Malta - Cospicua (Cottonera) - Bormla

Ċitta Cottonera, Ċitta Cospicua, Cospicua (Maltese: Bormla, is a double-fortified harbour city on the Mediterranean island of Malta.

On the hillside overlooking Senglea (Isla) and Vittoriosa (Birgu) is Cospicua (Cottonera) AKA Bormla one of the 'Three Cities'.

Cospicua (Cottonera) - Bormla is the largest of the 'Three Cities'. It was also given a title as Citta' Cottonera, but erroneously the title is now used to define the whole region. It is situated between the other two towns which make up Cottonera which are Vittoriosa (Birgu) and Senglea (Isla).

Bormla - Cospicua (Cottonera) view from Dockyard Creek close to the Senglea Fortifications and The Macina - The gates to the Knights of Malta old Dry Dock can be seen in the foreground (centre) and The Parish Church of The Immaculate Conception (left)

The 'Three Cities' are in fact three towns that form part of the area surrounding the Grand Harbour and are found on the eastern side of the capital city Valletta.

As Cospicua it was was inhabited since Neolithic times and the last of Malta's sea front towns to be fortified. Today its lines of majestic bastions, built by the Knights of Malta, are a sight to behold for sheer size and magnitude.

In 1722, Grand Master Marc 'Antonio Zondadari declared Cospicua a city and in view of its strong bastions named it Città Cospicua. Fortifications of Cospicua (Cottonera), Bormla: St Margaret's Bastion, Fiorenzola Bastion, St Helen's Bastion, Almoner Bastion - Cottonera Lines (north to south) - Notre Dame Bastion, St Clement's Bastion, St Nicholas Bastion, St John's Bastion, St Paul's Bastion

Churches in Cospicua (Cottonera), Bormla: Holy Souls Cemetery, Chapel of St. Paul , Immaculate Conception Parish Church, St. Theresa Church and Convent, Chapel of St. Margaret (St Margerita) and Monastery, Church of the Nativity, St John's Elemosinier Church

Historical Sites in Cospicua (Cottonera), Bormla: Windmill in St John's Street, Knights of Malta Dockyard Basin, British Dockyard Basin, The Rest, Windmill in Windmill Street, Bir Mula Heritage, Cittadinella (British Army Barracks)

Monuments in Cospicua (Cottonera), Bormla: War Victims Monument, St Elia's Statue

Gates in Cospicua (Cottonera), Bormla: St. Helen's Gate also known as Vilhena Gate which forms part of the Santa Margherita lines, St Clement's Gate, Polverista Gate

Other Cospicua (Cottonera), Bormla Tourist Attractions:

Bir Mula Heritage an ethnography, social history, anthropology museum and cultural venue

The Georgian Architecture at the Dock area

Local streets and alleys

Dar it-Tama (built by the Knights of Malta)

Cospicua (Cottonera); Bormla Festivals:

8 December feast, and the Immaculate Conception's Statue

Good Friday celebrations.

Easter Sunday and the statue of the Resurrection (this is considered as the most famous and recognizable statue of the Resurrection in Malta)