Ancient citadel! Here are some fascinating Neolithic facts about Gozo’s Cittadella
The Cittadella has been watching over Gozo for longer than you might have thought!
The Cittadella that towers over Gozo’s capital Victoria, makes all the must-visit lists for those exploring the sister island, but not many are aware of how long the historic fortress has been around.
Its function as a vantage point during times of battle is evident, both from its location at the centre of the island, as well as its significant elevation from its surroundings, making the walk up to the fortress a challenging one indeed!
These elements are ones usually associated with the battles for occupation of the Maltese Islands that took place over the last few centuries, but archaeological evidence actually shows that the site has likely been inhabited since Late Neolithic times, which range between 3,500 BC during the Mgarr-Ggantija phase and around 2,500 BC during the Tarxien phase.
This evidence includes ceramics, such as pottery remains found that are associated with the Bronze Age, the Tarxien Cemetery and the Borg in-Nadur phases of Maltese prehistory. Bronze Age silos were discovered outside the Cittadella in the 19th century, suggesting that during this period the settlement was larger than that found in the present-day citadel.
The fortifications seen today are a combination of an early 17th century bastioned wall, built between 1600 to 1622, and the remains of earlier medieval walls. All the original elements of the fortress survived largely intact, except for the glacis – the slope down from the fort built to expose any approaching enemies.
This preservation of the fortress makes the Cittadella one of the most complete and authentic early-17th century bastioned fortification systems to be seen in the Maltese islands.
When was your last visit to the Cittadella?