Lower Barrakka Gardens, Public park in Valletta, Malta
Lower Barrakka Gardens is a public park in Valletta with pathways winding through vegetation, monuments, and a watchtower that overlooks the Grand Harbor and Three Cities. The space combines planted areas with historical structures and viewing platforms over the water.
French troops established this park in the late 1700s, followed by the construction of the Alexander Ball monument in 1810. The development reflects how the site took shape after French occupation under British rule.
The gardens display memorials that commemorate significant events from World War II and honor soldiers who protected Malta. These monuments are woven into the landscape and tell stories of the island's past.
The park sits near the Malta Experience Show and provides seating areas, informational signs, and main entrance gates. The elevated location offers good views but requires some climbing to reach all sections.
The Gardjola watchtower within the gardens served as a strategic observation point for monitoring Grand Harbor activities. This structure reveals how crucial the bay was to the island's defense.
Location: Valletta
Elevation above the sea: 31 m
GPS coordinates: 35.89750,14.51778
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:40
Malta combines thousands of years of history with varied coastal landscapes across a compact island area of 122 square miles (316 square kilometers). The capital Valletta contains major structures including the Co-Cathedral of St. John with its Caravaggio paintings, the National Museum of Archaeology, and the 18th-century Manoel Theatre. The city displays baroque architecture and military installations from the Knights of Malta period. The Neolithic temple complexes rank among the world's oldest freestanding stone structures. Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra near Qrendi date from around 3600 to 3200 BC, while the Ġgantija temples on Gozo are even older. The Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum in Paola is an underground necropolis with multiple chambers. The Tarxien temples show decorated stone blocks and reliefs. The coastline offers different formations: the Dingli Cliffs reach 830 feet (253 meters) in height, while the Blue Grotto near Qrendi features sea caves with turquoise water. The Blue Lagoon on Comino has shallow, clear water. Golden Bay near Mellieħa is a sandy beach. Fort Rinella in Kalkara preserves an 1884 Armstrong gun. The medieval town of Mdina and the Citadel in Victoria on Gozo display fortress architecture from different periods.
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