A panoramic view of the majestic lines of fortifications which were built to make Mt Sciberras an invincible capital city for the Order of St John. The architect Francesco Laparelli was sent to Malta as a sign of the Pope’s personal gratitude for the Order’s heroic defence of Malta during the Great Siege of 1565. Although Laparelli planned the city it was continued and elaborated upon by Glormu Cassar one of Malta’s best architects. The fortifications were built in a way not to give any chance for the opposing forces to take a toe hold let alone a foothold on terra ferma. Their purpose was to attack while the enemy was still at sea with the added advantage that the guns in the fortifications embrasures were steady and could be aimed at ease while the enemy had to continuously compensate for the sea’s movement. Another thing would be that the stonework was stronger than the woodwork of the enemies’ ships. Ironically these fortifications were never tested but their formidability is attested by the words uttered by Napoleon Bonaparte when he looked on the walls surrounding not only Valletta but also the later addition of the Floriana Lines. His words loosely translated showed his trepidation if he had to attack Valletta as it would prove a hard nut to crack. This has to be taken in the context that they were said over two hundred years after they were built and taking into consideration the great development made over the time when it came to artillery pieces; these were more powerful and with a longer range.