Wignacourt Arch, Baroque triumphal arch in Fleur-de-Lys, Malta.
The Wignacourt Arch is a Baroque triumphal gate made of limestone with three passageways decorated with fleur-de-lis carvings and Latin text on marble panels. The current structure stands where the original was destroyed during World War II and was rebuilt in 2015 using historical records.
The original gate was designed in 1615 by architect Bontadino de Bontadini as part of a water system carrying water from Dingli to Valletta. It served an important role in Malta's water supply during the early modern period.
The monument marks a boundary between two communities and shows how Baroque style arrived in Malta. Local people connect the structure to neighborhood identity and civic pride.
The monument sits at the boundary between two neighborhoods and is easily accessible on foot from surrounding residential areas. There is no admission fee and visitors can view the structure freely at any time from outside.
The gate was part of an ambitious water distribution system that went far beyond simple plumbing, becoming a landmark of early modern engineering and design. Its 2015 reconstruction was one of Malta's major restoration projects, using original building plans from the 1600s to guide the work.
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