Victoria Gate, by Emmanuele Galizia (1830-1906). 1884-85. Maltese limestone. Ta'Liesse, Valletta, Malta. This gate replaced the old "Porta del Monte" (named after one of the old Grand Masters), which had also been known as the "Porta Marina." It was planned during the governship of Sir Arthur Borton, who laid the foundation stone in 1884; it was opened to the public in the following year. The wider arched entrances "provided a thoroughfare for carriages, riders and heavy traffic, whilst pedestrians used the smaller doors on each side" (information plaque). The arched entrances are surmounted by the coats of arms of Malta and Valletta, "whilst Britain's provides a very decorative frontispiece" (Grech 90).
Left: Looking down from the ramparts. Right: Closer view of the royal crest.
This is not the main city gate, but it is the main gate from the Grand Harbour, and has recently been restored. (Cf. a later, grander symbol of colonialism on the waterfront at Mumbai: the huge "Gateway of India," 1911-1924.)
Photographs, captions, and commentary by Jacqueline Banerjee. [You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]
References
Grech, Jesmond. British Heritage in Malta. Sesto Florentino (Fi): Centro Stampa Editoriale (Plurigraf), 2003.
Information plaque by the gate.
Last modified 6 June 2016