Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery

The Upper Barrakka Gardens sit on the St Peter and St Paul bastion above the Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta, and offer the most celebrated panorama in the city. Originally laid out in the 16th century as a private garden and social space for the Italian Knights of the Order of St John, the site was opened to the public in the 1800s. Its arcaded loggia, stone colonnades, fountains and statues create a shaded promenade along the bastion edge. From the railing visitors look across the Grand Harbour to Fort St Angelo, Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua, collectively the Three Cities, and watch ferries, cruise ships and cargo vessels move through one of the world's great natural harbours. Below the terrace, the Saluting Battery fires a time-gun salute at noon and 4:00PM from Monday to Saturday, a ceremony of British origin carried on today with historic cannon. The battery can be entered with a small separate ticket, which allows close views of the guns and a small exhibition. Around the gardens stand busts of notable Maltese figures and monuments, including the sculpture 'Les Gavroches' by Antonio Sciortino. The Barrakka Lift, a glass elevator, descends from the gardens to the waterfront at Lascaris Wharf, and the Lascaris War Rooms entrance is nearby. A visit usually lasts about an hour. The gardens are busiest around the noon gun, when crowds gather along the rail, so those wanting a clear view should arrive 15 to 20 minutes early. Late afternoon provides golden light on the harbour for photography, and the gardens are calmest early in the morning. Benches and cafe seating inside allow a longer pause, and entry to the gardens is free. Cruise-ship days bring the heaviest crowds.