Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
D. De Lucca
Lecture 1: 08/10/2012
The Temple Period, when things start to change (People from Sicily)
Zebbug: 4100 3800 BC
Mgarr: 3800 3600 BC
Ggantija: 3600 3000 BC
Saflieni: 3300 3000 BC
Tarxien: 3500 2500 BC
In these period, Temples and Tombs were being constructed. New people arrived in Malta (they
arrived mainly from Sicily , Calabria) People were still living in villages but started building large
monuments; these are the megalithic temples.
There was a gradual change in the construction of temples. We can divide the Temples into 2 phases:
the old temples in Skorba and Zebbug and the more sophisticated temples like Tarxien and Ggantija.
Classical Civilisation
Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman, The Towns of Melite
In the period of Ghar Dalam, the Islands environment (landscape and fauna) was very different than
todays.
Video showing Ghar Dalam Cave and Museum
Info about Ghar Dalam
http://www.heritagemalta.org/sites/ghardalamcave/ghardalamcaveinfo.html
Malta had a rain age instead of an ice age
Was connected to the main land
Still an open discussion about the period during which man came to Malta. It could be that man
was already living here long before the Stone Age because it was discovered that these remains
are of those people that lived in the cave.
Ghar Dalam is a very deep cave at which Neolithic man searched for a protection from the
elements and animals. Man sought these type of caves as they believed that such deep caves
would offer them better shelter and protection.
Conical structures on the ceilings as a result of water under pressure.
At Ghar Dalam, one can find different layers in a sequence of animals findings
Ghar Dalam represents the beginning of maltases history
Hagar Qim
Mnajdra
It is another important megalithic structure in our architecture when considering detailing and
roofing
Excavating a site was very difficult if you didnt have the proper tools. It was very risky and
difficult due to fissures in the rock.
However in 3,000BC the inhabitants of the Hypogeum had the guts to still excavate the area and
they managed to construct a whole underground complex divided into 3 levels.
The detail in which way it was constructed; for example there is a recess between the vertical
elements and the horizontal elements such a line of definition between two connecting
elements increases the aesthetical value
Domed ceiling
Such detailing gives a very magnificent architecture finish
Symmetry of design
Type of decoration used in the hypogeum
A way of corbelling was used to roof over the structure by projecting the upper stone layer
further out then the lower stone layer, till it closes the ceiling by large stone like flat slabs
(xorok)
Sound can travel trough niches in wall and the sound can travel to the other side of the temples.
Standing waves were created through these niches but these are only speculations
This temple is one of the largest in Malta which has a symmetric layout of 6 apse
Look at Susanne Psaila 3d projects on archaeological site
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqzpwcv6SeA,
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120812/local/-agar-Qim-temple-as-it-was-
5-000-years-ago.432456
They could be roofed over with wood but other think that they where roofed with stone
Lecture 2: 15/10/2012
Bronze Age
Those people that came from southern Sicily started to use the megalithic monuments as
dwellings
Bronze Age people came to Malta and started living in megalithic structures and converted them
into dwellings.
They were a primitive culture, rather than a temple culture
Contributed to construction (introduced new techniques)
Issue of building burial monuments for important people was given a higher note of importance
Dolmen monuments started being built at this period (early bronze age)
Later Bronze Age, settlements where characterised by fortified settlements (glorified rubble
walls) Borg in-Nadur fortified village at nuffara
o Wall built around settlements
o Within Walls
Number of huts
Silo fragments and wells
In 800 BC, at Bahrija:
o Bronze Age settlers came into contact with Phoenicians (the Phoenicians were
characterising the Mediterranean Sea)
Life in later prehistoric Malta was characterised by these fortified settlements all across Malta.
These settlements also had water and grain cylos
Carthage
Carthage was a large city which was inhabited by the Phoenicians started sending inhabitants
to Malta
The Punic culture had long lasting effects on the Maltese culture
o When St. Paul came to Malta, he reported that the people living on the Maltese Islands at
that time were barbarians. This is because he was seeing the resemblance that the
Maltese were sharing with the Carthaginians, especially the language.
o For 1000 years culture, buildings and towns remained based on Punic influence
o The influence of this Punic culture, left on buildings and towns, is reflected in their design
process
Carthage was the first most dominant naval power it had a large arsenal were war ships could
be repaired or built from scratch (Carthage 3D video)
Three important cities, Carthage, Siracusa and Rome
The harbour was very important for Carthage. It was the heart of Carthage, both mility and
commercial.
Several pictures showing different Punic tombs found around the Maltese islands
Video of the outskirts of Carthage city showing several Punic tombs with couple of stairs going
down and then into another room where the dead used to be buried along with other material as
they used to do in ancient Egypt
Roman Domus in Mdina, during excavation works several tombs were found. The plan of the
roman villa shows the ancient Carthaginian town. This plan shows street layout and houses with
stairs suggesting that they lead to another floor
Later, these houses where used to store military artillery
This Carthaginian town (Melite) was large and incorporated the Mdina area and the Rabat area
up to the St. Pauls Church
o The town was developed and houses were built based on the Greco-Roman style
This shows the importation of architecture from Ancient Greece (Doric, ionic
Corinthian, etc)
Book written by Thomas Ashbey about Roman Malta
Lecture 3: 22/10/2012
Lecture 4: 29/10/2012
Grand masters of the hospitaller order in 16 th century Malta (Each Grand Master had his own coat of
arms which would be based on his notable works):
Phillipe De Villeire
Pierinoo del Ponte
Sant jaille
Homedes
Claude de la Senglea
Jean Perisot de la Vallette
Pietro del Monte
Cassiere
Verdale
Martin Garzes
A new system of Military Architecture was developed by the Knights which could provide
resistance to gunfire (At that time gun fire had started to be a common form of attack during a war) -
The round towers of a fortress were evolved into the bastions that we know today following a star
shape which had no blind spots within the bastions walls. When Lisle Adam arrived in Malta he found
this system implemented in Mdina.
In 1537, Ottoman fleets won the Prevenza sea battle and then started to attack small islands. The
knights panicked and wanted to fortify Malta, especially the grand harbour of Malta
Castrum Maris was reconstructed into Fort St Angelo
Insertion of new buildings in Birgu and further fortification
Insertion of new building in Senglea
Enforcement of height of Schiberras
1st they started to reinforce Castro Maris into todays Fort St. Angelo
Birgu was used to hospitalize the grand masters and therefore they added Auberge to the existing
hamlet, moreover this was used as naval arsenal storage and also to repair ships. Then, an upfront
bastion was added to protect the new buildings
Lecture 5: 05/11/2012
16th century arrival of the Knights of St.John.
Birgu
For the Knights Birgu was an important location, not only due to the rapid rehabilitation of St
Elmo, but also due to its Roman Heritage. Birgu was important for the Knights because of its i)
waterfront which contained the arsenal of the Knights, ii) Landfront fortification (curtain walls
and bastions), iii) the insertion of a number of new buildings such as a hospital, auberges and
churches. The urban fabric of Birgu transformed from a medieval city to a renaissance type of
city.
Arsenal of Knights
3 arch potico - ships would be repaired in one of these 3 porticos.
Has been replaced by a bakery which was built by the British
3 arched portico where war galleys returning from battle were directed into these arches and
repaired
Similar to Arsenale di Venezia
Foundation Ceremony
The Foundation of Valletta took place in a spirit of triumph
The foundation stone of Valletta was ceremoniously laid by the Grand Master Fra Jean de Valette
of the hospitaller order of St. John the Baptist at forty two minutes to noon, on the 28 th march
1566, this according to the......
The laying of the foundation stone of Valletta concluded a long ceremony which had started
earlier on in the day when the Grand Master accompanied by the Bishop of Malta....
Fortification of Valletta
Book by Roger Degiorgio
High, massive
Follows the style of Birgu - cavalier, ditch, 2 main bastions, 2 corner bastions
In 1577 La Vallette was elected as Grand Master and he brought military engineer Bartolommeo
Genga to further construct Valletta and to construct two other fortified cities (one in Malta and
the other in Gozo)
When Francesco Laparelli arrived in Malta he examined existing surveys and drew up a report on
what he intended to do. After just 3 months of hard word work he had already finalised his
plans. The construction were very fast as they were afraid of another siege attack on Malta by
the Turks (At that time siege attacks were very common)
Laparelli came up with 4 plans for Valletta:
o Plan A: Fortification Layout; Main Street connected to Main Gate; No urban development
o Plan B: 1st drawing to reveal Laparellis change of thought; Buildings had to indicate what
they were used for Palace of Grand Master had to be a great building, Auberges had to
have a square in front of them
o Plan C: Shows the grid-iron pattern; Shows also the collaquio between Bakery Street and
Merchant Street (a convent for the Knights)
o Plan D: More streets were added; The plan which has been built
Valletta had an initial plan like Palmanova City, a circular plan with street joining at the middle
piazza
Bartolommeo Genga had proposed a radial system of streets. This was replaced by a grid-iron network
of streets. This happened as a result of the influence from Piero Cataneos plans (fortified cities based
on a rectangular shape rather than a pointed shape). There was also influence from Pietro di Prados
plans of Carlentini city grid-iron network and rectangular plan which together offered an easier way
for transport
Very good book: Birgu, a Maltese Maritime City by Lino Bugeja, Mario Bugeja and Stanley Fiorini
Lecture 6:19/11/2012
Result of these regulations A first class city of that age; Buildings within Valletta:
Rebuilt Fort St Elmo
Unencumbered streets
The Magisterial Palace
The Church of St. John the Baptise
The Grand Hospital
The Auberge of Aragona
The Auberge of Alemagne
The Auberge of Auvergne
The Auberge of Provence
The new Auberge de France
The old Auberge de France
The Auberge of Italia
The Auberge of castile
The Domus Angliae
The prior of Navarre
The artillery factory
The gun powder factory
The foundry
A guard room with underlying rooms
Barracks buildings
The Cammaratta
The salves prison
The bakery
The Casttellania (Administrative)
Cancelleria (Administrative)
The Case del Tesoro
The Casa delle Conservatoria
Stores
Jesuit Church and Village
Church of Our Ladies of Victories
The residence for the grand masters page boys
The customs house
Etc
A video which shows Valletta they show the transformation of the city as we know it today
1565 Turkish attack of Malta
5 months of siege
Genga and Lapparelli worked in the design of the town planning of Valletta
Lapparelli also teaches the Maltese architect Gilormo Cassar, with the help of the Ufficju delle
Case
90 blocks
3 streets of 10metres
Other various from 7m to 3m
Constructed in a rectangular way because it had one entrance while the asterisk plan had 3
different entrances
First they build the fortifications
Then they inserted the buildings
Different orders, from different countries where given areas to take care, Auberge where
contracted, which was a convent, a barrack and a hostel for the elderly nights. These had also
the duty to take care for the bastions area allocated to them
Auberge de Castile
Auberge the Italy with St. Catherina Church
Auberge de Aragon is one of the Auberges which were built and also the only one to have
survived with the original design.
Sacra Infermeria
o Originally a hospital hospitals were very important for the order
o One of the largest of hospitals of the order of st john
o Built near shore to provide shortest route
The bland architecture of the Hospitaller, Dar il-Mediterran.
The Grand Master Palace, the portico was added in the 18th century
The wood balcony started to be visualized in the 18th century
Fountains designed in the 18th century, to embellish the city
Europe of the 16th century, the priorities where entirely military, for economic reason, they used to
spend this money for military rather than embellishing the city.
Once fortifications are build, key buildings, little could be done
In the 17th century, revenue of the knights increased, Turkish tread came less and less, at this time a
change in attitude that dominated the 16th century
Therefore, a change of triofalizim arises, the baroque style was a fashion that spread all over Europe.
Therefore the old architecture of Valletta was not suitable, then certain buildings where pull down and
reconstructed in baroque style. Therefore, a new Valletta emerged in the 17 th and 18th century.
Assignment
4000 words max on a period of Maltese history, like for example the Temples, The Roman Period etc...
Lecture 7: 26/11/2012
Baroque in Malta 17th, 18th Century
Military Architecture http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/ (This link might be useful guys, take a look at
it)
Between 1600 and 1898, the grand harbour was updated with several defence buildings like:
By 1650 a definitive strategy of defence of Grand Harbour was completed
The construction of Valletta
The reinforcement of Birgu and Isla
The extension of the Margerita lines and the Cottonera Lines
Construction of fort Ricasoli
Construction of Manuel island fort
These areas where reinforced in a later stage with the existing fortifications and forts constructed by
the Knights
As a response to Margerita Heights: building of St Margerita
Occupation of Punta Del Orso, Fort Ricasoli
Floriana Lines
Strangling of Fortifications of Floriana Higher and deeper
Strengthening of wall of Senglea by means of Corradino Heights
This was all a precaution against the Turks
The 1st half of the 17th century
Three important military engineers who helped in the building of new fortifications
o Pietro Paulo Floriani
o Magiolano da Firenzuola
o Don Giovanni de Medici
During the 17th century, grand masters De Paul and Lascaris helped out to create the 1 st
expansion of the Fortifications of Malta
The first appendix of the book Mondion by De Lucca and Giovanni Battista Vertova by De Lucca
o Check this translation of this French report
o Check the story of the fortification etc
o In the final years, fortifications of Valletta were improved....
1645
The Turks where about to attack Crete Candia. It was also thought that they would attack Malta
aswell. Grand Master Lascaris brought again the Order and other military persons (from France).
The king of France sent Comte de Pagan and a famous military engineer Blaine Francois
(Progress of fortification at that time + Valletta courtyard).
Conte de Pagan was the guy who came up with the Theory of Military Architecture. The visit of
De Pagan and (Clerville) opened further the development of fortifications of Malta based on the
principal of outworks. This work happened under Cottoner and Carafa
1663-1680 GM Nicholas De Cottoner
1680-1690 GM Gregorio Carafa
Another important event when Pagan was in Malta. Jesuit College in Malta, Valletta decided to start
teaching Military Mathematics. After departure of Pagan, teaching started young knights were taught
nomenclature of fortifications using the line of defence lines which would be covered by many
soldiers. Now designs of fortifications were based on Mathematical calculations, Villages and cities
were distinguished by barrel vaults etc. This was the time when the design of the fortress was based
on a mathematical method based on studies from Euclid.
Father Giacomo Maso started to teaching military mathematics here in Malta, the Gizwiti started this
teaching. They started teaching ways and means by using angles etc, to create a geometrical
construction. This was based on the dimension of the Line of Defence. This course became very
popular.
Countryside
Mdina
o In Mdina, a bastion was added when the GM Conte Pagan was here,
Citadel of Gozo
o Bastions by Giovanni Rinardini
o Proposal for radical enhancement of Fortifications by Valperga
Enclosing actual citadel by a ring of new bations
Link fortification of Citadel to another set of bastions around outskirts of Rabat
(This never took place as it cost too much money)
o Valperga also proposed a new town in Citadel and Rabat where residents would seek
refuge in this area
When Floriani came to Malta, in the 1640, he brought with him architect Francesco Buonamici, who was
then sent to Gozo with a very important mission, to investigate the possibility to built a new city like
Valletta. The idea was to remove Citadel which was perceived to be weak. A site was located which is
thought to be the heights over Marsalforn. This remained a paper project as well since there was no
money. Still at a later stage, Fort Chambre was built but this was a city and not a fort, facing the
harbour of Mgarr. A map showing the plan of Chambre, very similar to Valletta grid system.
Defence of the Coastline
To defend the coastline, towers started to be constructed along the coast of Malta, in order to create a
system, a warning system in case of attacks.
Coastline of Malta containing sandy beaches was long, starting from Marsaxlokk and ending in
Gozo
Process started in opening of 17th century when GM Deredin constructed towers which would
offer an early signal in the event of an attack, e.g. Madliena Tower
Deredin towers which used to monitor any enemies and had a very efficient way of
communication between themselves
In 1620, First line of Towers were further strengthened by bigger fortresses like Santa Maria
Tower, Comino, Fortress of Saint Lucian, and Tower of Saint Thomas
Conclusion
The 17th Century, was a crucial century for the fortification of Malta during the Knights period. Thanks to
those people, there was a boost on the fortification of the island.
Sophistication of military works based on outworks (Europeanization of Malta)
Periodic visits of important personalities (Floriani to Don Carlos) that boosted the fortifications
especially around the Grand Harbour.
Fortifications of Grand Harbour was expanded to offer protection which in the 16 th century was
not possible
Lecture 8: 03/12/2012
17th Century Malta continued - The Arrival of the French Military Architecture
1714 There was a new Turkish threat, Grand Master Raimondo Perellos (1697-1720), and after
Perellos, De Vilhena( Portuguese) came to Malta and continued the work after Perellos.
In the beginning of the 18 th century, the French Connection in Military architecture was introduced by
Grand Master Raimondo Perellos; this was a French Military Mission.
France, at that time, was considered to be the best in Military Architecture. King Louis XIV (14 th)
managed to assemble the French army in the middle of the 17 th century. Louis the XIV had the best
French army in history. Due to the increase in power a pact between the Dutch and English was agreed
in order to hold this army. The King also supported the Crusades
Lecture 9: 10/12/2012
French influence in military architecture in Malta
Vauban was responsible for the building of Fort Manoel. The bulk of the designs for defences
were in the bastions and the concept was to defend the enemy in depth, resulting in the
outworks.
Most important part of Fort Manoel was its landfront (consisting of 2 bastions) since it had to
survive direct attacks from the enemy.
Todays Lecture
Three points
i. What happened in Mdina in 1722
ii. What happened on the coastline on Malta, coastal fortification to prevent enemy landing
iii. What happened to the fortifications, which where enriched with sculpture, paintings etc
o Attard church is similar to Sant Andrea and of Juan De Nates church in Spain, Senora de
las Guistas
o We do not know a lot about him
Francesco Buonamici
o 1635 started the baroque style, Francesco Bounamici came to Malta to sketch the
fortification, he remained here till 1659, he was the resident architect if the knights
o Bounamici was born in the city of Lucca in Italy
o A family of three brothers, his mother was well off family
o They arrived in Lucca 1300, medieval time
o When he went back to Lucca, 1677 he died there and was buried in the Church he
Designed, the Suffrago Church, build to commemorate the death of lots of people by the
Plague
o Lucca is a roman town, 3rd Century BS
o The fortifications where based on the roman fortifications, a further fortifications in the
medieval time where build and also another extension was down to the medieval
fortifications
o The point is that he was brought up in a city which had fortifications being build
o The Catholic Church seen Lucca as an infected city
o He went down to Rome to remodel the Church of Santa Croce dei Luccesi, which was a
medieval church. He painted also the painting of the centre of the altar. He designed the
Pallazzo Giustinaiani in Rome of which drawing is found in the Library Hertziana
o After he went back from Rome as the plague was over, he was commissioned to design
the Church of Suffrago
o 1634 the pope ordered Pietro Paulo Floriani to come to Malta, he was the first architect of
the Pope State. Floriani had his son and the painter Bounamici with him and this is how h
came to Malta, he had to supervise the works after Floriani left Malta
o 1635 1641, had to supervise the construction of the bastions
o His first design was of a garden, Gnien Il-Sultan over Lascaris bastions
o Then he worked on Wignacourt collage in Rabat, near the Church of Rabat which is now a
museum
o This was the first baroque building in Rabat area. It was build over the St. Pauls Grotto
o During the British rule, the Collegio kept with its original use. During the war was used as
a shelter with hospital and baking bread, after the war, it was used as a school
o The Gizwit (1592) asked Bounamici to rehabilitate of the interior of the church 1647, and
the construction of the dome, the facade and the oratory of the church. This was the kick
start for the 2nd Valletta to start, the Baroque City, it was a model that followed
o 1652, the design of the St. Nicholas Church
o 1653, he was asked to design the facade of the church of St. Paul in Rabat, the design o f
the 1st baroque church in Malta
o 1650-1651 he had the go ahead to visit the island of Sicily and where he designed the
main church of Siracusa, the Duomo and the rehabilitation of the palace and the Church
of Ortigia.
o The council of trent aim was to convert most o the medieval churches into a baroque
style architecture
o 1659, he left Malta and went to live in his native town of Lucca and he was appointed a
chief architect of Lucca, he had to look after the fortification of Lucca. He arrived there
after a delay and the people of Lucca handed this work to other military architects
o San Romano church was changed in a baroque style but only the interior
o This work was mainly structural works, as the older walls of the building was badly
damaged with earthquake shakes
o Baroque style aim is t create a ciaro scurro effect
o Another work was the Theatro Del Gilio
o Last project was an entrance door design
o 1677 he died
o He was Maltas first baroque architect which he managed to introduce the baroque style
in Valletta and other villages around the island
o He was also involved in the conversion of the interior of the St. John Cathedral
Francesco Buonamici was the first architect who managed to introduce the architecture of Baroque
Rome in Malta, specifically in Valletta. Baroque slowly started infiltrating the Maltese Islands
Mattia Preti
Born in 1613, died 1699
Born in Calabria with a nick name of the Cavallieri di Calabria il cavalieri Calabrese
He was impressed with what Caravagio had done in Rome (Ciaro Scuro)
He left quite a few of his works in Rome
He went to Venice, Modena and soon after his stay in Rome 1650, he moved to Naples and then
to Malta
The knights invited him because Bounamici had left for Lucca and therefore Malta needed a new
architect.
At that time the Church of St John was just a stone box and so the Order wanted to refurbish
this church as it was the symbol which represented them. It was due to this fact that Mattia
Preti was invited to Malta
St. John Cathedral was the meeting point of the Knights and anyone who came to Malta was
invited to meet the Knights at this place
In this refurbishment, Baroque architecture was applied.
Mattia Preti took part in the refurbishment by designing a baroque themed interior for this
church.
The brilliant use of colour and his attention to detail is a characteristic of Mattia Pretis painitngs
Ciaro Scuro (technique which was also used by Caravaggio) could also be seen in his paintings
His brilliant choice of colours to give depth in his paintings was influenced by painters in Venice.
Being in the Baroque era, most of his paintings were made in such a way to reveal emotional
content at a particular point in time, as opposed to paintings from the Renaissance era.
Mattia Preti as an architect:
o Responsible for an outstanding building: Chapelle of Sarria, build just behind the Floriana
Lines
Carefully located in terms of design and height because of the artillery ranges
from the fortification.
Great attention to detail is also present in the entrance portal
He made use of giant ornament for the design of the exterior.
o The St. John Cathedral outside intervention which consisted of: the entrance, with
columns, arch portal and balcony all to increase the complexity of the facade
Romano Carapecchia arrived in Malta in 1707 during Gran Master Ramon Perellos
Carapecchia combined a book about the water reservoirs of the Maltese islands, these wells where
enough to support the three cities and Valletta for two years just in case a siege happened. A French
knight requested Carapecchia on behalf of Gran Master Vilena to design this naive to be put in the
Cathedral, this naive was done to represent Vilena after his dead. This was contracted by master
carpentry Michael Camilleri. This was called the Chappelle Ardente.
Carapecchia designed also the Manuel Theatre, which was Commissioned by GM Vilena. The theatre
was considered a very important building in the baroque age as at this time, these things where
considered very important. The interior was altered by the British during their rule. It was redecorated
in the 19th century after converted into a horse shoe theatre type.
Charles Franoise de Mondion was active in Mdina at that time that Carapecchia was working in
Valletta. He arrived in 1715, as the deputy Tigne Military Mission by King Louis to enhance the existing
fortifications of the Knights in the Grand Harbour Area and also they enforced the Coastal defences by
adding, Battres, Outbreaks etc..
He was sort of the Director of Public works during the Knights period. He wasnt a qualified architect but
a military engineer. He modified the entire land front fortifications of the city after the earthquake, he
also assumed the responsibility with the help of Carapecchia and another Maltese, to design the
eastern part of Mdina as these areas where blocked with rubble. In the period of 1727, this town was a
ghost town since it was in a state of ruins. Thanks to Mondion, we have the city which has two
characters, a new more open area built after the earthquake and the medieval part. He had the
bulldozing fashion in mind, which means he used to demolish the problem and build from scratch.
Vilena Palace in Mdina, in the courtyard, he created a sort of theatre with balcony facing the courtyard.
The British converted the palace into a hospital and they demolished these old houses and extended
another wing to the palace.
The Timber Balconies arrived in Malta about 1650, and which dominated the landscape of Valletta in
the 18th century, in the 19th century they started to be coloured but in the period of the knights, these
where left in the original colour of the red wood used. They reassemble the balcony of the Islamic
culture. This originated probably from a slave which worked in a carpenter shop which came with this
idea and it was a success.
The British were surprised with the rich heritage of fortification that they found in Malta
What to do with this heritage?
An advance in technology (industrial revolution) had an effect on the strength of the artillery
Therefore due to the industrial revolution, the defence of the fortifications was not adequate for
the power of the new type of armaments
Apart from this, the fortifications were no longer suitable to support the installation of new big
guns which were being used as fire power in the wars.
The strategy was to place a number of fortresses on the outskirts of a place to keep the enemy
away
Therefore during the British era we see a drastic change in the type of armaments and also the
defensive strategy
The British wanted to bring the fortifications of Malta up to higher standard.
There were a number of reports by several people which give advise how Malta should be
updated
o One of the main reports suggest to demolish fort st elmo and replace it with a long
shooting range gun
There was even a report to demolish all the coastal towers as they where un useable
They wanted to create a fort within the Floriana lines
Another to fill up the ditch in front of Valletta
And to build other forts in the area of Hamrun
In the 1860s
Four main things started happening
o Modernization of Fort St. Elmo, with new gun placements
o Works on Victoria Lines started
o Extension of the Fortress of San Lucjan by creating a gun battery outside the fort
o Creation of a new defence line on the heights of Corradino
The first fort build by the British outside Valletta, Sliema Point gun battery (TGI Friday)
Insertion of barracks and gun post within St Elmo
The construction of Victoria lines, were they wanted to split the island in two
o Several forts and entrenchments within the Victoria lines were built
o Intended to protect the island from any landings of enemy within the coastal areas
o Fort Madliena was the 1st fort
Different from the knights, which were focused huge gun placements which their
function was of containing guns
Moreover, they had the role to defend their area from intruders
Fort Mosta, with gun placements facing salina and bahar caghaq
They were sunken into the earth to camouflage within the landscape
One of the best designed
o Fort Bingemma
They followed the counters of land
They had to do detailed surveys
o Fort Delimara
o Fort Leonado
o Fort San Rokku
o Fort Rinella
Heavy installations of guns because the Italians where installing heavy guns on
battle ships
o Fort Cambridge
o Threats during the 19th century
Italian
French
The Ottomans
Info on 100tons Armstrong guns mounted in Malta and Gibraltar, the fort ended up with these new
guns, a container for just one gun.
The threat of that time was with the Italians, French and also many people thought that Malta was to be
given back to the nights and the knights had a lot of friends in Europe which supported them, and
therefore the British had the role to the defend the line separating Europe from Africa as well
The Maltese had at their hearth the baroque architecture which was catholic side and the British
protestant side.
The British after 2 years of their arrival reformed the education which set up a school about
architecture, design and sculpture 1802. It was never teacher before architecture and this was the first
time by sir Alexander Ball. His idea was to teach a new sample of student in order to introduce and kill
the baroque style with the new form of architecture. Neo Classicism was suppose to replace the
baroque. Bighi was built as a new hospital in Neo Classical architecture.
The British wish to achieve a revolution in architecture style. The neo classical style and then the new
gothic style, they introduced several key buildings in the urban areas. The first building was a
monument for Sir Alexander Ball monument. They wanted to achieve the neo style which reflected the
architecture style of the Greek . after a 50years period it started being accepted as a new architecture
the neo classical style. Another is the main guard portico. Another example was Villa Hookham Fere in
Pieta.
Some info about Bighi Hospital by Sir George Whitmore, the palace of knights was converted to this
naval hospital.
The first 30 years of the 19 th century, the building of the new Anglican church in Valletta in neo classical
style. After, this facade gave the inspiration for the facade building of the new court laws. 1833, the
famous church in Mosta designed by a French architect George Grioner de Vass. Also a small church in
Lija, had the neo classical style architecture.
The Maltese had a bad reaction with the new gothic style as this was seen as the symbol of the
protestant British religion. So the Maltese did not wanted to use this style in Malta but the British
manage to introduce this style trough 2 architect, Bonavia and another one Emanuele Gallizzia. In
Valletta, a prespiterian church was built by Gallizzia and after that the building of Adolorata cemetery
by Gallizzia, which had the neo gothic style which represented the protestant British architecture.
Edward Middleton Barry, 1866, who design the opera house in neo classical architecture. During the
WWII, 80% for the buildings in Valletta was destroyed.
Exam: choice to answer on what we liked to focus on, important that the answers does not cover only
what he said in lectures but other material which we searched and read