Celeiros, The Granaries, Pjazza San Publju, Floriana, Malta

Celeiros, The Granaries, Pjazza San Publju, Floriana, Malta
Floriana - Malta
Fotografia

Granaries are pits dug into the ground and covered by circular stone slabs. They were primarily used for the storage of Grain. Granaries can be found throughout Valletta and Floriana. The first granaries were built by the Knights to provide for storage within the fortifications in case of a siege. As the system of storage was reliable and efficient, the British authorities copied in all details the Knights’ granaries. The Granaries proved their worth as they continued to provide grain for the starving population during World War 2. The highest grouping of granaries (a total of 76) is found here.

‘Il-Fosos’ or The Granaries and now officially named Pjazza San Publiju, is also one of the largest urban open spaces in Malta and is therefore use for mass gatherings. One important gathering was held in May 1990 during the Pope John Paul II visit to Malta. During the second Papal visit on 9th May 2001, the Pope beatified three Maltese in this square, one of whom was eventually canonised (St Gorg Preca). As Malta is a predominantly Catholic country, this is considered to be an important event in Malta’s history. A third papal visit took place on 18th April 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. The Isle of MTV summer festival is among other major events held here.

Most of the Granaries in Floriana were commissioned as an underground storage facility by Grand Master Marino de Redin between 1657 and 1660, even before the city of Floriana itself was built. At the time of the Knights of St. John, while Malta was under constant threat of attack by the Turks, there wasn’t enough grain or wheat produced in Malta to cater for all the population, and Malta had to import a lot of cereals from Sicily. It was very important for Malta to have an abundant storage of grain always available, in the event of a siege, as well as in case of other calamities, such as a plague.

The granaries in Floriana are to be found in a huge square, directly in front of the Floriana Parish church. There are actually 76 underground bell-shaped reservoirs covered up with huge stone caps, today sealed with mortar. The stone caps are either circular or squarish. A single storage pit, or trench (which is the English translation for the word ‘fossa’) can hold from around 60 to 80 tons of wheat, and is designed for the wheat to be kept dry, which is essential.

Although the largest number of ‘fosos’ is to be found in Floriana, there are also a number of other underground silos around Malta, mainly in Valletta and Birgu.

During the Second World War, the Floriana Granaries were targeted by the Germans, who wanted to destroy the Maltese’s storage of provisions. The Parish church of Saint Publius in fact, received extensive bomb damage at the time, yet amazingly enough, the granaries themselves were spared.

The underground silos remained in use until 1962, when modern storage facilities were built above ground.

Nowadays, the area known as ‘il-Fosos’ is a popular open space normally used for open-air concerts, featuring important local artists such as Joseph Calleja or Federica Falzon, as well as internationally-acclaimed singers, such as Claudio Baglioni and Rod Stewart. They were used when Pope John II celebrated Holy Mass during his visit in 1990, as well as in 2011 when Pope Benedict XVI was here.

Past, present and future; the Floriana Granaries span all three, being not only a testament of Malta’s glorious regime under the Knights of Saint John, or a media-related venue, but also a reminder of the ventures of the past transposed into our day-to-day lives. Although we might not be aware of their original meaning in the scheme of things, or treasure their worth in historical value, we still cannot but feel something every time we walk near them. It could be cultural pride, the memory of an incredible event, or the anticipation of a future one – the ‘Fosos’ still continue to influence and shape our lives to this day.

One of the motives for which Valletta’s underground exists is due to the Turks. The Knights of Malta were not quite advanced in regards to tunnelling in order to perform a surprise attack on the Turks. One of the Knights’ main goals was to conserve the grain in the case that a siege would ensue. Therefore, during the 16th century the first granaries were built by the Knights of St. John in Malta.

A single grain storage pit could keep around 60 or 80 tons of wheat, and if they were properly taken care of would serve for four years and more. A silo or “fossa” as known in Maltese, consist of bell-shaped reservoirs covered up with some huge stone cap, fastened with mortar when all the wheat is placed in the silo. The inside is deep and wide to support the weight of all the wheat that was put in. The stone caps were either circular or of a squarish shape. This was important as the wheat had to be kept in dry surroundings, but also easy to take when needed.

Beneath the churches in those times, once could find reservoirs, sewage systems, charnel houses and military tunnels. However there were also a great number of granaries. Publius Square was initially constructed by the Grand Master Marino de Redin during 1657 and 1660 so that grain could be stored underground.  There are 76 flat stone caps with lids where the grain used to be kept. Though the silos at Floriana are the easiest to see, there were other places were the granaries which were imported from Sicily could be found.

At St. Elmo there were seventy pits which could be easily found if one passes through the main gat to Valletta and continue going downhill as far as one can go. On the other hand, at the Auberge de Castille there were fifteen pits. The granaries which lie in Castille are still there though they were obstructed due to the bus terminus being situated in the vicinity. In Birgu and Senglea there were twenty four ditches underground where they stored the grain while other granaries could also be found in Vittoriosa.

The main reason for the construction of the granaries was to preserve the wheat and grain so that if a war or a siege would occur they would not run out of food. The various locations were the granaries were situated helped, so that if one site was bombed, there would still be more available at the other locations. The British later on, also used this idea as they saw that it would be quite useful. Even nowadays the wheat is kept in dry environments so as to preserve it if it is not needed immediately.