Gardjola Gardens

Gardjola Gardens occupy the very tip of the Senglea peninsula, a compact terraced park set within the old Knights of St John fortifications overlooking the Grand Harbour. The squat stone watchtower — 'gardjola' in Maltese — was built by the Hospitallers as part of the harbour's coastal defence network and remains the garden's centrepiece. The views from here take in Valletta's entire baroque waterfront, the fortified bastions of Birgu across the water, and the steady procession of cruise ships and ferries through the harbour entrance. The garden itself is small enough to cross in a couple of minutes, making it less a destination for wandering and more one for sitting quietly with a remarkable vista. Getting here requires either a bus from Valletta followed by a steep climb up narrow steps, or a short taxi ride — which helps keep the crowds away.