Birgu, Malta

Birgu is one of the three fortified cities around the Grand Harbour, along with Senglea and Copiscua. It's also known as Vittoriosa, after being awarded the title "Città Vittoriosa" for withstanding the brutal attacks of the Ottomans during the Great Siege of 1565.
It was the first capital of Malta after the arrival of the Knights Hospitallier but it had long existed before the Knights arrived. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Aragonese all contributed to the development of the city, due to its strategic location, instrumental to defend the island.

How to go: From Valletta, buses 2, 3 and 4.


What I visited in one morning:

The Inquisitor's Palace


It is one of the very few surviving buildings used by the Inquisition and the only one accessible to the public. It was built around 1530 when the Knights Hospitallier arrived at the island. It was used by the Inquisition between 1574 and 1798. 
Monday to Sunday 9 am to 5pm; €6.

Collegiate church of Saint Lawrence


The church was rebuilt in the 17th century in the Baroque style and has a richly decorated interior.

Fort St Angelo


Fort Saint Angelo was for centuries an important defensive stronghold, due to its strategic location. It was originally built in the medieval period when it was known as "Castrum Maris" (castle by the sea). It was the headquarters of the Order of Malta during the Great Siege of 1565. Its current appearance dates from the late 17th century when it was renovated. Although I was able to visit, it is currently closed to the public due to the urgent need of being restored.

The Maritime Museum


This museum is located within the Old Naval bakery. It illustrates Malta's maritime history, from prehistoric times to the present day and the impact of seafaring on Malta's society. 
Monday to Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm; €5.

Back to Malta 









Local: Birgu, Malta

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Gates of Mdina, Malta

Image
Mdina walls have three gates: the Mdina Gate, the Greeks Gate and the Gharreqin Gate. The Main Gate, also known as Vilhena gate, was built in 1724, under Grandmaster Antonio Manoel de Vilhena, who in 1722 ordered the renovation and restoration of Mdina. The courtyard behind the main gate was demolished to make way for the Vilhena Palace and a new gate had to be built, a few meters to the left of the old one, which was walled up. The Gate has reliefs of Saint Agatha, Saint Paul and Saint Publius, the three patron saints of Malta. The Greeks Gate is the oldest of the three Gates, dating back to medieval times. It was also renovated in 1724 when an outer portal was built in the baroque style. It is known as the Greeks Gate because a small community of Greeks once lived by the gate. For many years it was the only gate by which the slaves were allowed to enter Mdina. The Gharreqin Gate is the less known and most recent of the three Gates. It was excavated in the city
Read more

Church of Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon, Portugal

Image
The church of Santa Maria de Belém originated from the expansion,  ordered by Henry the Navigator in the 15th century,  of a previous hermitage built on the site. The new church was trusted to the Order of Christ- of which Henry the Navigator was the Grand Master- to help the seamen that passed by Belém, as the hermitage had done before. In 1501, by order of King D. Manuel I, the Monastery of the Hieronymites started being built and the small church was totally remodelled in the Manueline and Renaissance styles. It was the king's wish that the church should become a pantheon for the dynasty (Avis-Beja) started by him, and that it continued to help the travellers passing through Belém. Like the Monastery, the church was significantly restored in the 19th century. Inside the church are the tombs of several historical figures: Luís de Camões, one of Portugal's greatest poets who lived in the 16th century, Vasco da Gama, the first navigator to go to India by sea, King D. Sebast
Read more

Lisbon's City Walls, Portugal

Image
The hilltop where the castle stands probably had walls since Roman times. However, the remains that can be seen today date from two main periods. The old walls, or Moorish walls, were built on top of whatever walls existed at the time, between the 10th century and 1147, when Lisbon was reconquered by the first king of Portugal. In this period only the castle and Alfama neighbourhood existed and the walls were rebuilt as the Christian threat from the north intensified. Later, in the late 13th and 14th centuries, D. Dinis and D. Fernando ordered the walls to be repaired and enlarged, to address both the expansion of the city and the growing tension with Castille. Segments of the Moorish wall can be seen close to the castle and in Alfama neighbourhood; the remains of the wall from D.Dinis reign can be seen at the Money Museum while the remains from D. Fernando period can be seen in Espaço Chiado, a shopping centre, and in Largo Martim Moniz.  Back to Lisbon
Read more

Martim Moniz Square, Lisbon, Portugal

Image
According to legend, Martim Moniz was a knight in D. Afonso Henrique's army during the city's reconquest in 1147 (D. Afonso Henriques was the first king of Portugal). Seeing one of the gates open he threw himself into the breach, allowing for the invading army to enter at the cost of his own life. Martim Moniz square results from the demolition of Lower Mouraria in the mid 20th century, including the street after which the square is named. Only the chapel of Our Lady of Good Health survived the demolition. In the 90s the city council decided to make the toponym official and maintain the homage to the hero of questionable existence. During many years the square looked very degraded, until 2012, when the city council decided to renovate, adding new kiosks and esplanades. This square is also known as Lisbon's Chinatown, due to the existence of many Chinese and Indian shopkeepers. The fountain is a reference to the old wall, of which only an unrecognizable tower remains ne
Read more