Ferretti Battery
the public
Ferretti Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Ferretti), also known as Qajjenza Battery (Maltese: Batterija tal-Qajjenza) or Saint George's Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' San Ġorġ),[1] is an artillery battery in the village of Qajjenza, within the limits of Birżebbuġa, in Malta.[2] It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715 and 1716 as one of a series of fortifications around the coasts of the Maltese Islands. A restaurant exists within the walls of the battery, serving Mediterranean cuisine.
History
Ferretti Battery was built in 1715-16 as part of the first building programme of coastal batteries in Malta. It was part of a chain of fortifications that defended Marsaxlokk Bay, which also included six other batteries, the large Saint Lucian Tower, two smaller De Redin towers, four redoubts and three entrenchments.[3] The battery was named after the knight Francesco Maria Ferretti, who provided over 900 scudi for its construction.[4]
The battery consists of a semi-circular gun platform, with a parapet containing eight embrasures. Its gorge has two blockhouses linked by a redan, all of which are pierced by musketry loopholes. The redan contains the main entrance, which was surmounted by three coats of arms, now defaced. The battery was formerly covered by a shallow rock hewn ditch.
The battery was decommissioned sometime in the 19th century, and was later converted into a summer residence and a boathouse. The parapet with embrasures was demolished, while the ditch was converted into a moat filled with seawater. A high seawall was built around the battery.
Present day
Today, the battery is used as a restaurant, named Ferretti after the knight who built the battery. The restaurant serves typical Mediterranean cuisine, and is one of the most popular restaurants in the south of Malta.[5]
The structure itself is in a fair state of preservation. Some of the missing embrasures have been rebuilt, and despite some modern alterations, the structure still retains most of its features.[4]
Gallery
- The gun platform, now the restaurant's terrace
- The moat and seawall
- The blockhouse and redan
- Musketry loopholes
- Inside the restaurant with musketry loopholes used as small windows
- The moat
- The gun platform and parapet with embrasures
- Modern entrance to the restaurant
- The seawall with the battery in the background
- Original entrance to the battery
References
- ^ Farrugia Randon, Stanley (2015). Heritage Saved – Din l-Art Ħelwa – 1965–2015. Luqa: Miller Distributors Ltd. p. 118. ISBN 9789995752132.
- ^ Dillon, Paddy (26 November 2013). Walking in Malta: 33 Routes on Malta, Gozo and Comino. Cicerone Press. pp. 52–. ISBN 978-1-84965-975-8.
- ^ "Vendôme Tower" (PDF). Mare Nostrum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ a b "Ferretti Battery". maltamilitary.0catch.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "Ferretti". mydestination.com. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
External links
- National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands
- Official website
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Order of Malta
- Aħrax Tower & Battery
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- Balbani Battery^
- Buġibba Battery^
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- Dellia Battery^
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- Fedeau Battery^
- Ferretti Battery
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- Ramla Left Battery^
- Ramla Right Battery^
- Riħama Battery
- St. Anthony's Battery
- St. Julian's Tower & Battery
- St. Lucian Tower & Battery^
- St. Mary's Battery (Comino)
- St. Mary's Battery (Marsalforn)^
- St. Thomas Tower & Battery
- Saluting Battery
- Tombrell Battery^
- Vendôme Battery
- Westreme Battery
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Battalions
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