Task 1.2 - Personal Visits: Cittadella, Ggantija (2/2)

Personal visits – 21/02/2014

Cittadella – Gozo

The Citadel walls

The Citadel/Cittadella is situated in Victoria (Rabat) – the capital city of Gozo. I personally noticed that all roads in Gozo lead to Victoria and since the Cittadella is at a high point, it is visible from most parts of the island.

The Citadel served as a refuge against Barbarian attacks. Before the arrival of the Knights of the Order of St. John, the Cittadella was known as Gaulcois Civitas. 

Until the advent of the Arabs in 870 A.D. it used to include a great part of Rabat but after the Great Siege of 1565 it was later re-fortified to its present size. Until 1637, due to frequent surprise attacks, the Gozitans were ordered to retire inside its walls after sunset.

Inside the Cittadella, one can find a cathedral dedicated to the ‘Assumption of our Lady’ which is a 17th century baroque building. The church was demolished during an earthquake in 1693, and was later rebuilt in 1697. 

The Cathedral (left), The 'false dome' painting (right)

Personal Thought: When visiting, the most thing that caught my eye was the 'false dome' inside the church which was painted as an excellent study in perspective by Antonio Manuele from Messina. In the painting I noticed that the artist uses warm/analogous colours. There is also a sense of rhythm/symmetry in the columns which all lead to the ‘highest point’ of the painting.

Inside the Cittadella - The Law of Courts

In the narrow streets inside the Cittadella, one can find
delicious fresh produce and antiques

Inside the Cittadella

Queen Elizabeth's visit to the Gozo Citadel

Engraving on the Citadel walls which date back to 1910. 

One can notice the Italian influence on the writing 

(the use of g instead of j).

Water source (1987) – A copy of the original water source (100 years later) as a memorial of the opening service of the Gozo Ferry.

Apart from the Law Courts, one can also find the Old Prison, The Folklore Museum, the Gozo Museum of Archaeology and the Natural Science Museum. Art exhibitions are also held in different areas of the Citadel.

Bibliography:

Attraction, 2014. Cittadella fortification. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.malta.com/en/attraction/culture/building-fortification/cittadella. [Accessed 03 March 2014].

Visit Malta, 2014. Victoria & Cittadella. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.visitmalta.com/en/victoria-and-cittadella. [Accessed 03 March 2014].

Ggantija Temples - Gozo

Another visit I conducted was at the Ggantija Temples in Xaghra, Gozo. These temples date back to 3600 - 3200 B.C.  Although these temples are said to be one of the oldest in the world, they still maintain their original apsidal formation. This is due to the fact that archaeological restoration was carried out. The first person to conduct excavations  in the Ggantija Temples was John Otto Bayer. They are also on the UNESCO World Heritage List which "makes them a site of universal significance." (Gozobreak, n.d)

Main entrance to Ggantija Temples

The Ggantija Temples consist of two temples, both surrounded by a boundary wall. "One of the most striking features of the entire complex, the boundary wall, is built using the alternating header and stretcher technique..."(Explore Gozo, 2007-08)

Personal Thought: When going inside the temple, I noticed the rectangular stone block with a recess inside it. According to research I conducted afterwards, this was used so that worshippers could wash their feet before entering the temple. 

Map of the Ggantija Temples

Personal thought: One can notice the two separate temples, the first one is bigger and holds the main altar. The difference in size could be since it is of more importance than the other temple.

Lateral altars in Ggantija South Temple

One can also notice the main altar which is formed by three blocks from one end to the other of the central apse.  Archeologists say that the holes on the surface of the altar could have been used to drain the blood of the animals which were used as a sacrifice to the gods. "Excavations have brought to light the remains of animal bone, thus suggesting some sort of ritual involving animal sacrifice." (Gozobreak, n.d)

Entrance to the Second Temple

In the Altar niches have also been restored. One can notice that modern square blocks were built to support old slabs. I personally noticed that this is similar to the Oracle room in Hagar Qim.

The Ggantija Temple has been used for a thousand years and afterwards it was "used as a cremation site by Bronze Age inhabitants." (Gozobreak, n.d) 

Bibliography:

Explore Gozo, 2007-08.  Archeological Sites. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.gozo.com/explore/attractions/archeological_sites.php. [Accessed 23 April 2014].

Ghawdex, 2014. Ggantija Temples. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.my-malta.com/Gozo/gozo_history_ggantija1.html. [Accessed 23 April 2014].

Gozobreak, 2014. Ggantija Temples, Gozo. [ONLINE] Available at: http://gozobreak.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/ggantija-temples-gozo/. [Accessed 23 April 2014].

Heritage Malta, 2014. Ġgantija Temples. [ONLINE] Available at: http://heritagemalta.org/museums-sites/ggantija-temples/. [Accessed 23 April 2014].

The Ggantija Megalithic Temples, 2014. Ggantija. [ONLINE] Available at: http://aboutmalta.com/gozo/ggantija.html. [Accessed 23 April 2014].