Many of us remember City Gate before Renzo Piano’s makeover, but most will probably be surprised to find out that the current gate is actually the fifth city opening that Valletta has hosted over a span of half a millennium. Having trouble believing me? Let’s have a history walk-through together.

1. First Gate (1569-1633)

Although there is not much visual proof to go by (it was built in the mid-16th century after all), Valletta’s original gate design was more practical than ornate. Initially named Porta San Giorgio after Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Vallette then re-christened as Porta Reale during Grand Master de Verdalle’s time, the gate took three years to construct and served its purpose for 64 years.

2. Second Gate (1633-1853)

The gate underwent some beauty treatment under Grand Master Antoine De Paul, and it transformed into a grander structure with modifications continually being added to it throughout its 200-year tenure.

3. Third Gate (1853-1964)

Commissioned by the British, the gate’s name morphed from Porta Reale to Putirjal, or Kingsway in English. The Gate consisted of two central arches and two smaller ones but the amount of people flooding in and out rendered the gate inefficient and it’s design outdated. In the years following WWII, Prime Minister Gorg Borg Olivier took the project under his wing and saw to the construction of a replacement gate.

4. Fourth Gate (1965 – 2011)

Erected over the span of one year, the gate had a considerably larger entrance with a reworking of the side-arches from the previous gate. Despite the best of intentions, architects and the general public were not overly fond of the design. Plans to reconstruct the gate started in 1989 but were shelved and would only resume almost two decades later.

5. Fifth Gate (2014 – present)

Renzo Piano’s infamous design is completely dissimilar to the previous four gates. The open-air structure and the consequent breach in the bastions generated much controversy during its construction and inauguration period. Nevertheless, the area has now morphed into one of Malta’s most Instagrammable locations.

Which one is your favourite?