Stef Mizzi, known for meticulously bringing technicolour into black and white images from Malta’s past, has shared an almost unrecognisable image of the entrance to Valletta all the way back from 1860!

One of the most noticeable differences is the missing Royal Opera House, built just a few years later in 1866. The building occupying the area prior to that was ‘Casa della Giornata’, belonging to the Lanfreducci family, demolished in 1860 to make room for the Opera House.

Such a photo, however, also allows one to appreciate certain things that retain the same appearance, despite the passing of centuries, such as the typical Maltese balconies seen dotting the sides of the streets. The church steeples also provide some orientation for the confused viewer, acting as impressive landmarks in the journey of time.

Which other similarities and differences can you spot?