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The bastions of Vittoriosa and the Collacchio (the residential area that used to be reserved for the Knights of St John) are being transformed in the extensive restoration project that started some years back.

The works, undertaken by expert hands and under professional guidance, are being carried out with elaborate detail and attention to the historical context of the city: unnecessary obstacles are removed and original architectural features refurbished or reinstalled.

It is therefore regretted that the raised platform that used to run along the French Curtain (so called because it was defended during the Great Siege by Knights from the Langue of France) that joins St John’s and St James’ cavaliers is not being rebuilt and the site is being paved outright.

This platform used to form an integral part of the military defence system where the guns were located, as evidenced by the gun emplacements which have been insensitively sealed up and which are now higher than street level.

The space on the platform was found ideal by the members of one of Vittoriosa’s old maritime trades, the rope-makers (kurdara), from whom the area got its name (is-sur tal-kurdara). It was here where they stretched and dried their newly-knitted ropes.

This platform was not destroyed during the war but was unwittingly removed some years back to make way for the planting of trees.

Rebuilding the platform may arguably reduce parking space. But this is not the case. In the first instance, the trees should be removed and planted elsewhere; they are out of place.

As for the reconstructed platform, this need not project outwards more than, say, two metres, much less than the original six-metre platform, thus serving as a passageway for anyone wishing to admire the view overlooking the ditch, after the screen walls blocking the gun emplacements are removed. It will be similar to the inner walkway girdling part of Mdina bastions. This will not only allow sufficient parking space but also restore a typical unique defence characteristic at Vittoriosa that has disappeared.

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