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Cittadella (Victoria – Gozo)
Gozo’s sister island, Malta, is home to the Cittadella. The small walled settlement on a rocky outcropping overlooking Victoria (also known as Rabat). The position was chosen because it was a naturally fortified peak that dominated the surrounding landscape and allowed for visual control of the coastal districts. The geological and geomorphological features were perfect for supporting ancient communities and laying the groundwork for town growth. Before the entrance of the Knights of the Order of St. John, the Cittadella was known as Gaulcouis Civitas (perhaps after the Roman colony).
The Cittadella Fortifications’ archaeological record suggests that this naturally defensible hilltop had a small urban or proto-urban community as early as the Bronze Age. In Phoenician and Roman times, this settlement expanded to become the administrative seat of the island due to its central location inside Gozo. The hilltop appears to have formerly housed a grand public edifice or temple in classical times. However, the settlement has expanded well beyond its original hilltop location, spreading across the surrounding plain.
During the Middle Ages, the area’s human settlement appears to have been restricted. The Cittadella’s Medieval township, which featured a closely packed urban settlement, was known to have thrived until the 16th century. The majority of Cittadella’s Medieval past is only preserved as archaeological deposits today, while medieval houses up to two metres in height are not uncommon.
When the Knights of St. John arrived on the island of Malta, they continued to use the citadel as a haven for the locals in times of crisis. In 1551, the island was besieged by Moslems, and the entire population was enslaved.
Due to military improvements in the 16th century, this settlement was abandoned and transformed into an utterly military garrison. In reality, the Cittadella’s architectural heritage is virtually entirely made up of military facilities as it remains now. Nonetheless, on the ruins of the medieval town, some significant architectural monuments were built in the Baroque style. The Cathedral Church, a 17th-century structure that has held the Bishop’s Seat since 1864, is undoubtedly the most notable.
The Cittadella boasts several remarkable architectural characteristics worth studying because they are superb examples of vernacular architecture from the Middle Ages and Baroque periods. The Folklore Museum and Casa Bondi powerfully depict the Medieval character, but the pointed archways also testify to a rising urban texture. Maltese Baroque architecture can be found at the Prisons, Law Courts (Palace of the Governors), and the former Bishops Palace. However, there is a dramatic sense of movement resulting from the accumulation of mass and space. The piazza is divided into two levels, with the lower level housing the city buildings and the upper-level housing the Cathedral, which towers over the Cittadella.
It is proposed that the Cittadella be placed in an Area of Archaeological Importance that includes its environs. This aims to prevent archaeological deposits from being disturbed or destroyed without conducting scientific research. Priority is also given within such an area to preserve the archaeological relics uncovered during the process.
Following Policy UCO 1 of the Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands, the Cittadella has also been declared an Urban Conservation Area, which aims to safeguard and enhance the most critical sections of townscape value. The fact that the Cittadella is mentioned in the Environment Protection Act No. V of 1991 and the Antiquities (Protection) Act and List Cap 54 confirms the importance of the Cittadella on a national level.
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