Cospicua

Cospicua, known in Maltese as Bormla, sits at the head of the two creeks with Birgu and Senglea on the peninsulas either side, and it is the largest of the Three Cities. Two lines of fortification enclose it: the Santa Margherita lines and, outside them, the Cottonera lines built in the 1670s to hold the whole population of the region in a siege. It was a dockyard town and suffered severely in the wartime bombing of the harbour.

What you actually see

• The Cottonera Lines - the outer 1670s fortifications enclosing the Three Cities.
• The Santa Margherita Lines - the inner ring of bastions above the town.
• The dockyard heritage - the creek that served as the naval yard for two centuries.
• The Immaculate Conception church - the town's principal church at the head of the creek.

When to go

March to June and September to November are most comfortable. The town is busiest during the festa in December. Summer heat is heavy.

Honest expectations

Bomb damage and postwar rebuilding left less historic fabric than in Birgu. It is the least visited of the Three Cities and has fewer facilities. Some areas are run down.

Nearby

Birgu and Senglea are on the peninsulas either side.