Have you wondered what the favourite gardens of the Knights of St John in Malta were?

According to ‘8000 years of Water’, Għajn Qajjed Giardino in Rabat was one of the “most esteemed” among the Knights.

Found in Rabat, the garden was highly favoured largely due to its magical spring that transformed the garden into a peaceful oasis.

The spring and its water were used not only for the Għajn Qajjed garden but also for the surrounding area.

“In the 17th century, this natural wonder was harnessed into a grand, covered reservoir, known as the gran gebia, playing a crucial role in collecting and distributing water”, ‘8000 years of Water’ explained.

In fact, an impressive system of canals from this reservoir in Rabat “fed the Valletta aqueduct and nearby gardens”.

The photo taken by Daniel Cilia is what remains of this once beautiful oasis.