
Thursday, 8th January 2009
One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (69)
Victoria Gate and marble billboards
The current late 19th century Victoria Gate replaced the late 16th century Del Monte Gate which consisted of a single archway. The Victoria Gate has a double entrance for vehicles and two smaller side entrances for pedestrians.
The two main arched gateways are heavily rusticated and are decorated with the Malta and Valletta coat of arms. Niches (now empty) are located over the pedestrian entrances.
An entablature, frieze and cornice adorn the front of the gate. The gate is crowned by the armorial shield of Great Britain flanked by a lion and unicorn. A large plaque fixed to the parapet wall bears the name of the gate. This gate became an important symbol of the British power and influence in Malta due to being one of the most frequented routes leading into Valletta as it catered for merchandise as well as travellers reaching it by sea.
Two large grey marble billboards are located in Triq il-Lvant on each side of Victoria Gate which measure approximately two metres in width and one metre in height.
At the top of each slab are the engraved words "bills" on the left and "avvizi" on the right, in-filled with black paint. These noticeboards served for the fixing of governmental notices and others issued by the British Forces to bring the contents of the notices to the attention of the passing public.
Mepa scheduled Victoria Gate complex as a Grade 1 national monument as per Government Notice number 276/08 in the Government Gazette dated March 28.







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