Hastings Gardens

Hastings Gardens is a public garden on the Marsamxett side of Valletta's bastions in Malta, laid out along South Street (Triq Nofsinhar) and Great Siege Road on the western edge of the city. The garden takes its name from Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of Hastings, who served as Governor of Malta in the 1820s and is commemorated by a monument within the grounds. It occupies part of the Valletta fortifications, on a terrace raised above the harbour, and consists of lawns, flowerbeds, trees, stone paths and benches in a quiet setting. The view from the bastion wall is the main attraction, looking across Marsamxett Harbour to Manoel Island, Fort Manoel and the waterfront of Sliema, with ferries and yachts crossing the water. The gardens receive far fewer visitors than the Upper Barrakka Gardens, so locals who come to read, walk dogs or sit in the evening make up much of the crowd. The garden is free and open daily, and a visit usually takes about 30 minutes, though it is pleasant to linger on the benches. It is about four minutes' walk from City Gate along the bastion wall, and it can be reached from the Valletta Waterfront side by climbing the nearby steps. Late afternoon is the best time to visit, when the light softens over the harbour and the Sliema skyline, and sunset offers coloured skies. Midday in summer can be hot because the terrace has limited shade. The gardens suit photographers looking for harbour views without crowds. Visitors should supervise children near bastion edges, and bring water in warm weather. Cafes and shops are a short walk away in the centre of Valletta.