{{Short description|Artillery battery in Malta}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Ferretti Battery | native_name = Batterija ta' Ferretti | location = Qajjenza, Birżebbuġa, Malta | image = Ferretti_Battery.jpeg | image_size = 300px | caption = View of the Ferretti Battery from the landward side, showing the blockhouses and the redan | map = Ferretti Battery map.png | image_mapsize = 300px | map_caption = Map of Ferretti Battery | type = Artillery battery | coordinates = {{coord|35|49|57|N|14|32|2|E|type:landmark|display=inline}} | ownership = Government of Malta | controlledby = Private tenant | open_to_public = Yes (as a restaurant) | built = 1715–1716 | used = | builder = Order of Saint John | materials = Limestone | height = | condition = Intact | battles = | events = | website = [http://ferretti.com.mt/home/ ferretti.com.mt] }}
'''Ferretti Battery''' ({{langx|mt|Batterija ta' Ferretti}}), also known as '''Qajjenza Battery''' ({{langx|mt|Batterija tal-Qajjenza}}) or '''Saint George's Battery''' ({{langx|mt|Batterija ta' San Ġorġ}}),<ref>{{cite book|last1=Farrugia Randon|first1=Stanley|title=Heritage Saved – Din l-Art Ħelwa – 1965–2015|date=2015|publisher=Miller Distributors Ltd.|location=Luqa|isbn=9789995752132|page=118}}</ref> is an artillery battery in the village of Qajjenza, within the limits of Birżebbuġa, in Malta.<ref name="Dillon2013">{{cite book|last=Dillon|first=Paddy|title=Walking in Malta: 33 Routes on Malta, Gozo and Comino|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=40ZGAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA52|date=26 November 2013|publisher=Cicerone Press|isbn=978-1-84965-975-8|pages=52–}}</ref> It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715 and 1716 as one of a series of fortifications around the coasts of the Maltese Islands. A restaurant exists within the walls of the battery, serving Mediterranean cuisine.
==History== Ferretti Battery was built in 1715-16 as part of the first building programme of coastal batteries in Malta. It was part of a chain of fortifications that defended Marsaxlokk Bay, which also included six other batteries, the large Saint Lucian Tower, two smaller De Redin towers, four redoubts and three entrenchments.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vendôme Tower |url=http://www.eh4-marenostrum.net/virtualtour/Marsaxlokk/trail_2/09/Vendome-Tower.pdf |website=Mare Nostrum |access-date=14 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531015138/http://www.eh4-marenostrum.net/virtualtour/Marsaxlokk/trail_2/09/Vendome-Tower.pdf |archive-date=31 May 2015 }}</ref> The battery was named after the knight Francesco Maria Ferretti, who provided over 900 scudi for its construction.<ref name=maltamilit>{{cite web|title=Ferretti Battery|url=http://www.maltamilitary.0catch.com/html/ferretti_battery.html|website=maltamilitary.0catch.com|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420130029/http://www.maltamilitary.0catch.com/html/ferretti_battery.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
thumb|left|Defaced coats of arms above the battery's main entrance
The battery consists of a semi-circular gun platform, with a parapet containing eight embrasures. Its gorge has two blockhouses linked by a redan, all of which are pierced by musketry loopholes. The redan contains the main entrance, which was surmounted by three coats of arms, now defaced. The battery was formerly covered by a shallow rock hewn ditch.
The battery was decommissioned sometime in the 19th century, and was later converted into a summer residence and a boathouse. The parapet with embrasures was demolished, while the ditch was converted into a moat filled with seawater. A high seawall was built around the battery.
==Present day== thumb|left|Interior of the restaurant
Today, the battery is used as a restaurant, named '''Ferretti''' after the knight who built the battery. The restaurant serves typical Mediterranean cuisine, and is one of the most popular restaurants in the south of Malta.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ferretti|url=http://www.mydestination.com/malta/restaurants/11333/ferretti|website=mydestination.com|access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>
The structure itself is in a fair state of preservation. Some of the missing embrasures have been rebuilt, and despite some modern alterations, the structure still retains most of its features.<ref name=maltamilit/> {{clear}}
==Gallery== <gallery class="center" mode="packed" heights="130px"> Ferretti_Battery_from_sea_side.jpeg|The gun platform, now the restaurant's terrace Ferretti_Battery_and_later_additions.jpeg|The moat and seawall Ferretti_batterija.jpeg|The blockhouse and redan Ferretti_gun_holes.jpeg|Musketry loopholes Ferretti_Restaurant.jpeg|Inside the restaurant with musketry loopholes used as small windows Ferretti_defence.jpeg|The moat Restorant_Ferretti.jpeg|The gun platform and parapet with embrasures Ferretti_Battery_new_bridge.jpeg|Modern entrance to the restaurant Ferretti battery and restaurant.jpeg|The seawall with the battery in the background Ferretti_entrance.jpeg|Original entrance to the battery </gallery>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160810041656/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Knights%20Fortifications/1408.pdf National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands] *[http://ferretti.com.mt/home/ Official website]
{{Batteries in Malta}}
Category:Artillery battery fortifications in Malta Category:Hospitaller fortifications in Malta Category:Military installations established in 1715 Category:Restaurants in Malta Category:Birżebbuġa Category:Limestone buildings in Malta Category:National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands Category:18th-century fortifications Category:1715 establishments in Malta Category:18th Century military history of Malta
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