A recent post in the Nostalgia Malta Facebook group is stirring hearts and memories with a glimpse into Valletta’s past – more specifically, the historic Liesse area near Victoria Gate.

Shared by the local Peter Galea, the images evoke pure cinematic nostalgia. One striking photo shows the iconic Victoria Gate to the left, the sloping road beneath it leading towards what is now the busy Valletta Waterfront. While the road appears less crowded than we’re used to today, the scene is still alive with activity – men loading cartons onto trucks, a woman hurrying up the stone steps, and a sense of daily hustle and grit that already defined the area decades ago.

Just out of frame is the Church of Our Lady of Liesse, a much-loved portside landmark originally built in 1740 and designed by Maltese architect Francesco Zammit. Overlooking the Grand Harbour, close to Lascaris Battery, this church has long been venerated by the community, particularly those connected to the sea and life at the harbour.

But it wasn’t just the photo that brought the past to life – it was the flood of memories from those who saw it, with commenters claiming that the shop in the photo was tal-Brudo selling vegetables. Others remembered family members that lived in the community – here are a couple:

‘Do you remember John Gauci Borda’s hardware and paint shop? He was my grandfather!’

‘I had my grandparents there as you enter the gate – their nickname was Ta’ Tabakk.’

Through this one image, a corner of Valletta not often front-and-centre in travel brochures is remembered as a place of community, colour, and character – a reminder that Malta’s beauty isn’t only found in baroque façades and sunny beaches, but in the everyday scenes and streets that shaped communities for generations.

Do you have any memories from a Valletta gone by?