Santa Margherita Lines, Defensive fortification in Bormla, Malta
The Santa Margherita Lines extend across elevated terrain with thick stone walls, multiple bastions, and six curtain walls protecting the harbor area.
Cardinal Fra Vincenzo Maculano da Firenzuola designed these fortifications in 1638 under Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris to guard against Ottoman invasions.
The fortifications represent the military engineering capabilities of the Knights of St John, incorporating Mediterranean defensive architectural principles of the 17th century.
Visitors can access various sections of the fortification walls throughout the year, with the St Helen's Gate serving as the main entrance point.
The structure was intended to shelter 40,000 inhabitants during sieges, making it one of the largest planned refugee fortifications in 17th-century Mediterranean.
Location: Bormla
Inception: 1638
GPS coordinates: 35.87900,14.52328
Latest update: March 13, 2025 13:12
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