One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (77)

The Victorian bridge at Victoria Gate and walkway were constructed by Westwood Baillie & Co. of London. The bridge is composed of two large horizontal rolled steel joists that span Triq il-Lvant while the floor boards were originally wooden planks reutilised from a deck of a sailing ship, but have since been replaced.

The hardstone steps were built during the second half of the 19th century for pedestrian access to Triq San Ġwann. The uppermost flight has stanchions with horizontal bars running though at intervals as handrails and which are still original. Near the top of the steps is a relief sculpture in globigerina limestone depicting St John the Baptist baptising the kneeling Christ which may be the only surviving part of the original Del Monte gateway (replaced I the late 19th century by Victoria Gate).

A hard stone embankment was built in the 19th century for pedestrian access along Triq il-Lvant. This served as an elevated footway for the stores and magazines flanking the slope of the street.

The bridge, steps, embankment and walkway are an excellent example of British industrial engineering and comprise part of the Victoria Gate and Triq il-Lvant access systems.

Mepa scheduled the bridge, steps, embankment, walkway and the relief of the Baptism of Christ in Triq il-Lvant as a Grade 1 national monument as per Government Notice number 276/08 in the Government Gazette dated March 28, 2008. The relief sculpture and façades of Victoria Steps were recently restored by the Restoration Unit.