Sliema to The Three Cities - Malta 29 Nov 2019

Sliema to The Three Cities and return
Malta
Distance 16.5km Climb 330m
Friday 29 November 2019

I had been looking forward to this walk. Unfortunately Anne fractured her ankle a couple of months ago and so we have taken it easy over the last few days building up to this. Earlier in the week we had walked around the coast to the Sliema Ferry. You can follow this link to see a walk around the Sliema coast from a previous visit to Malta.

Today we were going across the peninsula. There will be other ways across, probably shorter and quicker but we had a reason to go this way. We left Tower Road and turned left up St Francis Street.

At the top a turn left onto Blanche Huber Street. Then at the end of Blanche Huber Street turn right onto Sir Adrian Dingli Street. When the road splits we took the left hand fork, along High Street.

We followed Sir Adrian Dingli Street as it bends round up until we reached the Stella Maris Parish Church.

Just passed the Church we turned right down Cathedral Street. Passing St Joseph's School and Convent. At the bottom of Cathedral Street is the Plaza Shopping Centre. Where Anne had to have a quick look.

Leaving the Plaza Shopping Centre on the Triq it-Torri we turned left down towards the Sliema Ferry and Zara Home for another quick visit.

After a little spend in Zara Home we didn't have long to wait for the Ferry to take us across Sliema Creek and Marsamxett Harbour.

Arriving in Valletta we took the road uphill that turns to the right under the bridge, the Triq San Mark.

The Triq San Mark turns to the left near the top and levels off. Crossing Marsamxett Street, a busy street, we continued along the Triq San Mark where at the top we turned right then left onto Melita Street and continued a gentle climb between the shops, fortunately we didn't stop at any of these shops.

Further along Melita Street we turned right onto Merchant Street, with its pretty Christmas Tree.

In the Pjazza Kastilja we took a few photos as we crossed left towards the Upper Barrakka Gardens. You can follow this link to a walk around the Battlements of Valletta we did on a previous visit to Malta.

Looking across The Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Many stunning views across The Grand Harbour, unfortunately I cannot show them all here.

Turning right we headed for the Barrakka Lift and stairs down to Xatt Lascaris. Anne took the lift and I took the stairs.

When we met up again at the bottom we passed under the arch and crossed the road Xatt Lascaris. Walking behind the Customs House we took the gondola across The Grand Harbour to The Three Cities.

The journey across was brilliant, the gondolier was excellent and very proud of where he lives and comes from which was Birgu.

The Three Cities, there is just something about the area that is interesting, fascinating and I wish we had more time to explore further.

Leaving the gondola we had arrived at Birgu near the Freedom Monument. We started just wandering and headed up towards Saint Lawrence. You can follow this link to a walk we had around The Three Cities on a previous visit to Malta.

Continuing upwards we reached Victory Square.

Across Victory Square we headed up Triq La Vallette until we found a small area where we could look across Kalkara Creek.

Turning right we followed the solid walls until we reached a gate.

Through the gate we passed, on our left, steep steps down into a park that would have been a deep defence ditch or moat? Continuing on we reached the Triq San Dwardu where we turned left then left again down towards Il Kalkara. Passing under another large arch  we were heading towards Kalkara Creek.

At the bottom we followed the road around the Creek.

Passed St Joseph Church and continued around the Creek along the Triq Marina.

When the road split we walked along Triq Xatt and the boatyards until we reached the end. We always wondered what this was and checking Google when I got home it shows it as the Esplora Interactive Science Centre.

Thinking about Anne's ankle, although we would have liked to go further we made the decision to turn around. After all we still had to check out Senglea and there was the walk back.

Walking back towards St Joseph Church we stopped for a coffee and a short rest at a nearby cafe.

After our coffee we walked back up the hill through the arch returning to the Triq San Dwardu.

Where we turned right.

Passed the big original gates to the City of Birgu and continued down hill to Galley Creek.

Crossing a modern looking footbridge we took the steep steps up to Triq San Pawl. Turning right we were now in Senglea.

Up the hill and through the big gateway. Following the road we passed the Basilica Church of Our Lady of Victories.

Continuing down the main street, we turned left and took a side street to the City's edge where we could see the dockyards across French Creek. At first we did not spot the giraffe, then it was how could you miss it.

Following the wall round to our left, at the top of Senglea I was going to check out a Geocache in the Gardjola Gardens but the Gardens were closed for maintenance.

We continued around the edge of the City, taking steps down to view The Grand Harbour.

Then more steps down to walk this covered archway. Budgies and canaries sang from cages in the warm air as we passed them by.

Back at the waters edge, Galley Creek, we stopped at a waterside café for further drinks and a sandwich. Enjoying the views across the Creek and the activities of the gondoliers as we had our rest. Across the road from the café there is a monument to Colonel Azopardo born in Senglea in 1772, a hero to the Argentine Navy.

After our refreshment we continued along Galley Creek passing many interesting buildings and boats along the quayside. Old cannons used to tie up the boats.

Until we reached the modern footbridge.

Over the bridge we turned left and headed back towards the City of Birgu. At the top of the bank we headed towards the original gate to the City. We had passed this earlier in our walk. The gate in part is now a War Museum. A group of children/young people were going into the museum as we passed.

Through the gates and bridges we arrived on the Triq Boffa, a sign shows this is the Gate of Provence and we turned left.

Walking down the street we passed the Inquisitors Palace, returning to Victory Square which we had crossed earlier in the day. We turned left down the hill and passed St Lawrence and the Freedom Monument back to where we left the gondola.

We now turned right and headed passed an old building that had been a bakery. Walking passed luxury boats on our left the Creek side and expensive bars on our right.

Just before the tall walls of Fort St Angelo there is a bridge over the moat, I turned down a little side path to find a Geocache.

Back at the road, Anne decided to head back towards the gondola and wait on a seat while I went on. I crossed the bridge over the moat and walked passed the main gate to Fort St Angelo.

Taking the narrow walkway at the foot of the high walls. I followed it around to find another Geocache.

After collecting the Geocache I returned across the outside edge of Fort St Angelo.

Back passed the main gate to Fort St Angelo, over the bridge that crossed the moat and headed along the quayside.

I met up with Anne and we caught the next gondola back across The Grand Harbour to Valletta.

When we reached the Valletta waterfront we walked back to the Barrakka Lift. Anne took the lift and I took the stairs.

Meeting at the top in the Upper Barrakka Gardens we then headed across the Pjazza Kastilja and down South Street.

Continuing down South Street we passed the war damaged Royal Opera House. Further down South Street we found a place to collect some well deserved refreshment.

It was turning dark when we left the drinking establishment.

Unfortunately none of my photos came out very good. Probably just as well as there is no space to show them.

We returned back down to the Sliema Ferry and back to our hotel by the same route we had walked out. We had covered 16.5km with a 330m climb and Anne's ankle had held out. I should add, the distance I have shown is what we walked and does not included distance sitting in the ferries. 

It had been a great walk very interesting, loads of history and information. Still more to check out on our next visit to Malta.

More to follow


Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
Follow link to my previous walk Victoria Lines (in reverse) 23 Nov 2019