Birgu Town
Click on the Pictures for Enlargement

"From a breathless sky, the sun beat on the soft yellow rock; the long spit on which the knights had reared tehir tall elegant houses, face to face in a network of alleys that climbed the steep ridge on either side from the water's edge, where the Maltese lived still, in cabin and hut. Emptied by the hour of siesta, Birgu presented itself boldly to the observer, climbing silently between the splendour of grille-work and portico, cartouches, shrine and balcony; beneath the banners drooping still from the sunlight into the shadowy canyons where he walked"
The Disorderly Knights, Part Two, Chapter Two

 

Birgu from Ft St Angelo A view from the rear of Ft St Angelo over Birgu.
"The Auberge de Castille et Portugal - This building formed part of the Auberge of Castile and Portugal to which the Spanish Knights transferred in 1535.
 The Auberge de Castille et Portugal - This building formed part of the Auberge of Castile and Portugal to which the Spanish Knights transferred in 1535
Main Square

The main square of Vittoriosa (Birgu). Straight ahead is the route down to St Lawrence's.

There is a bar just behind where the photo was taken from. Before WW2, there was a church where the white car is parked facing the camera. I have seen photos of this square taken during the war, and it was filled with rubble from the bombed buildings.

Some cars here, but small ones (note the Mini with roof rack to the left. Minis are quite common in Malta.

Another Birgu Street (we wandered down quite a few while hunting for the Hospital). The Maltese word for Street is Triq. You can see why car ownership is low in Birgu!

 Birgu Street
Birgu Street

Yet another Birgu street. Some day a hotel group will buy the entire town, kick out the locals, and rent out the houses as holiday flats.

I gather that Malta has only recently started implementing planning laws.

"This was the First Hospital of the Order in 1530. The wounded were tended here during the Great Siege of 1565, after which it became a Nunnery"

Note that the Hospital dates from 1530 - the year the Knights moved to Malta: the Hospital was obviously a high priority. And it became a nunnery after 1565 because shortly after the Great Siege the Knights built Valletta, and one of the first things they did there was to built a new hospital in their new city.

 This was the first hospital of the order in 1530. The wounded were tended here during the Great Siege in 1565 after which it became a nunnery
Nunnery entrance The entrance to the Nunnery which was formerly the hospital.
The side wall of the Hospital.
 Hospital Wall
Updated 08 Jul 2001.
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