City Gate, Valletta
City Gate is the main entrance to Malta's capital city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is most commonly called "Door to the city".
The original gate, known as San Giorgio Gate, was designed by military engineer Francesco Laparelli de Carotona, and was erected between April 1566 and 1569. It was replaced in 1632 by a more ornate gate designed by Maltese architect Tommaso Dingli.
In 1853, at the height of British rule over Malta, a new gate designed by Col. Thompson of the Royal Engineers was erected, consisting of two central arches with two smaller ones. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, City Gate was known as Reale Gate. These first three gates were all fortified, forming part of Valletta's city walls.
The fourth City Gate was inaugurated in 1964 and it was part of a project that never materialized - it was to redevelop an entrance to Valletta and the Royal Opera House.
The current City Gate was completed in 2014 and is the fifth to have stood at the entrance to Valletta.
The original gate, known as San Giorgio Gate, was designed by military engineer Francesco Laparelli de Carotona, and was erected between April 1566 and 1569. It was replaced in 1632 by a more ornate gate designed by Maltese architect Tommaso Dingli.
In 1853, at the height of British rule over Malta, a new gate designed by Col. Thompson of the Royal Engineers was erected, consisting of two central arches with two smaller ones. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, City Gate was known as Reale Gate. These first three gates were all fortified, forming part of Valletta's city walls.
The fourth City Gate was inaugurated in 1964 and it was part of a project that never materialized - it was to redevelop an entrance to Valletta and the Royal Opera House.
The current City Gate was completed in 2014 and is the fifth to have stood at the entrance to Valletta.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Valletta. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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City Gate on Map
Sight Name: City Gate
Sight Location: Valletta, Malta (See walking tours in Valletta)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Valletta, Malta (See walking tours in Valletta)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Valletta, Malta
Create Your Own Walk in Valletta
Creating your own self-guided walk in Valletta is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Valletta Architectural Landmarks Tour
Following the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, the knights of the Order of St John set about creating a city 鈥榖uilt by gentlemen, for gentlemen鈥�. The end result saw the island's capital become home to an array of elaborate Baroque buildings, some reflecting Mannerist features borrowed from neighboring Italy.
Many of these architectural monuments have proudly withstood the test of time... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Many of these architectural monuments have proudly withstood the test of time... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Valletta Introduction Walking Tour
Malta's capital city, Valletta, occupies the strategic peninsula between the Marsamxett and Grand Harbours. It is Europe's smallest capital city.
Valletta was founded in the 16th century. Many of the original buildings were built by the Knights Hospitaller. The city was named for Jean Parisot de Valette, famous for defending the island from the Ottomans during the Great Seige of Malta... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Valletta was founded in the 16th century. Many of the original buildings were built by the Knights Hospitaller. The city was named for Jean Parisot de Valette, famous for defending the island from the Ottomans during the Great Seige of Malta... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles