#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 60 The most prominent of the Grand Harbour’s Three Cities is the one which led to victory in 1565. For a short while #Birgu was the island’s capital and earned the title Citta #Vittoriosa - the Victorious.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 61 The old dockyard city of the Grand Harbour has 3 names. #Isla is the original, later #Senglea after its patron GrandMaster de la Sengle & for its role in 1565 it was awarded the title Citta #Invicta - The Unconquered.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 62 #Bormla stands as rearguard to #Isla & #Birgu in #Malta’s Grand Harbour and is enclosed within hefty fortifications. In the 16th c the city became known as Citta #Cospicua - the Conspicuous

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 63. The earliest example of fortifications in #Malta date from the #BronzeAge and formed part of a citadel in the Southwest region of the island, commanding beautiful views.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 64. The remains of the #BronzeAge citadel high up on #Malta’s #Dingli cliffs feature grain silos and cave dwellings, cart ruts and a lovely rock-cut window.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 65 The Library was the last building erected by the Knights in #Malta to store the Order’s collection dating from the 12thc. Finished in 1796, 2 yrs before Napoleon’s invasion, it fell to the British,new lords of the islands,to inaugurate it in 1812.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 66 In February 1883 #Malta’s locomotive train departed for the first time from #Valletta and reached the outskirts of #Mdina in 25 minutes, reducing the journey time by 2.5 hrs. The service shut down 48 yrs later in March 1931, never to resume.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 67 Construction of #Malta’s capital city, #Valletta, started in March 1566. Situated on a hill, most of the city’s peripheral streets are sheer slopes or stairways. Quite challenging if you’re going up.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 68 The biggest legacy of the early medieval Arab rule in #Malta is the Maltese language, but beautiful artefacts survive like Maymuna’s gravestone. The Kufic script records the girl’s death in 1174.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 69. The Lascaris War Rooms were the nerve centre for #Malta’s defence coordination during #WWII. In July ‘43, the complex welcomed Generals Eisenhower & Montgomery & other Allied leaders for the launch of Operation Husky.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 70 This square in #Valletta captures 4 eras: the Auberge d’Aragon (right) built in 1571, also the venue for #Malta’s Independence negotiations in 1964; a memorial to the 1798 revolt vs the 🇫🇷; the 1844 Anglican Cathedral (left) & a British phonebox.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 71 In May 1942, #Malta’s only official #WWII traitor & spy, showed up on a dinghy beneath these cliffs. Caught in rough weather, he was rescued by a patrol boat but was recognised by a childhood friend. He was executed for treason later that year.

#Vittoriosa #Malta at night 🥰

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 72 Strained relations between the bishop of #Malta & the Knights of St John in the 16thc, led the Pope to appoint his permanent delegate to the island in 1574 - the Roman Inquisitor. For 2 centuries, this was his seat in #Vittoriosa.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 73 In April 1798 Napoleon planned the invasion of #Malta in this letter. On 9th June his fleet anchored off Malta requesting the Grand Master to ‘resupply water’ 😏Within a day the islands fell to the new French Order after 268 yrs of Knights’ rule.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 74 At noon each day a gun is fired at #Valletta’s Saluting Battery. The timekeeping service started in 1824 for vessels entering port & was discontinued in 1923 with the advent of telegraphic signals. It resumed in 2004 thanks to Wirt Artna NGO.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 75 French Grand Master de Valette led the #Malta victory in the Great Siege of 1565. He prayed in a chapel in #Vittoriosa between skirmishes and later left his hat & sword in thanksgiving. His name remains tied to Malta’s capital #Valletta.

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 76. According to legend, this hole at the Inquisitor’s Palace in #Vittoriosa #Malta was a well embedded with swords used for torture. The truth is that through the 16th & 18th centuries, it served as a communal latrine for all the prisoners.🙃

#Fun #Maltese #History #Fact 77.A Carpenters’ Guild existed in #Vittoriosa #Malta since the 16th c to service the Knights’ fleet. In the 19th c the guild built this oratory dedicated to St Joseph and it survived blast from nearby direct hits in #WWII. Today it serves as a museum

Not #writing today. #WritingCommunity