Ximenes Redoubt

Ximenes Redoubt (Ridott ta' Ximenes), originally known as Salina Right Redoubt, is a redoubt in Salina Bay, Naxxar, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715-1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the coasts of the Maltese Islands.

The redoubt was later used as a warehouse for the storage of salt, and it is now undergoing restoration.

History


Salina Right Redoubt was built between 1715 and 1716 as part of the Order of Saint John's first building program of coastal fortifications. It was one of two redoubts defending Salina Bay. The redoubt on the other side of the bay, known as Perellos Redoubt, was demolished after World War II.

The redoubt was unique in Malta, as it was the only one which consisted of just a polygonal enclosure with a high parapet wall designed to protect infantrymen. It did not have a blockhouse, which was a feature found in most other redoubts in the Maltese islands. Since it was a small work, it only cost 316 scudi, 9 tari, 10 grani and 2 piccoli to build, which was less than one third the cost of an average redoubt.

After 1741, two fougasses were built, one within the redoubt and another just outside its wall. One of the fougasses still survives today, and it is among the best preserved ones to be found in Malta.

In about 1750, a large building was grafted onto the redoubt. It served as both a magazine and a warehouse, to serve as storage space for salt from the nearby salt pans at Salina. A second warehouse was built in the 1770s, during the reign of Grand Master Francisco Ximenes de Texada. The new warehouse had a large escutcheon with Ximenes' coat of arms above the doorway, and the redoubt became known as the Ximenes Redoubt.

The redoubt did not have any armament, equipment or munitions in 1785.

Present day
Today, the redoubt lies on the Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq–Salina coast road, and it is overshadowed by the Coastline Hotel. The redoubt as well as the nearby salt pans are currently being restored. Once restoration is complete, it is planned that the redoubt will be opened as an information centre about the salt pans.

In 2013, the redoubt was vandalized when graffiti was sprayed on one of its walls.