Ferretti Battery

Ferretti Battery
Batterija ta' Ferretti
Qajjenza, Birżebbuġa, Malta
View of the Ferretti Battery from the landward side, showing the blockhouses and the redan
Map of Ferretti Battery
Coordinates35°49′57″N 14°32′2″E / 35.83250°N 14.53389°E / 35.83250; 14.53389
TypeArtillery battery
Site information
OwnerGovernment of Malta
Controlled byPrivate tenant
Open to
the public		Yes (as a restaurant)
ConditionIntact
Websiteferretti.com.mt
Site history
Built1715–1716
Built byOrder of Saint John
MaterialsLimestone

Ferretti Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Ferretti), also known as Qajjenza Battery (Maltese: Batterija tal-Qajjenza) or Saint George's Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' San Ġorġ),[1] is an artillery battery in the village of Qajjenza, within the limits of Birżebbuġa, in Malta.[2] It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715 and 1716 as one of a series of 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 1715-16 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.[3] The battery was named after the knight Francesco Maria Ferretti, who provided over 900 scudi for its construction.[4]

Defaced coats of arms above the battery's main entrance

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 redan contains the main entrance, which was surmounted by three coats of arms, now defaced. The battery was formerly covered 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 battery.

Present day

Interior of the restaurant

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.[5]

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.[4]

  • The gun platform, now the restaurant's terrace
    The gun platform, now the restaurant's terrace
  • The moat and seawall
    The moat and seawall
  • The blockhouse and redan
    The blockhouse and redan
  • Musketry loopholes
    Musketry loopholes
  • Inside the restaurant with musketry loopholes used as small windows
    Inside the restaurant with musketry loopholes used as small windows
  • The moat
    The moat
  • The gun platform and parapet with embrasures
    The gun platform and parapet with embrasures
  • Modern entrance to the restaurant
    Modern entrance to the restaurant
  • The seawall with the battery in the background
    The seawall with the battery in the background
  • Original entrance to the battery
    Original entrance to the battery

References

  1. ^ Farrugia Randon, Stanley (2015). Heritage Saved – Din l-Art Ħelwa – 1965–2015. Luqa: Miller Distributors Ltd. p. 118. ISBN 9789995752132.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Vendôme Tower" (PDF). Mare Nostrum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Ferretti Battery". maltamilitary.0catch.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Ferretti". mydestination.com. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
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