| Ferretti Battery | |
|---|---|
|
Batterija ta' Ferretti | |
| Qajjenza, Birżebbuġa, Malta | |
| Type | Artillery battery |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Controlled by | Private tenant |
| Open to the public | Yes (as a restaurant) |
| Condition | Intact |
| Website | ferretti.com.mt |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1715–1716 |
| Built by | Order of Saint John |
| Materials | Limestone |
Ferretti Battery (Maltese language: Batterija ta' Ferretti), also known as Qajjenza Battery (Maltese language: Batterija tal-Qajjenza), is an artillery battery in the village of Qajjenza, within the limits of Birżebbuġa, in Malta.[1] It was built by the Order of Saint John between 1715 and 1716 as one of a series of coastal 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 1715-1716 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.[2] The battery was named after the knight Francesco Maria Ferretti, who provided over 900 scudi for its construction.[3]
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 battery was originally surrounded 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 entire 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.[4]
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.[3]
References[]
- ↑ 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. http://books.google.com/books?id=40ZGAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA52.
- ↑ "Vendôme Tower". http://www.eh4-marenostrum.net/virtualtour/Marsaxlokk/trail_2/09/Vendome-Tower.pdf. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ferretti Battery". http://www.maltamilitary.0catch.com/html/ferretti_battery.html. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ↑ "Ferretti". http://www.mydestination.com/malta/restaurants/11333/ferretti. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
External links[]
The original article can be found at Ferretti Battery and the edit history here.