Fort Rinella in Kalkara and Fort Cambridge in Sliema were built by the British in 1886 to guard the naval base and dockyard in Malta. This was done in reponse to the arming of two Italian warships Duilio and Dandalo which were equipped with 100-ton cannons built by Sir George William Armstrong. The Armstrong cannon […]

Albeit construction of the Cottonera Lines started in 1670, it was only in 1724 that part of Our Saviour Bastion, named after the hill bearing the same name, was converted into a fort by French military engineers, upon advice by Charles François de Mondion and René Jacob de Tigné. The main purpose was to defend […]

Built on the first peninsula of the Grand Harbour, the site was known as Gallows Point since it served for the hanging of rioteer slaves. In 1629 Chev. Alessandro Orsi financed the building of the San Petronio Tower at the edge of the peninsula. In 1669 Grand Master Nicolás Cotoner y de Oleza commissioned engineer […]

Early during the 19th century, Sir Agostino Portelli, founder of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, decided to build his villa in Kalkara. His decision stemmed from the insecurity he felt at his home in Valletta after the French blockade of 1798. During the Second World War the villa became the residence of the Malta Flag […]

In 1944 Archbishop Mons. Michael Gonzi bought a plot of land, known as tal-Għeżieli from the Malta Gas Company, to build the new Parish Church dedicated to Saint Joseph. The design, bearing a neo-classical style and in the shape of a Latin cross, was made by Chev. Vincenzo Bonello aided by engineer Ġużè Damato. The […]