The Facebook page Is-Swar tal-Kottonera: Passaġġ fil-Pajsaġġ, created by a team that is working to protect and promote the natural and historical heritage trail along the Cottonera Lines, has recently highlighted a stunning architectural gem that many might have overlooked while exploring the South.

We’re talking about St James Gate: a beautifully preserved doorway into Malta’s past.

Part of the Cottonera Lines (also known as the Santa Margherita Lines), this imposing system of fortifications was built by the Knights of St John in the 17th and 18th centuries to defend the Three Cities: Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua. Earlier this year, these mighty walls celebrated an incredible 355 years.

Construction on St James Gate itself began around 1638, during the rule of Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris, but financial difficulties brought the project to a halt. Work later resumed under Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner, whose name still lives on in these fortifications.

Strategically located between Żabbar and Kalkara, the gate once served as one of the main land entrances into the fortified area. Today, it remains a striking example of Baroque military architecture, cleverly designed to work with Malta’s rugged landscape.

So next time you’re wandering through the Cottonera area, make a quick detour – stand beneath St James Gate and imagine the countless stories, soldiers, and centuries that have passed through its arch.

Have you ever been there?