New & now
Blast from the past! Check out this photograph of Floriana from the 1900s
Can you recognise this place?

Francesca Vella

This vintage photograph takes us back to Floriana in the beginning of the 20th century. A closer look at the photo reveals two trams, which acted as as the main mode of public transport between 1905 and 1929.

Another distinct feature seen on the left-hand side of this photo is the Floriana Mall gardens, built by Grandmaster Lascaris in 1656. Back then, the gardens still had high walls on either side, before the walls were replaced by railings after the war in the 1940s.

An evident gap can be seen where the Phoenicia Hotel now stands, as it was built in the 1930s, and opening in 1947 after the Second World War ended.

Can you picture yourself exploring this version of Floriana?

17th June 2024


Francesca Vella
Written by
Francesca Vella
Francesca has always felt most at home in a cinema or theatre, particularly if musicals are involved. She loves to read, write, and share about her experiences of both the fictional and the real world.

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