Cittadella

The Cittadella is the fortified medieval core of Victoria (Rabat) on the island of Gozo, Malta, occupying a raised rocky plateau and enclosing a cathedral and defensive works. The site has medieval origins and was substantially remodeled during the early modern period.

The site has been fortified since medieval times and was repeatedly rebuilt and strengthened, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries when the Knights of St John upgraded coastal and inland defenses. The cathedral and many inner buildings reflect post-medieval Baroque rebuilding phases.

The citadel crowns a central hill in Victoria (Rabat), the principal town of Gozo, and is the island’s historical and visual focal point.

• Panoramic views: The Cittadella occupies a compact rocky hill at the centre of Victoria (Rabat) on Gozo and offers near-360-degree views across the island from its ramparts.
• Layers of rebuilding: The core of the site preserves fortifications and a cathedral that were rebuilt and refurbished at different periods, with major works in the 16th and 17th centuries under the Knights of St John.

What to See #

• St George's Cathedral (late 17th-early 18th century): The baroque cathedral of St George, largely rebuilt in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, forms the ecclesiastical focus of the enclosed citadel precinct.
• Defensive walls and bastions: The surrounding defensive curtain walls and bastions, which preserve medieval and early modern fortification lines restored and modified over centuries.
• Museums and historic interiors: Small onsite museums and historic rooms within the citadel that display local archaeological finds, traditional crafts and the history of Gozo's fortifications.