The Three Cities
The Three Cities: the back story
The back story
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Jules Verne Times Two · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout The Three Cities: the back story
Before Valletta, the Knights lived in Birgu, and Fort St Angelo at its tip held out in the Great Siege of 1565. With Senglea and Cospicua it forms the Three Cities, the old dockyard towns of the Grand Harbour.
The Birgu waterfront runs from the marina to Fort St Angelo, with the Inquisitor’s Palace in the lanes above. Senglea’s garden on the point looks back at Valletta.
Cross by ferry or dgħajsa: the harbour is the way in.
Our advice: come in the late afternoon and stay for dinner by the water.
Why it's on our list
- Fort St Angelo
- The waterfront
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Three Cities: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from The Three Cities: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest ferry landing
- Valletta Waterfront (Sicily ferry)Harbour ferries1.4 km18 min walk
Key sights
- Fort St Angelo650 mWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Upper Barrakka Gardens1.3 kmWalk 16 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min
- St John’s Co-Cathedral1.5 kmWalk 18 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum2.6 kmWalk 32 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Spinola Bay4.0 kmCycle 16 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Malta International Airport5.3 kmCycle 21 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Marsaxlokk5.5 kmCycle 22 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Mdina11 kmCycle 44 minCar or taxi 27 min
- Golden Bay17 kmCar or taxi 39 min
- Ċirkewwa (Gozo ferry)21 kmCar or taxi 47 min