Three Cities facts for kids
The Three Cities (called It-Tlett Ibliet in Maltese) is a common name for three old, fortified cities in Malta. These cities are Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua.
Vittoriosa is the oldest of the three. It has been around since before the Middle Ages. The other two cities, Senglea and Cospicua, were built later by the Order of Saint John in the 1500s and 1600s.
The Three Cities are surrounded by strong walls called the Cottonera Lines. Sometimes, the name Cottonera (Il-Kottonera in Maltese) is used to mean the Three Cities. It can also include the nearby town of Kalkara.
In March 2014, about 10,808 people lived in the Three Cities. Some people who live there speak a special way of talking called the Cottonera Dialect.
| Common Name | Official Name |
|---|---|
| Birgu | Vittoriosa |
| L-Isla | Senglea |
| Bormla | Cospicua |
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Three Cities
Vittoriosa has been lived in since the time of the Phoenicians, a very old civilization. But the city you see today was shaped by the Order of Saint John. When the Knights arrived in Malta in 1530, Vittoriosa became the capital city instead of Mdina.
After a big attack in 1551, the city of Senglea was built on a piece of land called L'Isola. Important forts were also built: Fort Saint Angelo in Vittoriosa and Fort Saint Michael in Senglea.
The Great Siege and New Titles
The cities faced a huge battle during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. After the Knights and Maltese won, Vittoriosa was given the special title Città Vittoriosa, meaning 'Victorious City'. Senglea was called Città Invicta, meaning 'Unconquered City'.
After the siege, a new capital city, Valletta, was built. In 1571, Valletta took over as the capital from Vittoriosa.
Stronger Walls: The Cottonera Lines
The cities' defenses were made even stronger when Grandmaster Nicolas Cotoner was in charge. In 1722, another Grandmaster, Marc'Antonio Zondadari, gave the town of Bormla its own special title: Città Cospicua. This means 'Conspicuous City' or 'City that Stands Out'.
The Cottonera Lines are huge walls that were meant to protect the cities. Building them started on August 28, 1670. These impressive walls circle Bormla with many strong points and grand gates. They were built to protect the harbor and Valletta from attacks coming from the land.
The Old Name of Bormla
Bormla's very old name, Burmula, might come from the Phoenician language. Some experts say 'Burmula' means 'high place'. This makes sense because Bormla is higher than the areas around it. The name 'Cospicua' (meaning 'conspicuous' or 'standing out') is like a direct translation of this old Phoenician name. It shows that Bormla was always seen as an important place that stood out.
World War II and Rebuilding
During World War II, the Three Cities were heavily bombed by Italian and German planes. They were rebuilt in the 1950s and 1960s. After the war, many people moved out of the Cottonera area. New people moved in, and the area changed.
Since the 1990s, many projects have helped to improve the cities. For example, the Malta Maritime Museum was opened in Vittoriosa. The American University of Malta was also built in Cospicua. These projects are helping the Three Cities become lively and important places once again.
