Fort Ricasoli

Fort Ricasoli
Forti Rikażli
Kalkara, Malta

View of Fort Ricasoli from Valletta

Map of Fort Ricasoli
Coordinates 35°53′51″N 14°31′33″E / 35.89750°N 14.52583°E / 35.89750; 14.52583Coordinates: 35°53′51″N 14°31′33″E / 35.89750°N 14.52583°E / 35.89750; 14.52583
Type Bastioned fort
Area 83,800 m2 (902,000 sq ft)[1]
Height up to 20 m (66 ft)
Site information
Owner Government of Malta
Controlled by Malta Film Commission
Waste Oils Co. Ltd.
Open to
the public		 No
Condition Mostly intact but dilapidated
Site history
Built 1670–1698
Built by Order of Saint John
In use 1674–1964
Materials Limestone
Battles/wars French invasion of Malta (1798)
Siege of Malta (1798–1800)
World War II
Events Froberg mutiny

Fort Ricasoli (Maltese: Forti Rikażli) is a bastioned fort in Kalkara, Malta, which was built by the Order of Saint John between 1670 and 1698. The fort occupies a promontory known as Gallows' Point and the north shore of Rinella Bay, commanding the entrance to the Grand Harbour along with Fort Saint Elmo. It is the largest fort in Malta, and it has been on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1998, as part of the Knights' Fortifications around the Harbours of Malta.[2]

Fort Ricasoli saw use during the French invasion of Malta in 1798 and the subsequent Maltese insurrection, after which it ended up in British hands. Ricasoli was the site of the Froberg mutiny in 1807, and it was also used as a military hospital during the 19th century. It saw use once again in World War II, when parts of it were destroyed by aerial bombardment. After it was decommissioned in the 1960s, the fort was used for industrial purposes. Today, the fort remains mostly intact but in a dilapidated state, and it is used as a filming location and a tank cleaning facility.

Hospitaller rule

Background

Fort Ricasoli stands on the easternmost peninsula on the east side of the Grand Harbour. The promontory was originally known as Rinella Point or Punta Sottile. In 1531, two slaves who had tried to take over Fort St. Angelo were hanged on the peninsula, which became known as Gallows' Point afterwards. During the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, the Ottomans built an artillery battery on the peninsula in order to bombard Fort St. Elmo.[3]

On 18 January 1629, the Italian knight Alessandro Orsi financed the construction of a tower on Gallows' Point. The tower was officially called Torre San Petronio, but it was commonly known as Orsi Tower[4] or Torri Teftef[5] by the locals. The tower was round, and it was built to prevent the escape of slaves from the island. A semi-circular battery, which was known as Orsi Battery or San Petronio Battery, was later built around the tower. The tower and battery were protected by a sea-filled ditch and a drawbridge.[6] They remained standing until they were destroyed by waves in a storm on 8 February 1821,[3] and today only the rock-hewn ditch of the battery remains.[7]

In 1644, Giovanni de’ Medici proposed that Fort St. Angelo in Birgu be abandoned and a new fort be constructed on Orsi Point. The new fort would have been also called Fort St. Angelo, and would be manned with the garrison of the old fort. He drew up plans for the proposed fort, but they were never implemented.[3]

Construction and modifications

Painting showing the entrance to the Grand Harbour in c. 1750, with Fort Ricasoli on the left and Fort Saint Elmo on the right

In 1669, fears of an Ottoman attack rose after the fall of Candia, and the following year Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner invited Antonio Maurizio Valperga, the military engineer of the House of Savoy, to improve Malta's fortifications. Valperga designed a new fort to be built on the headland, and despite some criticism from within the Order, the decision was eventually approved. The Florentine knight Fra Giovanni Francesco Ricasoli donated 20,000 scudi to construct the fort, and it was named in his honour.[6] The first stone was laid down on 15 June 1670, and the initial stages of construction were supervised by Valperga himself. The fort received a skeleton garrison in June 1674, although it was still incomplete. In 1681, the Flemish engineer Carlos de Grunenbergh proposed some changes to the design of the fort, and these recommendations were implemented. The barracks, chapel and other buildings within the fort were constructed in the 1680s and 1690s, and the fort was officially declared complete and armed in May 1698.[6]

In 1714, the French engineers Jacop de Puigirand de Tigné, Charles François de Mondion and Philippe de Vendôme criticized the small size of the fort's bastions, which they deemed ineffective. De Tigné proposed a number of alterations, including repairing the existing parapets and embrasures, as well as constructing a retrenchment within the fort. Vendôme proposed the construction of a canal separating the fort from the mainland. In 1722, the repairs proposed by de Tigné were implemented, although the retrenchment and canal were never built due to a lack of funds. The fort was in a bad state by the mid-18th century, and some maintenance work was done in 1761.[6]

In 1785, Ricasoli was armed with eighty cannon, including forty-one 24-pounders, making it the most heavily armed fort in Malta.[8] Parts of the fort's enceinte were rebuilt under the direction of Antoine Étienne de Tousard in the 1790s.[9]

The fort was also used as a prison prior to the construction of the Corradino Correctional Facility.[10]

French occupation

Fort Ricasoli saw use during the French invasion of Malta in June 1798, during the French Revolutionary Wars. At the time, it was commanded by the Bali de Tillet, and was garrisoned by the Cacciatori, who were a volunteer chasseur light infantry regiment.[11] The fort repelled three French attacks, before surrendering after Grand Master Hompesch officially capitulated to Napoleon.[6]

In the subsequent Maltese uprising and blockade, the fort remained in French hands. It continually fired at the insurgents' San Rocco Battery, which was located about 700 metres (2,300 ft) away.[12]

British rule

Painting of Fort Ricasoli in the early 20th century

The fort continued to be an active military installation throughout the British period. It was the scene of a mutiny in 1807 when Albanian soldiers of the Froberg Regiment revolted and shut themselves up in Fort Ricasoli. Despite attempts at negotiation they eventually blew up the main gunpowder magazine, causing extensive damage to the fort in the process. The mutiny was quashed by loyal troops, and some of the mutineers were condemned to death by court martial.[13] The damaged parts of the fort were repaired, but were not rebuilt to their original design. A new magazine was built in 1829 to replace the one destroyed in the mutiny.[6]

The fort was also used as a temporary naval hospital in the late 1820s and early 1830s, before Bighi Hospital was opened.[14] During the cholera epidemic of 1837, patients who had contracted the disease at the Ospizio in Floriana were transferred to Ricasoli. Most of them died within a few days, and they were buried within the nearby Wied Għammieq cemetery.[15] Another cholera epidemic broke out at Ricasoli in 1865.[16]

An Italian plane bombing the Grand Harbour in 1941, with Ricasoli visible at the top right

In 1844, the fort was manned by 500 men. In 1848, Sir John Fox Burgoyne inspected Malta's fortifications, and considered Ricasoli as "impregnable." In the 1850s, artillery of a higher calibre was introduced to the fort, and the guns were replaced a number of times over the following decades. The seaward enceinte had been completely overhauled by 1878, and by the 1900s, new gun emplacements, searchlights and a torpedo station had been installed. In the 1930s, concrete fire control towers were built on No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 Bastions, and further searchlights were installed.[6]

Fort Ricasoli was active in the defence of Malta during World War II, and on 26 July 1941 its guns helped repel an Italian attack on the Grand Harbour.[17] In April 1942, the gate and Governor's House were destroyed by German aerial bombardment. After the war, the fort was commissioned as HMS Ricasoli between 1947 and 1958, and was used as a naval barracks. In 1958, the gate was rebuilt, although the design was slightly different from the original. The Governor's House was never reconstructed, mainly for financial reasons.[6] In 1964, the Admiralty transferred control of the fort to the Government of Malta.[3]

Recent history

Industrial use

Oil tanks at Ricasoli

After the fort was handed over to the Maltese government, it was initially abandoned but it later became a container depot for raw material arriving in Malta. In 1976, part of the ditch near the Left Ravelin was filled in, and St. Dominic Demi-Bastion was breached to make way for a new road.[3]

In 1964, the fort's ditch became a tank cleaning farm for the Malta Drydocks. The depot, which is known as Ricasoli Tank Cleaning Facilities, treats liquid waste from ships arriving in the Grand Harbour and removes oil and other chemicals prior to releasing the waste into the sea.[18] The facility was privatized in 2012,[19] and it is currently under the management of Waste Oils Co. Ltd.[20]

The area around the fort eventually became an industrial park, which was known as Ricasoli Industrial Estate after the fort. The industrial estate was demolished in 2007 to make way for SmartCity Malta.[21]

Filming location

Most of the fort is leased to the Malta Film Commission, and it has been used extensively as a location for various films and serials. In recent years, huge sets were built within its walls for the films Gladiator (2000), Troy (2004) and Agora (2009). In these films, the fort stood in as Rome, Troy and Alexandria respectively.[22] The fort was also used in the filming of Assassin's Creed (2016).[23]

The TV miniseries Julius Caesar (2002) and Helen of Troy (2003) were also partially filmed at Fort Ricasoli. A set dubbed as the Roman Road was built for Julius Caesar and this has been retained and used for other films.[22]

The first season of HBO's adaptation of George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones used various parts of the fort to represent the Red Keep.[24]

Present condition

View of Fort Ricasoli in 2013 showing a large crack in the bastion wall
St. Dominic Counterguard, which has partially collapsed

Today, Fort Ricasoli remains largely intact, although it is in a dilapidated state.[25] The headland that it is built upon is prone to coastal erosion, and some of the walls between No. 3 and No. 4 Bastions have already collapsed into the sea.[26] In 2004, the Restoration Unit of the Ministry of Resources and Infrastructure removed, restored and re-attached part of the fort's walls,[27] but nothing has been done to restore the entire fort.[28]

In May 2015, the Democratic Alternative[29] and some NGOs suggested that the campus of the proposed American University of Malta should be split up between Fort Ricasoli and the nearby Fort Saint Rocco and Fort San Salvatore.[30] This proposal will not be implemented, as the campus is to be split up between Dock No. 1 in Cospicua and Żonqor Point in Marsaskala.[31]

As of 2015, there is no public access to Fort Ricasoli.[32]

Layout

Fort Ricasoli has an irregular plan following the coastline of the peninsula it is built upon. The fort consists of a bastioned land front and its outworks, an enceinte facing the sea, and a tenaille trace facing Rinella Bay of the Grand Harbour.

Land front

St. John's Demi-Bastion

The land front consists of the following bastions and demi-bastions, which are linked together by curtain walls:[33]

The land front contains casemates, which were used as barracks.[16]

Left Ravelin

The land front is further protected by the following outworks:

The outworks are surrounded by a ditch,[43] a covertway[44] and a glacis.[45]

Sea front enceinte

Seaward enceinte of Fort Ricasoli

The enceinte facing the open sea is made up of the following bastions and curtain walls:

A shallow rock-hewn ditch extends from No. 1 to No. 3 Bastions.[54]

Harbour tenaille trace

Harbour-facing tenaille trace of Fort Ricasoli

The enceinte along Rinella Bay is made up of a tenaille trace with high walls.[55] The fort's main gate is located within the enceinte.[56] The Governor's House (now demolished) and Chapel of St. Nicholas are located within the fort, close to the main gate.[57] The fort also contained a windmill, which does not exist anymore.[58]

The rock-hewn ditch of Orsi Battery can still be seen at the northern end of the tenaille, at the tip of the peninsula.[7]

The British built a Brennan Torpedo Station near the trace in the late 19th century.[55]

References

  1. ↑ "The American University of Malta – Preliminary Alternative Sites Evaluation Report" (PDF). Office of the Prime Minister. August 2015. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Knights' Fortifications around the Harbours of Malta". UNESCO Tentative List. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Quintano, Anton. "Fortifications: Fort Ricasoli". Heritage: An encyclopedia of Maltese culture and civilization. Midsea Books Ltd. 4: 1101–1107.
  4. ↑ Abela, Giovanni Francesco (1647). Della Descrizione di Malta Isola nel Mare Siciliano con le sue Antichità, ed Altre Notizie (in Italian). Paolo Bonacota. p. 20.
  5. ↑ Zammit, Vincent. "Lost Ancient Landmarks: Orsi Tower". Heritage: An encyclopedia of Maltese culture and civilization. Midsea Books Ltd. 4: 1255–1257.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bonnici, Hermann (2004–2007). "Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (1–4): 33–38. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Orsi Battery remains – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  8. ↑ Spiteri, Stephen C. (2014). "Fort Manoel". ARX Occasional Papers (4): 176. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  9. ↑ Spiteri, Stephen C. (2011). "Fort Tigné 1792". ARX Occasional Papers (1): 6. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Corradino Correctional Facility". Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "Caccatori Maltesi". Historical Re-Enactment Group of Malta. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  12. ↑ Spiteri, Stephen C. (May 2008). "Maltese 'siege' batteries of the blockade 1798–1800" (PDF). Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (6): 35. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  13. ↑ Dandria, David (1 February 2015). "The 1807 Froberg regiment mutiny at Fort Ricasoli". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "Regimental Hospitals and Military Hospitals of the Malta Garrison". maltarmc.com. British Army Medical Services And the Malta Garrison 1799 – 1979. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Wied Ghammieq Cemetery Sadly neglected". The Malta Independent. 11 May 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  16. 1 2 Army Medical Department – Statistical, Sanitary and Medical Reports. – Volume VI. – For the Year 1866. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1866. p. 327.
  17. ↑ Debono, Charles (20 November 2011). "The Battle of Valletta 70 years ago". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016.
  18. ↑ "Decision on Ricasoli port facilities for waste oils postponed". Times of Malta. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  19. ↑ "Parliament was 'bypassed' over Ricasoli tank farm". Times of Malta. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015.
  20. ↑ "Waste Oils given 30-year contract to manage Ricasoli Tank Cleaning Facilities". Times of Malta. 4 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015.
  21. ↑ Zammit, Rosanne (3 August 2007). "Mepa approves demolition of Ricasoli factories". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015.
  22. 1 2 "Fort Ricasoli". Malta Film Commission. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  23. ↑ Siegel, Lucas (4 November 2014). "New Assassin's Creed Set Pictures, Shooting Information from Malta". comicbook.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015.
  24. ↑ "Locations of Thrones: Malta (Part 1)". cultureaddicthistorynerd.com. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  25. ↑ Carabott, Sarah (29 August 2016). "Forts under attack from neglect and vandalism". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016.
  26. ↑ Said, Edward (17 October 2006). "In need of repair". Times of Malta. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  27. ↑ Cini, George (20 January 2004). "Lm110,000 restoration job on Fort Ricasoli rampart". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  28. ↑ Said, Edward (3 September 2010). "Fort Ricasoli is under serious threat". Times of Malta. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  29. ↑ "AD suggests Ricasoli as new university site". Times of Malta. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  30. ↑ Alternative Sites proposal for a new University Campus. National Independent Forum for Sustainability. 25 May 2015. pp. 10–11. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  31. ↑ "'American' University to occupy Dock 1 buildings and reduced Zonqor site". Times of Malta. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  32. ↑ Agius, Raymond (May 2012). "Walk around the coast of Malta – 'from tower to tower'". agius.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015.
  33. ↑ Spiteri, Stephen C. (1994). Fortresses of the Cross. Heritage Interpretation Services. ISBN 9789990996531.
  34. ↑ "St Dominic Demi-Bastion – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  35. ↑ "Central Bastion – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  36. ↑ "Right Demi-Bastion & adjoining curtain – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  37. ↑ "Faussebraye – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  38. ↑ "Counterguard – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  39. ↑ "Right Ravelin – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  40. ↑ "Left Ravelin – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  41. ↑ "Right Caponier – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  42. ↑ "Left Caponier – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  43. ↑ "Land front ditch – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  44. ↑ "Covertway – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  45. ↑ "Glacis – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  46. ↑ "No 1 Bastion and Tenaille – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  47. ↑ "No 1 Curtain – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  48. ↑ "No. 2 Bastion – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  49. ↑ "No.2 Curtain – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  50. ↑ "No. 3 Bastion – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  51. ↑ "Curtain near No.4 Bastion – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  52. ↑ "No 4 Bastion – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  53. ↑ "No 5 Curtain – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  54. ↑ "Sea front ditch – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  55. 1 2 "Harbour tenaille trace – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  56. ↑ "Main Gate and remains of Governor's House – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  57. ↑ "Chapel of St Nicholas – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  58. ↑ "Windmill Fort Ricasoli". The Malta Windmill Database. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  59. ↑ Grima, Noel (9 September 2015). "Ricasoli Soldier: The Froberg rebellion at Fort Ricasoli". The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015.

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