With the Order’s departure from Vittoriosa in 1571 and the need to strengthen the landward fortifications of the area, the history of Vittoriosa started to develop within the wider context of an emerging Cottonera Region. This comprised of Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua, and Kalkara, and the process was achieved in a number of stages.

The Order consolidated Cottonera on the landward side and set its geographical delineation with the fortification of Kalkara in 1670 and the Cottonera Lines in 1736.

Portrait of Grand Master Nicholas Cotoner showing off Antonio Maurizio Valperga's original scheme for the defence of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities (1670).

The Admiralty consolidated the Region from the waterfront when it encroached from the Marina Grande to the far end of Galley Creek inside Cospicua, and all along to Macina. This process was concluded by the first half of the 19th Century, and was subsequently extended through two underground tunnels to French Creek. This was eventually encompassed up to Corradino by the end of that century.

The gradual development of the Dockyard consolidated the socioeconomic well-being of the area and this was reflected in the Region’s population growth, its increase in per capita income, its growing standard of education, and in the influence it exerted in national politics – particularly in the post-World War II era.