After 48 years of professional education, I find that my retirement must also be dedicated in correcting blatant mistakes and misconceptions. My subject was English. Now I find myself correcting blunders in Maltese history. The long explanation is necessary in teaching illiterate minds, those who lagged behind in their education.
In the 17th century the land front of Valletta facing Floriana had to be safeguarded. In 1635, Pietro Paolo Floriani arrived in Malta. He proposed that the Floriana Lines should be built well beyond the Valletta front to strengthen the citadel. Floriani’s report of a ring of fortifications was submitted to the Order’s council in October 1638. It was accepted despite strong opposition.
The Floriana lines were constructed, though alterations or additions were made. Laparelli, completed his suggestions in 1645. Later, in 1681, Gutenberg proposed the construction of three bastions in front of Fort St Elmo. In July 1715 De Tigné recommended other additions.
Fort Ricasoli was built during the 17th century. The Marsamxett flank was protected by Fort Manoel. Fort Tigné was built in the 18th century. Valletta acted as a citadel in the 18th century. This continued to be so during the British occupation. Little work was done to Valletta until the middle of the 19th century.
After 1800, the British employed their own military engineers. They did extensive modifications to the miles of fortifications. They even destroyed the six gates that Floriana was proud of. When compared with the 17,000 men available to the knights in 1798, the British garrison was insignificant especially when one considers that there were 25 miles of fortifications.
The Bombi landmark we know today was originally called Porta dei Cannoni
These were pierced by eight main gates. Six gates in Floriana had to make way for British military exigencies. In his report, Harding suggested that the number of troops should increase from 3,000 to 6,000 to secure the gates. He reasoned that this was due to the fact that Valletta was a big commercial city needing to have open gates all the time.
In the process, some of the old baroque gates were rebuilt, among which was Porta Reale. This background leads to the issue of Il-Bombi.
Portes des Bombes was not the main entrance into Borgo Vilhena. St Anne’s Gate was. The Bombi landmark we know today was originally called Porta dei Cannoni. Later the Bombi Gate took its name from the two massive mortar shells placed on the side columns. The original Porta dei Bombi was a pillared opening in its foreground, which together served as an advanced access into the first line of fortifications called the faussebraye (1720).
So no imagination, no matter how fanciful, would carry that heavy mortar Bombi all the way to Blata l-Bajda. The Lady Mayor of Floriana was right when she confirmed the date when Portes des Bombes was first built in 1720. However it was modified in 1868 and at other times as well.
This was done to modify the arches, to add the pedestrian gates, and to remove the central column. Moreover, to move the two pillars supporting the mortar shells aside: this was done at the expense of the pedestrian gates on either side. The archways were also modified to accommodate the tramways. Electrical wires powered the trams.
Therefore, one should not jump into conclusions before consulting one of the illustrated volumes by Richard Ellis entitled The Photography Collection: Valletta and Floriana. It is a treasure for young minds in doing research before jumping into conclusions.
There are other misconceptions about Floriana that the local council should not tolerate unless coming to an amicable solution. Is the waterfront truly in Valletta? It falls beneath the Capuchins church and its orange groves on the bastion.
Come to think of it, why should Grand Harbour be geographically demeaned to Valletta Harbour when its littoral encompasses all the heroic cities from Kalkara all the way round? Did not they all historically deserve the appellation?
Perhaps I should extend the candidacy to the distribution of power to other deserving towns. All local councils might share with the main government some of its responsibilities especially social and financial. They are more conscious of the needs of individual towns and villages. I say ‘Power to the People’. Democratically, the government belongs to the people, all the people.
Joe Bugeja is a former lecturer.