The Three Cities, the three fortified cities of Cospicua, Vittoriosa, and Senglea on the Island of Malta, offer an intriguing insight into Malta and and can rightly claim to be the cradle of Maltese history. Left largely unvisited, these cities are a slice of authentic life as well as a glimpse into Malta's maritime fortunes. As the first home to the Knights of St. John, the three Cities' palaces, churches, forts and bastione, older than Valletta's , are still enclosed by the massive line of fortification created by the Knights of St John, the Cottonera Lines. Their harbours have been in use since Phoenician times. Their docks for centuries provided work for local people.