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Cottonera, or il-Kottonera, is the term used to describe the suburb which grew out of and behind Fort Saint Angelo and Fort Saint Michael, at the southern shores of Malta's Grand Harbour.   This area, also referred to as 'The Three Cities', lies behind the (inland-facing) Cottonera lines; fortifications built during the reign of the stern Grand Master fra Nicholas Cottoner. Cottoner Gate, entrance to the Three Cities As pointed out by historian Horatio C.R. Vella (i) in his translation of Jean Quentin d'Autun's work Insulae Melitae descriptio, when the Order of Knights of Saint John first arrived at Malta in the year 1530 -- besides the Moorish, walled city of Mdina -- all they found in terms of defences was a feeble fortress (sic) "on the eastern side of the harbour, looking towards the North... falling into ruins, hardly keeping itself together" (sic).   This fortress from the Arab period was being replaced by an impregnable castle by the Order -- Fort S.Angelo.   The hamlet of Birgu already existed at this time, but the population in the whole area was miniscule. During the time of Grand Master Claude de la Sengele, the harbour defences were strengthened, particularly with the addition of Fort S. Michael on the opposite side of the Porto delle Galere or Galley Creek (later known as Dockyard Creek). Malta's Grand Harbour, during the 1565 Turkish Siege Citta' Vittoriosa (or "Victorious City" from the Latin "Civitas Victoriosa"), is the town which evolved in the shadow -- and protection -- of Fort Saint Angelo.   It was so named by Grand Master La Valette following the Great Siege of 1565 when it stood firm against the invader's prowess.   It is also known in Maltese as 'il-Birgu', a derivative of the European terms Borgo, Borough or Burgh, meaning 'suburb'. It is the oldest of the Three and to this day it retains most of its historic buildings, despite the destruction which rained down on the port area during the Second World War.   Vittoriosa was the seat of the Order until the new city of Valletta was built. View from S.James Cavalier's battlements over Vittoriosa Moat Saint Angelo's Moat Fort Saint Angelo Typical stepped street Senglea (honoured by the Order as "Civitas Invicta" or the Unconquered City") -- nowadays more commonly known as 'l-Isla' -- was the second promontory in the Grand Harbour to be fortified (whilst providing habitation). This was done in anticipation of an expected Ottoman invasion, which became a reality a few years later. This town suffered much greater destruction than Vittoriosa during World War Two, especially since it was in the heart of the nation's only Dockyard, thereby having been laden with the ill-fate of becoming a prime enemy target.   The city was practically rebuilt from the ground up after the war. Senglea, view from across the creek Cospicua, the youngest amongst the Cottonera trio (established circa the 1720's), was walled in when ruler Nicholas Cottoner approved Valperga's plans for the inland fortifications to make the port area even more secure. The suburb is characterised by the Dockyard, which is visble from every perspective, hence it too was the target of massive enemy bombing operations during WW2, as were most the harbour towns and villages. Cottoner Gate; viewed from inside

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