An old photo depicting the building acting as the old Customs House, called ‘id-Dwana l-antika’ in Maltese, has resurfaced, showing several traditional boats used as water taxis between the 18th and 20th centuries.

The foundation block of the Malta Custom House was laid directly in the sea of the Grand Harbour just under the Lascaris Bastions in 1774, placing this photo at some point after that. The monumental building was designed by architect Joseph Bonnici, and is one of the very few Government edifices which still serves the purpose for which it was constructed.

The sign seen in the photo indicates the direction in which one could find the old railway station, which operated between 1883 and 1931, and ‘Marsamuscetto’, the historic name for ‘Marsamxett’, the natural harbour between Valletta and Sliema.

The area shown in the photo is called Xatt Lascaris, where today, one can still find the Lascaris Water Taxi station with small ferries ready to take passengers across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities.

Have you ever caught a ferry from Xatt Lascaris?