Floriana Lines

The Floriana Lines are a line of fortification in Floriana, Malta. They were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, surrounding the fortifications of Valletta, forming the capital city's outer defences. Today, the lines are mostly intact but are in need of restoration.

The Floriana Lines have been on Malta's tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1998, as part of the Knights' Fortifications around the Harbours of Malta.

History
The lines were largely built between 1635 and the 1640s, during the reign of Grand Master Antoine de Paule. The fortifications were built to strengthen the land front of Valletta, since the existing fortifications were not strong enough to withstand a large attack. The new line of fortifications was named after the military engineer who was responsible for its design, Pietro Paolo Floriani. The lines were modified in 1670 upon the arrival of Count Antonio Maurizio Valperga. The lines were fully finished in the early 18th century. Eventually, the town of Floriana was developed in the area between the Floriana Lines and the original Valletta Land Front.

During the French occupation of Malta and the subsequent Maltese insurrection, the lines were under French control. The Maltese built Tas-Samra Battery and a battery on Corradino to bombard the Floriana Lines.

After the British took over Malta in 1800, the lines remained a functional military establishment. A number of alterations were made, including the enlargement of Porte des Bombes, the demolition of some other gates, and the addition of gunpowder magazines and traverses.

In the 1970s, parts of the covertway and glacis were destroyed to make way for large storage tanks.

Today, the lines are still more or less intact, but some parts are in a rather dilapidated state and in need of restoration.

Land front


The Floriana Land Front is the large bastioned enciente enclosing the landward approach to the Floriana. It consists of the following:
 * Bastion of Provence, also known as San Salvatore Bastion – a retrenched demi-bastion which was heavily altered over the course of the 17th and 18th centuries. It includes La Vittoria Bastion and San Salvatore Counterguard.
 * Notre Dame Curtain – curtain wall linking San Salvatore and St. Philip Bastions. It contained the Notre Dame Gate, which was partially demolished in the 1920s to accommodate for traffic requirements.
 * St. Philip Bastion – a large obtuse-angled bastion at the centre of the land front. It is retrenched with the following bastions:
 * St. James Bastion
 * St. Luke Bastion
 * St. Anne Curtain – curtain wall linking St. Philip and St. Francis Bastions. It contained St. Anne's Gate, which was replaced by a larger gate in 1859. The larger gate was also demolished in 1897 to facilitate the flow of traffic.
 * St. Francis Bastion – a large demi-bastion linked to the Polverista Bastion of the Grand Harbour enciente. It is retrenched with the following demi-bastion:
 * St. Mark Bastion



The land front is surrounded by a ditch, which contains the following outworks: The outworks are surrounded by a faussebraye, advanced ditch, covertway, and glacis. In the 1720s, a gate known as Porta dei Cannoni was built in the faussebraye. The gate was enlarged by the British, and became known as Porte des Bombes. It was eventually detached from the faussebraye to facilitate the flow of traffic, and it now looks like a triumphal arch.
 * Pietà Lunette – a pentagonal lunette between San Salvatore Bastion and Notre Dame Ravelin, facing Pietà Creek. It was damaged by aerial bombardment in World War II.
 * Notre Dame Ravelin, also known as the Lower Ravelin – a pentagonal ravelin near Notre Dame Curtain, between San Salvatore and St. Philip Bastions. A number of modern government buildings are located in the open area within the ravelin.
 * a pentagonal lunette between Notre Dame Ravelin and St. Philip Bastion. It was damaged by aerial bombardment in World War II, but the damage was repaired.
 * Porte des Bombes Lunette – a lunette between St. Philip Bastion and St. Francis Ravelin. It was demolished in the early 20th century to make way for the modern road to Valletta.
 * St. Francis Ravelin, also known as the Upper Ravelin – a pentagonal ravelin near St. Anne Curtain, between St. Philip and St. Francis Bastions. Modern MEPA offices are located in the open area within the ravelin.

In addition, a crowned hornwork was built near St. Francis Ravelin in the 1670s. It consists of the following elements:
 * an inner hornwork with two demi-bastions.
 * an outer crownwork with one full bastion and two demi-bastions.
 * two lunettes, one near the crownwork's land front, and another near its flank.
 * a musketry gallery overlooking Marsa.

Marsamxett enciente


The enciente along the side facing Marsamxett Harbour starts from San Salvatore Bastion of the Floriana Land Front, and originally ended at St. Michael's Counterguard of the Valletta Land Front. It consists of the following:
 * La Vittoria Bastion – a small casemated bastion grafted onto the Bastion of Provence which forms part of the land front.
 * Polverista Curtain – a long casemated curtain wall between La Vittoria and Msida Bastions. It overlooks the AFM base at Hay Wharf.
 * Msida Bastion – a polygonal assymetrical bastion with a demi-bastioned retrenchment. A cemetery was built on its upper part in the 19th century.
 * an unnamed curtain wall between Msida and Quarantine Bastions
 * Quarantine Bastion – a polygonal assymetrical bastion with a demi-bastioned retrenchment. It is breached by a modern road.

In addition, a bastioned enciente known as the North Entrenchment is located behind the entire Marsamxett enciente, acting as a secondary line of defence.

Grand Harbour enciente


The enciente along the side facing the Grand Harbour starts from St. Francis Bastion of the Floriana Land Front, and ends at St. Peter and St. Paul Counterguard of the Valletta Land Front. It consists of the following:
 * Capuchin Bastion, also known as Dhoccara, Magazine or Polverista Bastion – a demi-bastion linked to St. Francis Bastion of the land front. It contains an 18th century gunpowder magazine.
 * a curtain wall linking Capuchin Bastion to the platform near Crucifix Curtain
 * a flat-faced platform or bastion near Crucifix Curtain
 * Crucifix Curtain – curtain wall linking the platform to Crucifix Bastion
 * Crucifix Bastion – a large asymmetrical bastion containing a 19th century gunpowder magazine. It also had a concrete emplacement for a 9-inch BL gun, but this has been removed.
 * Kalkara Curtain – curtain wall linking Crucifix and Kalkara Bastions. It is breached by a modern road.
 * Kalkara Bastion – a bastioned enciente linking to St. Peter & St. Paul Counterguard of the Valletta Land Front.