Podcasts · The Story of Malta: The Fortress Island of the Mediterranean — Fexingo History

Malta's Cittadella: The Citadel of Gozo's Long Siege

9 Aug 2026 · 8:13 · S4 E195

This episode explores the Citadel of Gozo, the fortified heart of the island of Gozo, from its Bronze Age origins to its role in the Great Siege of 1551. We trace its development under the Knights of St. John, the devastating Ottoman raid that enslaved most of Gozo's population, and the citadel's later transformation into a refuge. We also look at the bastioned walls added after the 1551 disaster, the cathedral within its walls, and what life was like for the people who sought shelter there. Along the way, we consider the citadel's place in Maltese identity, its restoration today, and the legends that cling to its stones. Expect names like Dragut, Grand Master Juan de Homedes, and the architect Girolamo Cassar, as well as a visit to the Old Prison and the Gozo Museum of Archaeology.

#Cittadella #Gozo #MaltaHistory #Dragut #KnightsOfStJohn #GirolamoCassar #JuanDeHomedes #1551Raid #SiegeOfGozo #Fortifications #OldPrison #GozoMuseum #Mediterranean #Renaissance #MilitaryHistory #IslandHistory #History #FexingoHistory

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