To continue with our walk around the Cittadella of Gozo we now reach the battlements. There are several routes. the first is from the old original entrance continue straight on and turn right up the southern stairs, to the southern battlements.
There are several other access points to the battlements.
Next to the old Prison from the entrance square.
90° from the square to the left of the cathedral
Parallel with the left side of the cathedral.
The battlements of the southern side provide quite large areas of flat ground. and look out posts.
This walkway joins the two corner battlements on the south side and is protected by a wide flat surface to the main wall.
Before rising up to the East and central area of the castle are the old grain store and later battery.
The grain store is three bottle shaped stores with a top entry. Grain was poured in the top and extracted from the top. Old grain in the bottom began to deteriorate and produce gasses that killed any vermin that may find its way inside.
Later the stores were converted by the British to provide water storage instead of grain. The following photographs are from the inside of the recently clay lined bottles.
Looking up to the top of the bottle from the base inside.
Corridor joining the bases of the bottles
Entrance to the base of the third bottle
From the entrance to the silos, access is to the battery. A corridor leads to the battery that is cut into the rock and air raid shelters cut into the walls during WW2.
The battery defends the ditch, the eastern walls and the areas below.
Watchpoint
This is the east wall as seen from the battery.
In 1551 the Ottomans invaded Malta. Unable to gain ground there they invaded Gozo instead. The entire population took shelter in the citadel which, The soldiers put under siege. Some reports say the siege lasted 3 days and others longer. The elders are reported to have arranged a deal where they would be spared and the gold and silver not taken. (the population?)
The Otermans sacked the castle and took the entire population to Lybia and sold them into slavery.
Can you imagine the town you live in being atacked and everyone you know being rounded up and sold into slavery? The thought is horrifying.
The population is said to be 3000 or 6000 people depending on what you read. Again depending on your reading, between a handful and 200 did escape by clambering over the wall in the last image. How they managed that without breaking legs I cannot imagine.
In the next and final post, we will visit the highest part of the castle.
**
Previous Posts on this subject.**
Comments