Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (35)

Lion on column

This monument is located at the corner of Triq l-Arċisqof with Triq il-Lvant and is composed of a stone pilaster having chamfered corners, above which is a sitting lion with its right paw raised and resting on a coat-of-arms of Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena who was Grand Master between 1722 and 1736. The lion's head is slightly turned to the right and overlooks the Grand Harbour. This lion is similar to the one also bearing the Vilhena heraldry on the fountain at St Anne Street in Floriana.

The right side of the column abuts into the acute corner of the adjacent building and the whole forms part of the stepped streetscape. The artistic quality of the column and lion are exceptional and both are unique in Valletta.

Mepa scheduled the Lion on column feature as a Grade 1 national monument as per Government Notice No. 276/08 in the Government Gazette dated March 28.