Podcasts · The Story of Malta: The Fortress Island of the Mediterranean — Fexingo History
The Wignacourt Aqueduct's Secret History in Malta
· 6:23 · S5 E211
Episode The Wignacourt Aqueduct's Secret History in Malta
When Alof de Wignacourt became Grand Master of the Knights of St John in 1601, Malta's capital Valletta was a thirsty fortress. Its inhabitants relied on brackish wells and rainwater cisterns, a precarious supply that threatened the island's survival. This episode traces the extraordinary engineering project that changed everything: the Wignacourt Aqueduct, a 9-mile wonder that carried fresh water from the hills of Dingli to the city gates. We follow the visionaries behind it, from the Grand Master who staked his reputation to the periti who designed its graceful arches, and we uncover the human side of the story—the villagers along the route, the maintenance battles, and the legendary Fountain of the Tritons that became the aqueduct's grand finale. Along the way, we revisit the Great Siege of 1565, the corso, and the bagnio, showing how water shaped Malta's destiny as much as any battle. If you've ever wondered how a city without rivers survives, this is the story of how Malta answered that question with stone, gravity, and audacity.
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Transcript
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