Arrias Battery

Artillery battery in Xemxija, Malta

35°56′50.8″N 14°22′58.7″E / 35.947444°N 14.382972°E / 35.947444; 14.382972TypeArtillery battery^[a]Site informationOwnerGovernment of MaltaControlled byThe Fortress Wine & DineOpen to
the publicYes (as a restaurant)ConditionIntact with modern alterationsSite historyBuilt1715–1716Built byOrder of Saint JohnMaterialsLimestone

Arrias Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Arrias), also known as Xemxija Battery (Maltese: Batterija tax-Xemxija) or Pwales Left Battery (Maltese: Batterija tax-Xellug tal-Pwales), is an artillery battery^[a] in Xemxija, limits of St. Paul's Bay, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715–1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands. The battery still exists, although it has modern alterations, and it is used as a restaurant.

History

Arrias Battery was built in 1715–1716 as part of the Order of Saint John's first building program of batteries and redoubts around the coasts of Malta. It was one of two batteries defending Xemxija Bay, the other one being the now-demolished Dellia Battery.^[1]

The battery originally consisted of a mostly rectangular platform with a rounded end at the north. It had a low parapet with one embrasure, and the gorge was closed off by a rectangular blockhouse. The redoubt was named after the knight Emmanuele Arrias, and an inscription commemorating him is located above the main entrance.^[2]

The battery eventually became a summer residence of the Borg Cardona family. They called it ix-Xemxija and later, the area around it began to be referred to by that name.^[3]

Present day

The battery still exists, but several alterations have been made to the structure, mostly during the course of the 20th century. These include a second-floor added to the blockhouse and a flight of steps leading to an entrance facing the sea.^[2]

The battery is now used as a restaurant, known as The Fortress Wine & Dine.^[4] It is a Grade 1 national monument, and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.^[2]

References

^ "San Pawl il-Baħar". lc.gov.mt. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Arrias Battery" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2015.
^ Mizzi, John A. (4 June 2012). "The Dellija redoubt". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
^ "The Fortress Wine and Dine". mydestination.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.