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The Three Cities
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Cospicua
Cospicua is the largest of the three old cities forming Cottonera. In the older years it was a humble fishing port in the Grand Harbour. With the arrival of the Knights of St John in 1530 it started to increase in population and importance, after the Great Siege of 1565 the Order gradually increased its fortifications that today surround all the three cities. The closest fortifications embracing Cospicua are the Santa Margherita Lines built by engineer Firenzuola, a Dominican friar, later the Cottonera or Valperga Lines were built and embrace the whole area of Cottonera and are five kilometres (three miles) long. Cospicua is the largest, the most modern one, and the least rich history wise out of the three cities.
Senglea
Named Citta Senglea after Grandmaster La Sengle in 1554. Known in Maltese as Isla from isola, an island in Italian but it is not an island but a peninsula jutting out into the Grand Harbour and almost parallel with Birgu.. It was considered an island in the older years and referred to as such. The Parish is dedicated to Our Lady of Victories, in Maltese Bambina (Baby Mary), it was made Parish in 1581.
Vittoriosa
Also known as Birgu derived from Borgo, Il Borgo del Castello, as was called and known by the Aragonese (the suburb of the castle) and also from the Greek Pirgos. The word “Birgu” was one of the first Latin names used in Malta by the Aragonese. Il Borgo del Castello (Castle by the Sea) for the Castrum Maris, today is known as Fort St Angelo. Vittoriosa means the Victorious city, the name given to Birgu after the victory of the Great Siege of 1565. It was acclaimed by Grandmaster La Vallette for the great success it achieved during the Great Siege. The parish was made in 1090/91 and dedicated now to St Lawrence. It was established by Count Roger of Normandy together with Mdina the old capital after liberating the Maltese from Arab rule.
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The Three Cities
Cospicua
Cospicua is the largest of the three old cities forming Cottonera. In the older years it was a humble fishing port in the Grand Harbour. With the arrival of the Knights of St John in 1530 it started to increase in population and importance, after the Great Siege of 1565 the Order gradually increased its fortifications that today surround all the three cities. The closest fortifications embracing Cospicua are the Santa Margherita Lines built by engineer Firenzuola, a Dominican friar, later the Cottonera or Valperga Lines were built and embrace the whole area of Cottonera and are five kilometres (three miles) long. Cospicua is the largest, the most modern one, and the least rich history wise out of the three cities.
Senglea
Named Citta Senglea after Grandmaster La Sengle in 1554. Known in Maltese as Isla from isola, an island in Italian but it is not an island but a peninsula jutting out into the Grand Harbour and almost parallel with Birgu.. It was considered an island in the older years and referred to as such. The Parish is dedicated to Our Lady of Victories, in Maltese Bambina (Baby Mary), it was made Parish in 1581.
Vittoriosa
Also known as Birgu derived from Borgo, Il Borgo del Castello, as was called and known by the Aragonese (the suburb of the castle) and also from the Greek Pirgos. The word “Birgu” was one of the first Latin names used in Malta by the Aragonese. Il Borgo del Castello (Castle by the Sea) for the Castrum Maris, today is known as Fort St Angelo. Vittoriosa means the Victorious city, the name given to Birgu after the victory of the Great Siege of 1565. It was acclaimed by Grandmaster La Vallette for the great success it achieved during the Great Siege. The parish was made in 1090/91 and dedicated now to St Lawrence. It was established by Count Roger of Normandy together with Mdina the old capital after liberating the Maltese from Arab rule.
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