The San Salvatore bastion which forms part of the Cottonera fortifications was turned into a fort during the time of Grand Master Perellós.

Between May and July 1940, some Maltese who were known to be in favour of the Italians, including Enrico Mizzi, were kept in this fort, until they were sent to Uganda.

During the Second World War, the place became a petroleum depot. On 25 October 1941, four bombs hit the fuel depots and caused huge fires.