Triton Fountain, Valletta (must see)

One of the most recognizable monuments in Valletta, the Triton Fountain, lies just outside the city gates. It was conceived by sculptor Chevalier Vincent Apap and draftsman Victor Anastasi.

The fountain consists of three enormous bronze statues of Triton, the Greek god of the sea, holding up a large basin. They are standing in a round base that is lined with travertine slabs. The fountain was built in the 1950s and dedicated in 1959.

The use of Triton is especially important for Malta as it signifies the island's close links with the sea. Two of the Tritons are sitting, while the other is kneeling. When viewed from City Gate, the faces of all three figures are visible. The design was inspired by the Fontana delle Tartarughe in Rome.

The fountain looks a bit different than it did when it opened. During a national celebration in 1978, the top of the fountain was used as a stage. The extra weight caused it to collapse, damaging the statues in the process. It was rebuilt in the 1980s, this time with the center column that you see today. The fountain was dismantled and restored again in 2017.