THE MALL

Alongside the playground, the long gardens bordered by ponds, where the Maltese come to stroll, rest or flirt, are commonly known as The Mall. This partially enclosed area was created by Grand Master Lascaris in 1656, and was originally dedicated to pallamaglio, a type of tennis favoured by the knights of the time. It was converted into a garden in 1805, and from maglio to mall. Here you can see monuments and statues in honor of important figures in the country's history, such as Sir Ugo Mifsud, former Prime Minister, or Sir Adrian Dingli, famous jurist. At the entrance to the Mall, the imposing sculpture erected in 1989 commemorates 25 years of independence.

Continuingalong the Mall, at its southern end you'll come to the Wignacourt Fountain, which celebrates the arrival of the city's water supply in 1615. It also marks the entrance to the Argotti and Saint-Philippe botanical gardens.