Gozo Cittadella #3, Restoration Results

Following on from Gozo Cittadella #2 Restoration Results post (link at bottom of this post,) we descend the stairs into the ditch.
The ditch protected the eastern, southern and western walls of the Cittadella if an enemy overran the perimeter wall.

On exiting the stairway this is the view from this higher level of the ditch.

The perimeter wall is along the whole of the ditch. The restoration was carried out not just to preserve history, but also for tourists to visit. This means a certain amount of modernisation has to be carried out, and of course, health and safety regulations, have to be adhered to.

When standing in the ditch it is hard to imagine how anyone could consider, let alone be able to fight their way into such a structure. The reason that the Citadelle is so intact is that by the time it was completed it was almost obsolete. A siege was more effective than men losing lives.
More damage has been done by locals taking the stone away for new buildings. In fact, there was once a plan to completely remove the building and use the land for building purposes. Fortunately, the idea was abandoned.

The restoration here is quite good, the grass has under surface watering systems, good paths and benches to rest.

At the west wall, the original perimeter wall has been damaged. From this picture, it is possible to see that the pathway concrete on top of the wall has collapsed on one side.

The road through Victoria has a number of old buildings on its East side. One of the buildings is being converted into a boutique hotel. (Posh title for a B&B.)
As part of the conversion, permission was given to put a doorway and two windows through the wall to give access to the ditch. Despite this being a protected site which is locked every night, B&B guests will have access to the ditch through the door. Of course, the wall being constructed hundreds of years ago collapsed during the cutting of the apertures.

The wall has been generally repaired since the collapse, but although the original planning application was vehemently opposed, and since the rebuilding with the door and windows was opposed the door and windows are continuing.

The battlements at the end of the east ditch form a battery and lookout to protect the east of the building. The north wall is pretty much protected by the very steep land below the wall. So the battery protects only a small part of it.

The east ditch showing the original stone foundation and wall.

The entrance to the ditch at the corner of the east and south ditch.

Next time I will cover the internals and the great siege of 1551

https://steemit.com/history/@honeycup-waters/gozo-cittadella-one-restoration-results

https://steemit.com/history/@honeycup-waters/gozo-cittadella-two-restoration-results