The massive citadel bastions, which dominate Victoria today and that rise
predominately over the city date back to the 17th Century. The original plans by Laparelli date to 1567 but it took 32 years to start work from them. Laparelli, famed for his architecture of Valletta designed the citadel two years after the Great Siege. Funds were raised from King Phillip II of Spain's donation and the Gozitans taxing wine, oil and other exports. The walls were never tested in serious battle as the Ottoman Turks were driven out of the West by the time they were completed. Legislation meant people had to live in the upper city but when the restriction was lifted people began to move further down the hill into the countryside. The old town is being revived and restored to its former glory. To the left of Cathedral Square is 17th Century Palace of the Governors, of particular
interest here are the fat mouldings that were norm of that period. On the
right is Chapter's Hall, which was built in 1899. The square's domestic
dwellings were destroyed in the 1860's. The Citadel Ramparts are a must and the view from them is simply a stunning mass of rolling valleys, hills and Malta in the background.

THE CATHEDERAL

Lorenzo Gafa, the same man who designed Mdina Cathedral on Malta,
designed Victoria's main Cathedral. It has the usual hallmarks of his churches and is a splendid exhibition of superb architecture and building work. The cathedral was built on a site that had at least three churches on it as well as two pagan temples. Due to funds running out, the dome Gafa intended for it was never completed. Antoine Manuele of Messina turned this to his advantage and used his paintworks to cover this deficiency. The Cathedral floor is paved with colourful marble tombstones of bishops and priests. In part of the cathedrals vestry is the museum, which features Ionic columns from the temple of Juno, a bishop's landau from the late 1860's, church silver amongst many others.

CITADEL MUSEUMS

The museums have a lot to see and the buildings occupying these in themselves are worthy the visit alone. The Folklore Museum is made up of three houses that date back to 1500. They are unique in the Maltese islands, as they are simple in design and in stonework and have Norman windows. Exhibited here are items depicting the times and history of rural Gozitan life. The Archaeological Museum is housed in the fortresses last surviving private palace. The exhibits here range from Neolithic times to the Middle Ages. Items of particular interest here include a 12th Century Tombstone of a young Muslim girl, Majmuna. Also here is an inscription marking the house of Sicilian Bernado DeOpuo. A legend of the 1551 invasion he killed his wife and two daughters, dispatched several Turks before turning the sword on himself, preferring death then a life of slavery.
The Natural History Museum is also worth a look as are the Old Prisons. In the prisons you can see carvings left by prisoners who were incarcerated here between 1600 and 1880. From 1880 until 1964 these were used as the New Prisons but today they are used to display handicraft.