Birgu
Leave your feedback
LEAVE YOUR FEEDBACK

Video ID: 428

Submitting Feedback

Malta’s maritime city: Meet the people of Vittoriosa (Birgu)

Description

This is a short extract from a documentary which was first broadcast in 1978.

It tells the story of Vittoriosa and its people, their lives and loves. Vittoriosa, or Birgu as it is also known, is a maritime city packed with history and architectural splendour. For a time, it was the centre of civil, religious and social life in Malta, especially during the Knights’ period. The Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa was the seat of the Inquisition in Malta from 1571 to 1798. Today, the magnificent building is open to the public.

Vittoriosa, like Valletta, Cospicua, and Senglea, was devastated by aerial bombing raids during the Second World War. Reduced to a rubble wasteland of bombed homes, shops and churches, it seemed almost impossible that the area would ever recover. Despite the horror of those days, Vittoriosa gradually rose from the ashes to become stronger than ever. Fort St Angelo lies at the very tip of the city.

It guards the Grand Harbour and was used to provide safety to the inhabitants of the area, especially during raids by enemy invaders. In the 19th century, the Royal Navy adopted the fort as its Mediterranean headquarters, first naming it HMS Egmont and then HMS St Angelo.

Today, the fort is open every day to the public and is looked after by Heritage Malta.

Do you love Vittoriosa? Were you stationed at HMS St Angelo? We would love to hear your stories.

More places from Birgu

Ceremony marks end of British military base in Malta
Birgu Dom Mintoff Freedom Day
  The last minute of 31st March 1979 marked the end of an era as Malta ceas...
The real story behind the Malta riots in 1958
Birgu General Workers Union
The political arguments over the future of Malta degenerated into violence on Sa...
Malta’s maritime city: Meet the people of Vittoriosa (Birgu)
Birgu
This is a short extract from a documentary which was first broadcast in 1978. It...

Places Nearby

Traditional games Maltese kids used to play in the street
Malta children's games
Less than 20 years ago Maltese children weren’t glued to smartphones, addi...
A new lease of life for a Valletta landmark
Valletta, Malta Anton Buttigieg mcc opening 1979
This archive footage shows some of the extensive restoration work carried out in...
How the Santa Marija convoy saved hungry Malta
Grand Harbour Operation Pedestal
In 1942 Malta was under siege, blockaded by German and Italian naval and air for...
A look back at summer camps in Malta in the 1960s
Birkirkara catholic action malta
The Youth Catholic Action Movement or ‘Żgħażagħ Azzjoni Kattolika̵...
Remembering Maltese Prime Minister Dom Mintoff
Cospicua Dom Mintoff Prime Minister of Malta
Dom Mintoff dominated the political scene in Malta for almost four decades. Born...
‘Move back please’: Remembering Malta’s vintage buses
Floriana Malta bus
Loved and hated in equal measure, Malta’s vintage buses were a tourist att...
Malta’s national swimming pool opens in 1986
TAL-QROQQ Agatha Barbara malta national swimming pool
This is the moment Malta’s brand new national swimming pool was officially...
How Malta celebrated Independence Day in 1964
Floriana George Borg Olivier Independence Day
This exclusive archive footage shows how Malta celebrated its first Independence...
How the entrance to Malta’s capital keeps evolving
Valletta, Malta Architect Spiteri City Gate
The entrance to Valletta has changed beyond recognition over the past six decade...
How Floriana has never played second fiddle to Valletta
Floriana Sir Maurice Dorman Floriana football club
Floriana has a rich history. The town, a stone’s throw away from Valletta,...
Malta marks the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
Valletta, Malta Easter in Malta
The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, or ‘Jum id-Duluri’ has a special p...
A Maltese Christmas Tradition on Christmas Eve
Gwardamanġa
The procession of Baby Jesus is commonly held on Christmas Eve in the quiet stre...