- Type
- Fortress
- Origins
- 1500 · 15th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Gozo, Malta
- Commissioned by
- Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg)
- Coordinates
- 36.0464°, 14.2394°
History
The hill in the middle of Gozo was inhabited in the Bronze Age, and in Roman times it held the acropolis of the town of Gaulos. In the Middle Ages the summit was walled, giving islanders a refuge from raids. In 1551 the Ottomans captured the citadel and carried off almost the entire population of Gozo, several thousand people, into slavery. The Knights of St John rebuilt the defences, adding massive bastions on the south side around the turn of the 17th century. Until 1637 residents were required to spend the night within the walls; afterwards the town spread out at the foot of the hill. The Cathedral of the Assumption was built here in 1697–1711 to a design by Lorenzo Gafà.
What to see
A gateway leads into the square before the cathedral, whose flat ceiling bears an illusionistic painting of a dome. Inside the walls are museums of archaeology and natural science, and the old prison still shows graffiti carved by its inmates. A walk along the ramparts circles the hill and opens up views across the island to the sea. The citadel has recently undergone a thorough restoration.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q867647
Popularity: articles about this site in 21 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).