Initially the Order kept all its slaves in Fort St Angelo, but following an unsuccessful uprising in 1530, the Order had them confined in dungeons called guve which were dug outside the Castle in 1532. Later on, in 1689, better arrangements were made for the Vittoriosa Slaves’ Prison which was even linked to the Caraffa Galley Stores by an inter-communicating stairway.

Two other slaves’ prisons were also built; one in Valletta, and another in Senglea. By spreading the slaves, the risk of future uprisings was decreased as was the distance that the slaves had to be transported from prison to galleys.

The Vittoriosa Slaves’ Prisons were quarried in 1907 – during the construction of the breakwater at the entrance of the Grand Harbour. Today the remnants of these dungeons have passed into the hands of private owners.