![]() The fourth City Gate was inaugurated in 1964 and it was part of a project that never materialized - it was to redevelop an entrance to Valletta and the Royal Opera House. These first three gates were all fortified, forming part of Valletta's city walls. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, City Gate was known as Reale Gate. Thompson of the Royal Engineers was erected, consisting of two central arches with two smaller ones. In 1853, at the height of British rule over Malta, a new gate designed by Col. It was replaced in 1632 by a more ornate gate designed by Maltese architect Tommaso Dingli. The original gate, known as San Giorgio Gate, was designed by military engineer Francesco Laparelli de Carotona, and was erected between April 15. It is most commonly called "Door to the city". The fountain was dismantled and restored again in 2017.Ĭity Gate is the main entrance to Malta's capital city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was rebuilt in the 1980s, this time with the center column that you see today. The extra weight caused it to collapse, damaging the statues in the process. During a national celebration in 1978, the top of the fountain was used as a stage. The fountain looks a bit different than it did when it opened. The design was inspired by the Fontana delle Tartarughe in Rome. When viewed from City Gate, the faces of all three figures are visible. Two of the Tritons are sitting, while the other is kneeling. The use of Triton is especially important for Malta as it signifies the island's close links with the sea. The fountain was built in the 1950s and dedicated in 1959. They are standing in a round base that is lined with travertine slabs. The fountain consists of three enormous bronze statues of Triton, the Greek god of the sea, holding up a large basin. It was conceived by sculptor Chevalier Vincent Apap and draftsman Victor Anastasi. One of the most recognizable monuments in Valletta, the Triton Fountain, lies just outside the city gates. Join us on this walking tour of the best sights in Valletta. Valletta is a compact, pleasant, and charming city to walk in, with little vehicle traffic and lots of history and stories. Don't miss the National War Museum, which is housed within the fort's lower level. It started from a humble watchtower from the 1400s and expanded into a formidable stronghold. This star-shaped fort was built to guard the entrance of the two harbors. It all culminates at the tip of the peninsula, where you'll find Fort Saint Elmo. Along the way, you'll see the Upper and Lower Bakkarra Gardens built on the bastions, each of which provides stunning views of the town and harbors. From the entrance at City Gate to the bastions that line the harbor edges, the city is a walled and well-defended fortress. One of the most notable things about Valletta is the fortifications all around the city. The city was named for Jean Parisot de Valette, famous for defending the island from the Ottomans during the Great Seige of Malta in 1565. Many of the original buildings were built by the Knights Hospitaller. Valletta was founded in the 16th century. Malta's capital city, Valletta, occupies the strategic peninsula between the Marsamxett and Grand Harbours.
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