On this day, exactly 353 years ago, the first stone of the bastions in the area known as Cottonera in the south of Malta was laid. In honour of this beautiful location’s 353rd birthday, we’re taking looking into what makes this spot a gem worth visiting.
A little bit about the Cottonera
The area known as Cottonera is a “collective description of the fortified cities of Birgu, Isla, Bormla, and Kalkara,” according to the location’s website. The Cottonera area sometimes also refers to The Three Cities (Birgu, Isla, Bormla) which are enclosed by the Cottonera Lines.
These lines, also known as Valperga lines surround the three cities and were used as fortifications to defend this area, since right across from The Three Cities is the Grand Harbour and Malta’s capital of Valletta which were heavily attacked over the years.
The impressive fortifications
Built in the 17th and 18th centuries, they surround an earlier line of fortifications called the Santa Margherita Lines. These lines were improved by Nicolas Cotoner (the Grand Master at the time) who feared attacks by the Ottoman. He funded the construction of the lines, which were subsequently named after him. The first stone of this development was laid today 352 years ago.
Interestingly, although Kalkara isn’t enclosed by the Cottonera Lines, it is still considered part of the Cottonera area since Grand Master Cotoner also commissioned the construction of Fort Ricasoli at Kalkara – a very important fort along the southern coastline.
According to author Charles Stephenson, these lines were called the “most ambitious work of fortification ever undertaken by the Knights of St John in Malta.” With a number of bastions and curtains along the stretch of fortifications, it’s safe to say that during this period, this part of the island was well fortified.