One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (7)

The Lion and Unicorn fountains are located in Misraħ San Ġwann at either end of the façade of St. John's co-Cathedral.

They consist of a marble basin into which the head of a small cherub spouts water. The cherub's head is in a square frame surmounted by a lion at the Triq ir-Repubblika end and by a unicorn at the Triq Merkanti end. The background to these two animal figures consists of drapery with swags set within an arch.

These fountains are attributed to the Maltese sculptor Mariano Gerada and it is claimed that they were erected in 1820. The lion and the unicorn are the supporters of the British Royal Arms.

Mepa scheduled the Lion and Unicorn fountains as a Grade 1 monuments as per Government Notice number 276/08 in the Government Gazette dated March 28 this year.