Valletta's City Gate — the third in history, designed by Renzo Piano (2014). A controversial fusion of 16th-century bastions with modern architecture, now an icon of the city.
The current City Gate is the third in Valletta's history. The first was built by the Knights of Malta in the 16th century — a mighty defensive gate with a drawbridge over a deep ditch. The second was erected by the British in 1853, who demolished the knights' gate and replaced it with a wide, neo-Gothic portal suited for wheeled traffic. The third, the present gate, was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and unveiled in 2014.
Piano approached the task with respect for history: rather than creating another monument, he made a slit in the wall. Two giant blades of steel and stone stand like sentinels on either side of the entrance, but do not touch the 16th-century bastions. The effect is both modern and humble — the gate does not compete with the walls but draws the eye along Republic Street to Fort St. Elmo visible in the distance.
The project sparked a storm: conservationists accused Piano of "destroying Valletta's character," while supporters praised the courage of merging 16th-century fortifications with 21st-century architecture. Today, after years of use, most Maltese have accepted the gate — it has become a new symbol of the city, photographed as eagerly as the bastions and church domes.
Practical tip: All city buses stop right outside the gate. It is the natural starting point for a Valletta walk — from here, Republic Street leads straight through the entire city.
Arrive before 9 AM — fewer crowds. Buses stop right in front of the gate.
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