Citadella (Gozo)

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The Citadella (also called the Citadel) which lies in the heart of Victoria, Gozo, is a historic fortified city or castle. The area is known to have been first fortified during the Bronze Age approximately around 1500 BC. It was later developed by the Phoenicians and continued development until, by Roman times, it had become a complex Acropolis . Up until the 18th Century it was the only fortified refuge against attack for the inhabitants of the island.

The north side of the Citadel dates back to the Aragonese period, while the south flank, overlooking Victoria, was re-constructed between 1599 and 1603 by the Knights of St. John. The massive defensive stone walls of the fortifications which rise above the town and were built by the Knights to protect the village communities from foraging corsairs attempting to take slaves and threatening invasion of Moslem forces fighting Christendom. In 1551 a small Turkish force under Dragut attacked the Citadel, which succumbed with little resistance. Those taking refuge within its walls were taken as slaves and the castle reduced to ruins.

Within its walls lies a fine 17th century baroque Cathedral designed by Lorenzo Gafà, the Maltese architect who also built the Cathedral of Mdina. It is said that it lies on the site where a Roman temple dedicated to Juno once stood. It is most famous for the remarkable trompe l'oeil painting on its ceiling, which depicts the interior of a dome that was never built.