The entrance to Vittoriosa from the landward side passes through three successive fortified gates, each from a different period of construction, creating one of the most dramatic approaches to any town in Malta. Walking through the sequence — from the open causeway across the ditch, through the first arch, across a small courtyard, through the second gate, and finally into the town proper — gives a palpable sense of how the town was defended.
The outermost gate bears the coat of arms of Grand Master Cotoner, who ordered the construction of the outer fortifications in the 1660s. The innermost gate is the oldest surviving fabric and dates from the time of the Knights' initial occupation. The ditch between the Couvre-Porte and the town walls was cut out of solid rock — a task that speaks to the determination with which the Knights fortified their first Maltese stronghold. The three gates are the threshold between the modern world and the medieval town, and the transition is abrupt and genuine.