The Fortifications of Birgu 
(Citta Vittoriosa)
The military architecture of the city
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The Main Gate into Birgu (Vittoriosa) says it all with the Latin inscription from Psalm 139 (140) which reads "Obumbrasti super caput meum in die belli" which translates into "You will put a shade over my head in the day of war". (Unfortunately the coat of arms underneath it in soft limestone is no longer discernible, ostensibly at least in part because of damage inflicted by the French during their relatively brief occupation.) The fortifications of Birgu fulfilled this purpose of protecting its inhabitants during the Great Siege of 1565.
On the landward side Birgu has an interesting complex of three gates in sequence: The Advanced Gate, the Couvre Porte, and the Main Gate. Essentially these are set in turn within a 'ravelin' and thence a bridge across the moat and finally to the main gate proper.
The land facing curtain walls are characterised by two classical bastions (St John and St James) each having its own cavalier (tower). In addition to these there is the paired demi-bastion with intervening parapet (thus comprising a 'hornwork') of the Post of Castille.
On the seaward side, the main fortification is Fort St Angelo (the 'Castrum Maris' of ancient times) at the tip of the promontory, besides which there are walls facing Kalkara. The aspect that faces Senglea did not need correspondingly heavy fortifications.
These two photographs taken from different angles show how Fort St Angelo dominates the centre of the Grand Harbour.
Though Fort St Angelo is in the middle of the Grand Harbour, its commanding position even over the entrance to the harbour is seen from the following photograph:
The following image shows the Castellan's palace i the uppermost level within Fort St Angelo. It still has features betraying its Siculo-Norman origin. The rim of the well head is fashioned out of the neck of a large old Roman amphora.
It shows the eight pointed 'Maltese' Cross on which is superimposed the Coat
of Arms of Grand Master Jean de la Valette. This is surrounded by a garland
with two red roses. The 'crown' is fashioned out of the sails and stern of a
wooden man of war.