Malta's capital will finally be receiving a fresh face for it’s ditch - the culmination of a project which has absolutely transformed City Gate. The ditch, located right under Valletta’s City Gate, near the city’s historical walls (dating back to the 16th century) is expected to be inaugurated in the coming days.
The revitalised Valletta ditch will be named Gnien Laparelli as a tribute Italian architect Francesco Laparelli, who was commissioned to design Valletta all those years ago, and has comprised the plantation of around 50 indigenous trees. Hear that? Another fantastic place to relax and soak up the Mediterranean sun, right outside the capital!
This unveiling is part of a larger project to restore Valletta’s entrance to its former (and stunning) glory, and to revitalise the UNESCO world heritage site. Under the tutelage of Italian architect Renzo Piano, the City Gate project kicked off with the restoration of the city's bastion walls and bridge, which were restored to their former purpose, followed by the inauguration of the Opera House (an open-air theatre in the ruins of the prestigious Royal Opera House) in August 2013.
Two years later in May 2015, the impressive new Parliament building, a stone’s throw away from the Opera House, was inaugurated, followed by the completion of the embellishing work of the area opposite the Phoenicia Hotel known as Il-Biskuttin just outside Valletta in late 2017.
The Triton Fountain, at the centre of Triton Square, received some much-needed TLC too! The bronze Tritons were extensively restored by Fonderia Artistica Ferdinando Marinelli (Florence) and were inaugurated in January 2018 at the start of the Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture festivities.
The ditch garden will be open to the public soon, and will be accessible from Marsamxett Road or through the stairs or lift near the Parliament building. We can't wait to visit!