of this French Grand Master (reigned 1581-1595). structure and its adaptation into a new public centre.
Located next to the Marsamxett Gate (one of the three main From the start of the project, it was decided that an
gateways into Valletta, now no longer standing), it appears environmentally conscious design was to be favoured
to have been constructed as some form of bombproof together with traditional materials and minimal interventions.
magazine for the storage of merchandise off-loaded from Environmental sustainability was given prominence with
the ships and other vessels berthed in Marsamxett Harbour. the introduction of photovoltaic panels, a limited use of
Its location close to the Falconeria (a building that was air-conditioning, the enhancement of natural ventilation,
used as reserve armoury from the mid-1700s onwards) rainwater collection and the reuse of building materials.

The building’s spacious vaulted interiors provide a sizeable
exhibition space ideally suited for medium-sized displays.
The Restoration Directorate’s design proposals sought
to exploit these spaces to their maximum and at the
same time give the building a modern contemporary feel
without detracting anything from its historic architectural
features. The main exhibition spaces were arranged over

Right, Model-makers from the Restoration Directorate
constructing scale-models of Maltese coastal forts and
towers for display at the Fortifications Interpretation Centre.
Top, left, Detail of the escutcheons crowning the building.

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