Renzo Piano's 2014 City Gate — the monumental entrance to Valletta. prowadzący begins his Maltese journey here, admiring the contrast of modern architecture with 16th-century walls.
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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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