Three Cities Guide: Vittoriosa, Senglea & Cospicua

🏛️ The Inquisitor's Palace

One of the few surviving Inquisitor's Palaces in the world, this atmospheric building served as the headquarters of the Roman Inquisition in Malta from 1574 to 1798. Wander through the prison cells, tribunal rooms, and private apartments to understand how the Inquisition operated in practice.

The building itself is a fascinating example of how a medieval structure was repeatedly adapted and expanded over centuries.

⛪ St Lawrence's Church

This magnificent Baroque church was the Knights' conventual church before they built St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta. The interior is lavishly decorated with paintings, marble, and gilded carvings. Look for the hat of Grand Master Jean de Valette, the hero of the Great Siege, preserved here.

🚶 Collachio - The Knights' Quarter

The atmospheric medieval streets between the waterfront and Fort St Angelo formed the original Knights' quarter. Here you will find the Auberges (lodges) where Knights from different nations lived, many now restored as private residences or boutique hotels.

Wander through narrow lanes lined with honey-coloured limestone, past ornate doorways and traditional Maltese balconies. The area is particularly magical in the early morning or at dusk when the streets are quiet.

⚓ Vittoriosa Waterfront

The elegant waterfront promenade offers spectacular views across to Valletta, particularly stunning at sunset when the capital's bastions glow golden. Superyachts now moor where the Knights' galleys once docked, lending the area a glamorous atmosphere.

Several restaurants and wine bars line the quay, making it perfect for an evening aperitivo.

🌳 Gardjola Gardens (Safe Haven Gardens)

These small but perfectly formed gardens at the tip of the Senglea peninsula offer what many consider the finest views in all of Malta. From here you can see Valletta, the Grand Harbour, Fort St Angelo, and across to Kalkara - a 360-degree panorama of Malta's most historic waterfront.

The gardens take their name from the iconic vedette (watchtower) with its carved eye and ear, symbolising eternal vigilance. This sentinel has watched over the harbour entrance since the 17th century.

🏘️ Senglea Streetscape

Wandering Senglea's narrow streets reveals a neighbourhood that has retained its authentic character despite the devastation of WWII bombing. Many buildings were reconstructed in the post-war period, but the traditional urban fabric survives.

Look out for colourful traditional balconies, ornate religious niches on street corners (a distinctive Maltese feature), and the everyday life of local residents going about their business.

⛪ Our Lady of Victories Church

Senglea's parish church commemorates the victory in the Great Siege of 1565. The current Baroque building replaced earlier structures and houses a revered statue of the Madonna believed to have miraculous properties. The church was heavily damaged in WWII but faithfully restored.

🏰 The Cottonera Lines

The most impressive fortifications here are the massive Cottonera Lines, built between 1670 and 1680 to protect all three cities. Named after Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner, these walls stretch for nearly 5 kilometres and represent one of the largest building projects ever undertaken by the Knights.

Walk along sections of the walls for spectacular views and to appreciate the sheer scale of this engineering achievement.

🚪 Notre Dame Gate (Zabbar Gate)

This monumental Baroque gateway is the main entrance to the Cottonera Lines and one of the finest examples of 17th-century military architecture in Malta. The ornate facade features the coat of arms of Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner and sculptural decoration befitting a grand entrance.

🏚️ The Margherita Lines

These earlier fortifications (built 1638-1645) protected the landward side of the Three Cities before the Cottonera Lines were constructed. Sections survive in various states of preservation and can be explored as part of a walking tour of the area.

⛵ Cospicua Waterfront & Dockyard

The waterfront area has been undergoing regeneration, with parts of the historic dockyard now converted into a yacht marina. This was once the heart of Malta's shipbuilding industry, and you can still see elements of the industrial heritage alongside newer developments.

🏰 History & Significance

The site has been fortified since antiquity, but the current structure dates primarily from the Knights' period. During the Great Siege, Grand Master Jean de Valette directed operations from here, and the fort's cannons inflicted devastating damage on the Ottoman forces.

In the 20th century, the fort served as the headquarters of the British Mediterranean Fleet, known as HMS St Angelo. It played a crucial role in the defence of Malta during WWII.

👀 What to See

The fort has been extensively restored and offers fascinating exhibitions about its history. Highlights include:

• The Chapel of St Anne - A beautiful medieval chapel with original frescoes
• Grand Master's residence - Period rooms showing how the Knights lived
• Military exhibitions - Weapons, armour, and siege warfare displays
• Panoramic terraces - Stunning 360-degree views of the Grand Harbour and Valletta

🎟️ Visiting Information

Fort St Angelo is managed by Heritage Malta and included in the Multisite Pass. The fort is fully accessible via a modern lift system.

🚢 The Collection

The museum's extensive collection includes models of ships from every era, navigational instruments, paintings, weapons, and artefacts recovered from shipwrecks. Highlights include:

• Knights' period gallery - Models of the famous galleys and naval equipment
• Traditional Maltese boats - Including the iconic dgħajsa and luzzu
• British period collection - From Malta's time as a crucial Mediterranean naval base
• WWII gallery - Including artefacts from the convoys that saved Malta

🎟️ Visiting Information

The Maritime Museum is managed by Heritage Malta. Allow 1-2 hours for a visit.

⛵ By Water Taxi (Dgħajsa)

The traditional dgħajsa water taxi is the most scenic and atmospheric way to reach Vittoriosa. These small boats have ferried passengers across the harbour for centuries and the journey takes just 5 minutes.

Boats depart from Valletta's waterfront near the Customs House when enough passengers gather (usually every 10-15 minutes). The fare is approximately €2 per person.

🚌 By Bus

Several bus routes connect Valletta with the Three Cities:

• Route 1, 2, 3 - From Valletta bus terminus to Cospicua and Vittoriosa
• Route 3 - Continues to Kalkara, passing Fort St Angelo

Journey time is 15-20 minutes depending on traffic. Use the Tallinja card for convenient payment.

🚕 By Taxi or Bolt

Taxis and ride-sharing services like Bolt provide convenient door-to-door transport. From Valletta, expect to pay €10-15 for the journey. Taxis are readily available at the Valletta bus terminus.

🚗 By Car

If driving, there is limited parking within Vittoriosa itself. The most practical option is to park in Cospicua near the Cottonera Lines or in designated parking areas and walk into the historic centres.

🚢 By Ferry

A regular ferry service operates between Valletta Waterfront and Vittoriosa, providing a comfortable alternative to the traditional dgħajsa. The crossing takes about 10 minutes.