Fort
Mosta
 A
Victorian military installation dating back to 1878 and making up
one of the four main fortifications of the Victoria Lines. Fort
Mosta lies in the middle of the fortified lines overlooking the
Great Fault, a geological feature which separates the northern parts
of the island of Malta from its southern half. Fort Mosta, sited
on the higher ground facing the lower ground to its front used to
guard this terrain which was considered to be prone to invasion
by the enemies of the British Empire in a bid to capture and control
Malta, so strategic a base in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.
Fort Mosta has a pentagonal keep which is protected by a ditch and
a number of gun emplacements along the perimeter of the fort. This
fortification is well-kept and it makes an interesting visit both
to the military enthusiast as well as to the uninitiated.
Within
the grounds of Fort Mosta there is also a small catacomb. Originally
this was a neo-Punic shaft/tomb but this was enlarged and now depicts
an early Christian catacomb complete with agape table.
Dwejra
Lines
On
the outskirts of Mosta, overlooking the hamlets of Bidnija and Zebbiegh,
there is a fortified defensive wall called the Dwejra Lines. Making
part of the comprehensive complex of fortifications known as the
Victoria Lines, the Dwejra Lines were started in 1881 and by the
first years of the 1890s were nearly complete. These fortified lines
were meant to include a number of artillery pieces and musketry
positions. The Dwejra Lines blend well with the surrounding landscape
and their visibility from the landward approach is so subdued that
they offered an invading enemy a very slim chance of targeting them.
These lines continue as the defensive wall that covers the Falka
Gap. Back in 1732 under the Order’s rule, the Knights had
built the Falca entrenchment for the same purpose of defence as
the Dwejra Lines built by the British.
Targa
Battery
On the left of Targa Gap lies a fortification which was purposely
built to defend the rather low escarpment found in this area. Moreover
the hill at Bidnija could further threaten this position if no precautions
were taken. Thus, 1887 saw the start of the building of the pentagonal
Targa Battery, separated from the rest of the Victoria lines by
a ditch. As with the Dwejra Lines, Targa Battery blends well with
the environs that host it.
Victoria
Lines
Along
all the Great Fault, which divides the island of Malta in two, runs
a defensive line of fortifications known collectively as the Victoria
Lines. At Mosta these can be identified in the defences under the
names of Dwejra Lines, Targa Battery, Fort Mosta and the fortified
wall that links them together. The Victoria Lines were constructed
in a period spanning about 30 years (between 1870 and 1899). They
were named after Queen Victoria when in 1897 she was celebrating
the diamond jubilee or 60th anniversary of her reign. In the Mosta
area the Victoria Lines are well preserved and, especially the section
running along the public garden ‘Gnien l-Gharusa tal-Mosta’
(near Targa Gap) leading to Fort Mosta is accessible and can be
followed with ease.
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