Tourist Attractions & Monuments Malta

Guarded by two sturdy bronze cannons, it's one of the city's masterpieces, for its historical and architectural value. And if you're only going to visit once, this is the one to choose. An inscription near the side entrance, through which the knights entered, reminds us mortals of the brevity of our passage on earth: "You who walk on the dead, remember that one day you will be walked on" Built between 1575 and 1577, St. John's Co-Cathedral was designed by Gerolamo Cassar. It is his masterpiece. It was financed by Grand Master Jean l'Evesque de La Cassière and dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, patron saint of the Order. At the time, Malta's cathedral was Saint-Paul de Mdina. In 1816, under English rule, Pope Pius VII granted it the status of co-cathedral, a remarkable status given that few dioceses have two cathedrals. Consecrated on February 20, 1578, it was enriched for two centuries by each of the grand masters, who were required to make a donation on election. The exterior is sober, with a simple, symmetrical façade and Doric columns framing the entrance.

Note the three clocks on the right pediment, indicating the day, date and time. Opposite the building is a small square, guarded by a bust of Enrico Mizzi, where you'll find it pleasant to lounge under a parasol after your visit.

While the exterior appears almost austere, the interior is sumptuous and extremely ornate, having been extensively decorated by Mattia Preti at the height of the Baroque period (carved stone walls, etc.). The high, majestic vaults and the marble floor under which the knights sleep give the cathedral an atmosphere of great solemnity... In all, over 400 knightly tombs in red, white and black marble, with skeletons and coats of arms.

The workmanship of the marble, imported from Italy, most often from Carrara, is impressive in the co-cathedral. Following the work, the marble tradition is still very much alive on the island, although this material, absent from Malta, is necessarily imported. Although it is no longer possible to be buried with the great masters in St. John's Co-Cathedral, it is still possible to have a marble tombstone made in Mdina Cathedral.

Oratory Museum. The Co-Cathedral Museum houses Caravaggio's famous painting, The Beheading of St. John (1608), on display in the oratory. The ultimate work of Malta's greatest painter, it is said to be the only painting to bear the artist's signature (visible in the blood of St. John).

The museum also features 28 Flemish tapestries from the ^17th and ^18th centuries. One series illustrates the story of Christ, the others are allegories. Based on designs by Rubens and a drawing by Poussin for The Last Supper, they were once used to decorate the interior of the cathedral. Only one tapestry depicts the man who commissioned them, Grand Master Perellos Roccaful, but all bear his coat of arms. All the gifts he made to the cathedral are recorded in embroidery. The museum also houses priestly vestments and silverware, which escaped Napoleonic plunder in 1798.

A World Heritage Site, Ħaġar Qim stands on a hill overlooking the sea and the islet of Fifla, less than 2 km southwest of Qrendi. It is reached by a pleasant road, lined with oleanders, prickly pears, acacias and Pittosporum tobira, which passes over the cliff. There is a large parking lot which can be used by park visitors. A visitor center houses a small interpretation area, with information on these sites. The Ħaġar Qim site consists of a group of megalithic structures built around 5,000 years ago. It was excavated in 1839. Today, these buildings are generally referred to as temples. However, we know very little about what went on inside them. Its main building is unusual in that it has several doors facing in different directions. Archaeologists believe that the building originally had a roof. It was here that the figurine known as the Venus of Malta was discovered: a small statue measuring around twenty centimetres, with a heavy chest and narrow hips. You can admire it at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. Ħaġar Qim was recently covered by a protective shelter and the contrast with the ancient stones is quite surprising... But don't be fooled by the artistic effect: the tent serves only to protect the site from the elements, helping to preserve it for future generations.

You begin your visit with the monumental façade of the complex. Concave in shape, it's made up of imposing monolithic blocks and features a monumental entrance in the middle, common to many of the island's Neolithic megalithic buildings. Once through the entrance, you'll find yourself in an inner courtyard. Note that the courtyard floor is made of megalithic flagstones. To the left of the walkway are a finely carved sculpture resembling a tree and a slab with spiral motifs. You can see the original slab with spirals at the Visitor Centre, while the other is on display at Valletta's National Museum of Archaeology.

On either side of the courtyard is a screen with a door carved from a single megalith. These doors lead into circular rooms or apses. Note how the doors are positioned so that, if you're in one room, you can't see across the corridor into the opposite room. Continuing along the path, on the right is a room that marks the solstice (first day of summer) in June. At sunrise, rays of light pass through a hole that opens onto this room and project a disk of light onto a stone slab at the entrance to the apse. Over time, the disc becomes a crescent, then elongates into an ellipse until it finally sinks out of sight as if into the ground. To the left, a space opens onto several other chambers. A group of seated stone figures was found here behind the modern steps nearby. You can see one of these statues at the Visitor Centre.
Perched atop the cliff, Ħaġar Qim offers a very pretty view of the sea. As you walk down the Mnajdra path, on your left, you'll see a commemorative plaque that recalls the memory of an English governor who was buried in the sea between this point and the islet of Filfla, as he wished.

A visit to the Hal-Saflieni Hypogeum takes you deep into the bowels of the island, and is a must when visiting archaeological sites. You'll have the opportunity to visit the oldest example of a prehistoric hypogeum in the world. In Europe, it's the only known example of such a complex, dating from 4000 to 2500 BC, and its refined architecture and state of preservation make it an essential monument to the prehistoric era. As such, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Entering this vast underground complex is bound to move you. Like a labyrinth, the hypogeum is a necropolis made up of rooms linked by passages and staircases. The site has lost some of its charm thanks to the modern facilities that have been installed, but it remains extremely interesting nonetheless. The tour lasts around fifty minutes and includes an audiovisual experience in two rooms, followed by an automated tour of the site. Multilingual audio guides are available, enabling you to follow the entire tour in French.
The site was discovered in 1902 by workers digging a well for a house built on the site. Between 1903 and 1906, Father Magri carried out intensive excavations of the site, but died before publishing his work. Investigations resumed in 1907 under the direction of Temi Zammit. We now know that it took years to build this underground complex. It was dug into the rock over 3 storeys using simple hardstone tools, and reached 11 metres below today's street level. Built between 4,000 and 2,500 BC, it served as a resting place for probably over 7,000 people. Those buried were accompanied by their jewelry and pottery.
The oldest, upper level (4,000 BC) may originally have been a natural cave that expanded over time. The other two lower levels were dug entirely out of the rock, with the chambers linked by passages, platforms and galleries. The features of the middle level closely resemble some of the elements found in contemporary aerial megalithic complexes. This intermediate level is captivating, with murals executed in red ochre and architectural elements carved in living rock. Numerous statuettes, amulets, vases and figurines have been discovered in the hypogeum. Among these is the Sleeping Lady, on display at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. This is a unique and remarkable work of art, distinct throughout the European Neolithic.
It is clear that the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum demonstrates a relationship between the society of the living and the afterlife. "On entering the Hypogeum, in the dim light of torches that reveal the tangle of caves and galleries, as well as the strange lines of this extraordinary architecture, one retains an impression of astonishment. An air of profound mystery pervades the place, and visitors feel the need to stop and get a general view of the walls of the wasps' nest before observing each cavity and passage in detail. When you get used to the darkness, you're immediately struck by the weirdness of the architectural style". Themistocle Zammit (1864-1935).

The Heritage Malta Association offers a discounted pass to visit the historical sites. This pass allows thirty days' access to Malta's sites and museums (except Hal Saflieni Hypogeum and Underground Valletta) as well as the Malta National Aquarium and the Citadel Visitors' Center in Victoria (on the island of Gozo), via a single visit to each site per person. You can find more information about these various historical sites and museums on the Heritage Malta website.

Located on the Xagħra plateau, the Ġgantija archaeological complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex is older than the pyramids of Egypt and consists of two structures built, approximately, between 3600 and 3200 B.C. They have the shape of two trefoils, one with five apses (the southern complex), the other with four (the northern complex), both enclosed by a common megalithic wall. For the most part, this monumental complex is built in locally sourced coral limestone, with a few exceptions, such as the doors and interior furnishings, which were built in softer globigerine limestone.
The southern complex comprises five rooms of unequal dimensions. In the first room, on the left as you enter, small fragments of plaster washed with red ochre were discovered on part of the wall. This indicates that the rough rocks visible today may have been covered in the past. A number of holes have been made in the original paving and although their purpose cannot be known, it is thought that they would have been used for specialized ritual activities. One of the most lavishly furnished apses still bears the remains of spiral reliefs that were elaborated to decorate the globigerine surfaces.
On both sites, most of the doors feature perforations. It is thought that these may have been used to place wooden pegs, but also, apparently, to block the entrance, if necessary. Note that the walls of the apses are not perfectly vertical, but slope slightly inwards, indicating the presence of a corbel that may have been part of the monument's framework. The sophisticated and complex architecture of this megalithic site testifies to the extraordinary level of ingenuity and creativity of the islanders in prehistoric times. Because of the monumental scale of the site, it was once attributed to the work of giants who, according to mythological tales, populated the islands in forgotten times. This is thought to be the reason for the site's name, since Ġgantija could be derived from the word giant or giantess. A visit to the archaeological park is made all the more enjoyable by a unique panorama highlighting the island's distinctive hilly relief. An interpretation center is located at the park entrance.

Situated at the top of the bastions of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul, these pleasant Baracca gardens are home to a wide variety of species (pines, oleanders, eucalyptus, hibiscus, pistachio trees...) and offer the opportunity for green walks in the heart of the capital. Maltese and tourists alike come here during the day and especially in the evening to admire the "most beautiful natural harbour in the world": the incredible panorama of the three cities opposite. From the gardens, you'll have a breathtaking view of Birgu's Fort Saint-Ange, and from the ancient ramparts, you can also see the districts of Senglea and Cospicua, the main port and the sea. Also on the quayside are the customs buildings from which the dghajsas ( Maltese gondola-shaped boats painted in bright colors) depart to visit the ports. From the balconies of Baracca, you can see as far as Mdina and its cathedral. It's Valletta's postcard and the scene of your greatest photographic exploits if you manage to avoid the shipyard cranes in your panoramic shot, which will also include the church of San Paola de Tarxien and the disused former British hospital, jutting out from the promontory near Fort St. Angelo. With the right eyes, you'll be able to spot Paola's mosque. Still on the left, you'll notice the Ricasoli fort, built by an Italian knight, on the prow facing the sea. Built in 1663, during the reign of Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner, they are also known as the "Italian Gardens", as they were originally the private domain of the Italian knights. A little later, Grand Master Fra Flaminio Balbiani built the arches that can still be seen today. They were originally covered by a roof to protect walkers from the sun. Later, the English installed several statues. You can see some of them, including a bust of Winston Churchill. The funeral monument is dedicated to Sir Thomas Maitland, one of the island's English governors in the ^19th century. The sculpture Les Gavroches by Maltese artist Sciortino (one of his masterpieces) is also among the most visible pieces. The large renovated building at the entrance to the gardens is the Malta Stock Exchange. Below, you can see a row of cannons known as the Saluting Battery. This is where you take the elevator that links Upper Barakka Gardens to the Grand Harbour. Inaugurated in December 2012, it has a futuristic design, stretches 58 meters and carries 21 passengers for 25 seconds.

The Citadel, or Gran Castello, was built by the Knights in the ^15th century. The Citadel's north side dates back to the Aragonese period, while the south side was rebuilt under the Knights of St. John, between 1599 and 1603. From its hilltop position, the Citadel kept watch over the whole island, defending it against Ottoman attackers and frequent pirate raids. Until 1637, all the island's inhabitants made their way to the citadel at sunset, where they spent the night, safe from attack. By the ^18th century, its defensive role had come to an end, and the citadel was abandoned. You'll notice the arches supporting the ceilings and exterior vaults: the limestone beams can't exceed 1.50 m without risking cracking.

The Visitor Center. Since the Citadel's renovation, the city's former water reservoirs have been converted into a small museum of the Citadel and Victoria. After taking in the various museographical elements, a show takes you through a dark tunnel to discover Calypso (or rather, her hologram), followed by an 8-minute 3D projection on the ancient walls of the reservoir, where you'll be taken through Gozo's history.

The ramparts. From here, there are beautiful views of the sea and neighboring villages: Zebbug, Marsalforn and its hill, Xaghra and its church and, in the far east, Qala. To the southeast, we can make out Xewkija and, almost in line, Comino and Malta. From the bastion of San Michele, you can see the cathedral's dome, the dome of Xewkija's church and, less clearly, the headquarters of one of the two brass band clubs, the Stella, with its small dome and flag, as well as the theater of the other, the Astra.

The moat. They have been uncovered since the renovation, which was accompanied by the creation of new flowered areas. With a view to modernization, many events and concerts are now held in the former moat, with its unreal acoustics and majestic setting.

The grain silos. On the ramparts, an interesting World War II shelter in former grain silos used to supply the lord's court in case of siege. The narrow tunnels lead to three huge oval caves carved in stone, with openings at the top for pouring grain and, during the war, water. The echo is fantastic...

Along the streets. Lose yourself in the winding lanes - at night, the spectacle is even more magical - and you'll stumble across the historic chapel of Saint Joseph and a number of sacred niches and bas-reliefs. Pay close attention to the well-preserved Norman-style windows and arches, and the coats of arms inlaid on the facades of historic houses and churches.

Craftsmanship. Gourmet stores sell cheeses, honeys, nougats and wines, including the typical cittadella (red or white). Through the open doors of some stores, you can see women busy with lace-making. Near the little ^16th-century chapel of San Giuseppe, a pretty old house displays interesting local objects, weapons and traditional tools. Near the bastion, in a side street, jewelry, lace and candle makers set up shop.

Clownfish, graceful jellyfish, delicate seahorses, menacing sharks, flying fish, tentacled octopus, manta rays... nemo's colorful world can be spied in this superb aquarium, whose highlight is the shark tunnel. An excellent way to discover the marine fauna of Malta and beyond. Some areas showcase the archipelago's ecosystem and work to preserve endemic species. Other parts of the aquarium showcase Mediterranean species from further afield. There are also fascinatingly colorful tropical fish. Unfortunately, there is no French-language audiophone. You can join a guided tour (one every hour), but you'll need to brush up on your aquatic vocabulary to fully understand the workings of these fascinating marine worlds. The team is passionate!

Projected on a panoramic screen, this 45-minute film retraces the history of Malta, with commentaries that can be followed in French or in twenty other languages, as desired. To watch it, you will be comfortably seated in the half-light. The commentary is very well done, very detailed, very well illustrated and the film is a most interesting historical and cultural presentation. Ideal if you wish to get a first idea of the island before discovering it or to complete your knowledge if you have not been able to visit it as a whole.

Before visiting the cave, you can go down the cliff-flower stairs, which leave the road in the signposts and allow you to admire the views and entrance of the caves. Just above the cave, a large parking lot, some restaurants and more and more beach bazaars are waiting for the tourist. A beautiful stone terrace with carved balcony (the th century) offers an ideal point of observation on the sea. Walk down on the rocks below, where you can sunbathe. In winter, the descent is less advisable, first because of the cold, but above all because of possible tempête that can prove dangerous.

The first of the caves is The Cat's Cave (the Chat Cave). Its water, transparent and shallow (5 m), leaves the rock bottom and the algae.

The second cave, the Reflection Cave, is named because water reflects phosphorus, as shown by the following small experiment: plunge your hand into the water near Reflection Cave and watch it immediately after removing it; It will have taken a very unusual blue tint (unless you are a Smurf!). The entrance of the Blue Grotto evokes an elephant with its shaded trompe and opens up another cliff. At the bottom of the water, the red corals contrast beautifully with the blue of the sea.

The next cave is La Rotunda (the Rotunda), because its rounded ceiling resembles the dome of the famous church of Mosta. Here, unlike other caves, the bottom of the water is sandy. Later, the rock, in height, evokes a horse hoof. In the past, the guides enjoyed visiting this site to the French, because one of the rocks looked, from a certain angle, to De Gaulle's nose. Today, however, "De Gaulle's nose" is less known to the new generations, and the rock itself eventually eroded. Later, the smooth and gilded walls of another cave evoke those of the recorded.

Finally, the Blue-Window Cave (cave of the Blue Window) allows you to see the azure through its opening.

The main gate of Mdina was rebuilt in 1724, a few metres from the old one. On the pediment, the arms are those of the great master António Manoel de Vilhena. It was at this door that the University welcomed each new Grand Master, asking him to reconfirm the preservation of Mdina's rights and freedoms before handing him the keys to the city. In front of Main Gate, you will find kiosks, a children's park, toilets (open during the day), the bus terminal and the Howard Gardens where you can rest in the shade of the orange trees.

The Blue Lagoon extends between Comino and an islet named - about - Cominotto. Its turquoise waters refer to the Maldives or the Seychelles. From Malta or Gozo, many small cruises stop there. It's an enchanting place, but in the high season you don't expect to know a solitude from Robinson.

Aside from the tower that the Maltese military may allow you to see more closely, the island's architectural points of interest are minimal.

Avoid coming to lunch because there are many cruise boats and the place becomes crowded soon! There is no sand to spread his towel, you will have to find a small place on the rock or rent a chair. Before 10 p. m. and after 17 p. m., the place is calm and it's not bad.

An impressive dome topped by a nipple, built without the aid of scaffolding, it is the pride of Maltese builders. And it's true that the Rotunda, Europe's fourth largest dome, is a pure marvel. The church, which can accommodate up to 12,000 people, took 27 years to build. Work was completed in 1871.

The people of Mosta contributed financially and physically to the building of the structure, some even offering up to 70% of their annual salary. The church was modelled on the Pantheon in Rome by architect Giorgio Grognet de Vassé, a Maltese nobleman whose bust can be seen inside. At the entrance, the olive-wood statue of Our Lady is the one carried around the village on procession days. Several of the murals are by Giuseppe Cali; the altar is by the Maltese Pasquale Buhagiar.

The gigantic dome is white, with sky-blue and gold rhombuses. Its diameter is almost 39 m. To avoid the need for scaffolding, a sort of stone spiral has been constructed, tapering in size and easily visible from the outside. The base of the spiral is 9 m wide. During the Second World War, at 4.40pm on April 9, 1942, a bomb fell on the church during mass, but failed to detonate. The episode became known as the "Mosta miracle", and a life-size reproduction of the bomb is still on display in the sacristy at the back of the church, on the left. For the festa on August 15, the feast of Our Lady of the Assumption and the national holiday, the interior of the church is covered in red hangings and the exterior is decorated with multicolored bulbs and statues.

Qbajjar's outdoor saltworks date from the Roman era of the Island. They are located west of Marsalforn.

One of Malta's most beautiful rocky beaches. In this natural pool at the tip of Delimara Point, only the brave spend the day, ensuring peace and quiet. Be sure to check for jellyfish before launching yourself off the rocks! The crystal-clear water turns azure and indigo green, a real paradise for snorkellers. The flat rocky surface allows you to spread out your towel on a spacious surface, or take shelter from the sun under the high rocks. You'll come across plenty of locals.

They offer a magnificent landscape, perhaps the most beautiful of the island, because the wild. You can contemplate them and appreciate the height from the Madliena chapel, the apex of the island (250 m). From Dingli, the pleasant and panoramic road, after climbing the hills above Buskett, allows to discover Zebbug, but also Mdina and Siggiewi to the south, in a landscape of full countryside.

Despite the cruel absence of a signs, the maze of roads is not too worrying, because the slightest prominence allows us to take stock of the plains villages; a simple card is enough to find you.

Situated between Gharb and Ghammar, the Ta'Pinu church, with its separate bell tower rising like a minaret, dates from 1920. Behind the church, a small ^16th-century chapel was a highly venerated place of pilgrimage in the last century.

On June 22, 1883, Carmela Grima, a 45-year-old widow, heard a voice. The Virgin asked her to recite prayers for her during the three days of the Assumption feast; this miraculous message was repeated several times. According to local history, the Gozitans' prayers also prevented a plague epidemic from spreading to their island. With the influx of pilgrims, it was decided to build a larger church next to the chapel. A collection from all Gozo inhabitants enabled work to begin in 1920. The church, completed in 1931, was consecrated in 1932 by Pope Pius XI, before receiving the title of basilica.

The small miraculous chapel is integrated into the building at the back of the nave. Today, the Basilica of Ta'Pinu is a place of pilgrimage for the Maltese and Gozitans. It takes its name from a man named Pinu Gauci, who looked after the original small chapel.

It is interesting for its neo-Romanesque style: marble canopy, Byzantine cornices, mosaics, stained glass windows and Romanesque bell tower, as well as for its many souvenirs and offerings, in memory of the Virgin's miracles. Plaster legs, crutches and pins no longer needed, extraordinary newspaper articles, testimonials (from World Trade Center survivors, for example) and letters of gratitude and thanks to the Virgin adorn the walls of both wings of the church, from floor to ceiling. The whole is rather macabre, but instructive if you concentrate a little. Pope John Paul II himself came to pray in the chapel during his visit to Malta in 1990, and there are plenty of photographs to remind us of this.

Others show a monument dedicated to Ta'Pinu in Australia, the homeland of many Maltese. As for the widow Carmela Grima, she is in the process of being beatified.

A Way of the Cross has been laid out between the church and a nearby hill where a huge cross is planted.

The Carmela Grima Museum (2 Gharb Street), dedicated to the 45-year-old widow touched by the Virgin Mary's ultrasound, has reopened. It's well worth a visit, and audioguides in French are available. Visits from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

With its two bell towers and dome, the cathedral, dedicated to Saint Paul and Saint Peter, is located where Saint Paul is said to have converted the Roman governor Publius, who later became the first bishop of Malta, to Christianity. Originally, there was a small church there, dating from the 4th century, which Roger of Sicily had enlarged when he arrived in 1090, and you can still see the old wooden door of the time, now integrated into the current building and leading to the sacristy. Enlarged in the 15th century, the church was entirely rebuilt by Lorenzo Gafà after the earthquake of 1693, then consecrated a cathedral in 1702 and dedicated to Saint Paul. The monumental façade, with its mixture of vertical and horizontal lines, is in the purest Baroque Romanesque style. It is flanked by the coat of arms of the great masters Perellos y Roccaful and Palmieri. Like the Saint-Paul de La Valette cocathedral, its floor is covered with marble slabs from the tombs of great masters and other personalities, the most recent dating from 1996. It is located to the right of the cathedral, in Saint Paul Street.

Inside, during the visit, special mention should be made of the baptismal font, to the left of the main entrance door, the entrance door to the sacristy and a very beautiful painting by Mattia Preti. Be careful, during the visit, to follow the progress of the booklet, you must leave from the central entrance door of the cathedral and not from the one of the visit.

The cathedral museum. Baroque in style, you will find exposed Dürer's woodcuts, religious paintings and ancient scores of sacred music. Just next door is the 18th century Archbishops' Palace, built on the site of a 14th century building.

This magnificent museum boasts a spectacular collection, providing a fascinating insight into the prehistory and early history of the Maltese islands. With artefacts ranging from Malta's Neolithic period (5900-2500 BC) to the early Phoenician period (^8th-6th century BC), the National Museum of Archaeology will undoubtedly be your first port of call for understanding the richness of the land you are about to visit, and learning more about its inhabitants and their ancestors.
The first stage of the visit, the first floor is dedicated to the Neolithic period. It features the first tools and vessels used by prehistoric man to facilitate his daily tasks. Representations of animal and human figures not only show the advanced artistic skills of the first islanders, but also give us a glimpse into their daily lives. These objects come from various Maltese sites that have been classified as Unesco World Heritage Sites, such as the megalithic temples and the hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni. This includes such illustrious objects as "The Sleeping Lady", the Venus of Malta and the colossal statue from the prehistoric complex of Hal-Tarxien.
The upper floor currently houses sections from the Bronze Age and the Phoenician period. The majority of objects range in size from small ritual vessels to funerary urns and amphorae. Phoenician objects in glass and gold, as well as an impressively large terracotta sarcophagus, also feature prominently in this section. The National Museum, housed in the Auberge de Provence, is a fine example of the Baroque style that flourished in Malta under the Knights of the Order of St. John. Dating from 1571, it housed the Provençal-speaking knights. Particularly noteworthy is the upper floor, which houses the Grand Salon, a uniquely large painted room with decorations dating from the early 1800s. This space is currently used for national exhibitions and events such as conferences, fashion shows, photo shoots and TV shoots.
The National Museum of Archaeology also organizes regular temporary exhibitions designed to showcase the objects in its storerooms.

The city gate is located between the bastions of Santiago and Saint John. A bridge over the deep moat surrounding Valletta leads to this gate. Throughout history, Valletta has had five different gates: the first built during the reign of John of Valletta, the second attributed to Tommaso Dingli, the third during the English occupation and the fourth in Italian style. The fifth gate was part of the renovation project of the entrance to the city orchestrated by the architect Renzo Piano, which is now in place. A project launched notably for the festivities of "Valletta, European Capital of Culture" in 2018 by UNESCO. It was part of the large urban renewal complex that combines old stones and modernity. Located at the entrance to the Walled City, between the moat and the main square (Place de la Liberté), it included the remodelling of the city gates and moat, the construction of a new building and the transformation of the ruins of the Opera House - bombed during the Second World War - into an open-air theatre. A project that has been much talked about in Malta, as it originally envisaged the construction of the Parliament building on the remains of the Opera House. Renzo Piano's project to preserve these remains finally convinced the Maltese people, although it included the destruction of part of the old city gates to allow them to open and the construction of a modern building in the heart of the Baroque city. The idea was to preserve the city's architectural heritage while creating a contemporary civic and cultural meeting place.

Thecentral square adorned by the majestic Triton Fountain also completed its renovation in 2019, as the three bronze tritons were completely restored in a prestigious Florentine foundry. The fountain is now pedestrianized and the water features are particularly appreciated at night.

The gate of the Fortified City and the moat. The austere City Gate built by the English to defend the city was destroyed and replaced by two majestic staircases that allow pedestrian communication from one side to the other of the old city, previously divided in two. The very deep moat has been transformed into a garden planted with trees and a pedestrian promenade. It can be reached by a staircase on the right, once you have passed the gate. The visiting hours are not clearly explained but the closing is apparently announced in advance.