Valletta's Harbours

 
Jews' Sally Port -- Marsamxetto Harbour

  This humble gateway leads us from within Valletta's northern fortifications, known as the English Curtain, down to the rocks at the tip of the city, facing the open sea.

  A similarly named, constructed and located gate exists in the Order's older city, Citta' Vittoriosa (locally known as Birgu).   A quantity of Jews and Greeks are known to have accompanied the Knights of Saint John whenever the Order changed base, hence this mobile mini-population moved with them to Malta after Rhodes.
 
 

  Ships berthed at Malta's Grand Harbour
specifically at Barriera Wharf

  Cargo Ships are seen at anchor off Barriera/Fisheries Wharf, directly below Saint Barbara Bastions (to left, lined with trees) and only a stone's throw from Victoria Gate, at the time the only entrance to the city from the Grand Harbour area.   This was a common sight in the 1920s when the Grand Harbour was crammed with mercantile and naval vessels.

  Faded in the background is the Fort Ricasoli side of the Breakwater (middle to right), while the Baroque dome of the exquisite Liesse Chapel can be seen in the foreground (also to right).
 
 

  Royal Navy Battle Ships were often berthed at Marsamxett Harbour, off the Sliema Ferries, close to the Manoel Island submarine depot.
 
 

  Grand Harbour as seen from a Royal Airforce plane (above), with its various creeks.
 
  Outermost, at the mouth of the harbour, is Fort Ricasoli, separated from the picturesque village of Kalkara -- the site of Bighi Hospital, birthplace of many a British citizen -- by Rinella Creek.   Fort Rinella (home of the famous 100-ton Gun) is not seen in this photograph.   The second is Kalkara Creek, seen here sheltering warships, under the shadow of the indomitable Fort St. Angelo closely guarding the Malta Dockyard across the third inlet which bears its name, Dockyard Creek.   Fort St. Michael (Senglea) lies on the next peninsula, with the Malta Drydocks situated farther inwards (at French Creek), beyond which lies Marsa at the harbour's deep end.
 
  More photos of Malta's harbours will follow on the next pages.

 

 

 

 



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