The St. Joseph’s gate system takes its name from the nearby 17th century church. The gates were in existence prior to the church, as a defended access point to the new quarter of the city developed beyond the Palm gate after the 15th century.
An inner 15th century passageway and an elegant and mighty 16th century passageway may be observea, connected to the wall rising up to the castle and built between 1561 and 1568.
The need for defenses against Barbary pirates seems obvious. The gate still has the ancient wooden knockers and a defensive chamber abovethe entrance, from which assailants were attacked by means of a trapdoor.