The Citadel was once the only safe refuge for Gozitans during pirate raids — islanders would retreat inside the walls and survive sieges that lasted weeks. The Cathedral's flat ceiling was painted by an Italian artist to create the illusion of a dome so convincing that visitors reportedly feel dizzy looking up. During WWII, Gozo was used as a base for the invasion of Sicily, and Churchill reportedly called the Citadel view 'the finest in the Mediterranean'.