Ferretti Battery

Artillery battery in Malta

35°49′57″N 14°32′2″E / 35.83250°N 14.53389°E / 35.83250; 14.53389TypeArtillery batterySite informationOwnerGovernment of MaltaControlled byPrivate tenantOpen to
the publicYes (as a restaurant)ConditionIntactWebsiteferretti.com.mtSite historyBuilt1715–1716Built byOrder of Saint JohnMaterialsLimestone

Ferretti Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Ferretti), also known as Qajjenza Battery (Maltese: Batterija tal-Qajjenza) or Saint George's Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' San Ġorġ),^[1] is an artillery battery in the village of Qajjenza, within the limits of Birżebbuġa, in Malta.^[2] It was built by the Order of Saint John between 1715 and 1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the coasts of the Maltese Islands. A restaurant exists within the walls of the battery, serving Mediterranean cuisine.

History

Ferretti Battery was built in 1715-16 as part of the first building programme of coastal batteries in Malta. It was part of a chain of fortifications that defended Marsaxlokk Bay, which also included six other batteries, the large Saint Lucian Tower, two smaller De Redin towers, four redoubts and three entrenchments.^[3] The battery was named after the knight Francesco Maria Ferretti, who provided over 900 scudi for its construction.^[4]

The battery consists of a semi-circular gun platform, with a parapet containing eight embrasures. Its gorge has two blockhouses linked by a redan, all of which are pierced by musketry loopholes. The redan contains the main entrance, which was surmounted by three coats of arms, now defaced. The battery was formerly covered by a shallow rock hewn ditch.

The battery was decommissioned sometime in the 19th century, and was later converted into a summer residence and a boathouse. The parapet with embrasures was demolished, while the ditch was converted into a moat filled with seawater. A high seawall was built around the battery.

Present day

Today, the battery is used as a restaurant, named Ferretti after the knight who built the battery. The restaurant serves typical Mediterranean cuisine, and is one of the most popular restaurants in the south of Malta.^[5]

The structure itself is in a fair state of preservation. Some of the missing embrasures have been rebuilt, and despite some modern alterations, the structure still retains most of its features.^[4]

Gallery

The gun platform, now the restaurant's terrace
The moat and seawall
The blockhouse and redan
Musketry loopholes
Inside the restaurant with musketry loopholes used as small windows
The moat
The gun platform and parapet with embrasures
Modern entrance to the restaurant
The seawall with the battery in the background
Original entrance to the battery

References

^ Farrugia Randon, Stanley (2015). Heritage Saved – Din l-Art Ħelwa – 1965–2015. Luqa: Miller Distributors Ltd. p. 118. ISBN 9789995752132.
^ Dillon, Paddy (26 November 2013). Walking in Malta: 33 Routes on Malta, Gozo and Comino. Cicerone Press. pp. 52–. ISBN 978-1-84965-975-8.
^ "Vendôme Tower" (PDF). Mare Nostrum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Ferretti Battery". maltamilitary.0catch.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
^ "Ferretti". mydestination.com. Retrieved 14 June 2015.