City Gate reopens for pedestrians
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
What was once City Gate was reopened for pedestrians this morning, only days after the actual gate came crushing down in an operation that started on May 2.
The city's fourth gate was removed in preparation for works in line with Renzo Piano's design for the entrance to the City.
The works also include a new Parliament house and a theatre. Both are expected to open in the first quarter of 2013.
If all goes to plan, the Valletta entrance will not be closed again during the project, as workers will build the new gate and bridge while people use the area.
By the end of the year, the three bastion-like blocks that will form the new City Gate are expected to be in place. The bridge is being narrowed down to its original width.
The original gate, known as Porta San Giorgio, was built between 1566 and 1569. In 1632 it was replaced by another gate that consisted of a central archway with a smaller arch at each side.
In 1853 a third gate was built consisting of two central arches and two smaller ones.
The gate which was there up to last month, known by many as Putirjal, a corruption of the name Porta Reale was inaugurated in 1964.
Its doorway was widened to cope with a greater influx of people.
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Mr Steve Cassar
May 16th 2011, 20:48
If you the former "door" an entrance, you must like low standard tourist venues! I wonder where are the gates you mentioned? Perhaps Victoria Gate - the true door of Valletta????
Mr Paul Attard
May 16th 2011, 17:05
Something went wrong with my first comment; so I will have to repeat it. In my humble opinion this whole project is all a waste of taxpayers' money. For the first time since its birth the jewel city that is Valletta will cease to have a gate to guard its majestic entrance. Instread it will now have a slot; indeed it can easily be re named 'Xaqq il-Belt'! Sorry Mr Piano, but I don't have much faith in you after I had seen your Pompidou project in Paris! Now you even want to remove the Tritons fountain because you say its in the way; hope that Christ the King will not be the next victim!
Mr Zack Xuereb Conti
May 18th 2011, 01:23
Gate to guard the majestic entrance from what/who ????
Mr Chris Grillo
May 16th 2011, 14:45
Without treading on any toes, i must say that the wide open space is quite nice.... with the Piano designs, the entrance will be quite suffocated....
The view of the Triton fountain as you make your way out of Valletta is also commendable.
Why not shelf the plans for the parliament buiding and turn the square into an open area like that in front of the palace....
As for the open air theatre, I must say I like it. Many a time I have attended concerts and plays at Ta Qali open theatre (in summer)..... and the openness made it quite special....
As always, my humble opinion....
Mr Matthew Grima
May 16th 2011, 10:09
Until I see the finished product I cannot comment on how it looks, what I can comment on and be concerned about is the money being spent. The minister said we're on budget.. What's the budget?
Ms Maria Vassallo
May 15th 2011, 20:40
Thank you, Government.
We do appreciate it.
Buon lavoro for future works.
Mr L.J. Brincat
May 15th 2011, 17:27
Dear Readers,
When Renzo Piano first released the designs to the public i believe two years ago (not sure) I was shocked and really thought that our capital city was getting raped and it would greatly contrast with Malta's image.
However as time passed the designs started to sink in and i grew more and more at ease with this revolutionary change which will re-shape and re-injuvinate the Malta we all know and love.
When other changes started to occur like at the "Pjazza San-Gorg" (opposite the Present Parliament) i was affected with the same rejection, however rapidly i grew to love this change more and more and saw that it was greatly appreciated by most maltese public and foreigners alike.
Now, While i was kind of sad that our city gate was demolished i came to realize that it served it's time, and change is upon us and we must embrace this change which is what our country lacks!
I am not ashamed to say that i was blind and i finally opened my eyes and i am more than sure that once the project will be finished more and more people will experiance this feeling, and see the beauty of change which will give us pride in our Great capital once again.
I just can't for 2013 to come and see the re-birth of our capital, our home
Thanks for Reading
Mr Joe Borg
May 15th 2011, 16:54
In-nies irridu jirlejalizzaw li Valletta hija il-belt ta Malta mhux bhal l-Imdina u biex inzommuha hajja ma jistax ikun li noqodu norbtu qalbna ma l-antik. Sakem jinzam bilanc tajjeb il-kontemporanju kapaci jikkumplimenta sew mal-bini l-antik. Hudu ezempju ta st james cavalier kemm kien hawn garr, umbad kulhad qal kemm gie sabieh.
Jien nahseb li l-poplu malti ghadu lura artistikament.
Mr Lino Attard
May 15th 2011, 22:41
agree 100%
Mr Alexander Pace Gouder.
May 15th 2011, 16:20
Did you notice? From the video when you look through the gap THE TRITONS FOUNTAIN is perfectly in place and gives a refrushing sight when coming out of the city through the GAP. So why is it being removed? What is the real reason for its useless removal? GIVE IT A TRY. RELIGHT and get THE WATER SYSTEM IN PLACE NOW and we will surly have a positive result and a good feed back from those who see it going into and coming out of Valletta. Come on Austin lets try and then use the MONEY which is being spent for its removal on some other more need project for Valletta itself. Please, Please, Please.
Mr ray borg
May 15th 2011, 15:44
Ma nafx ghax qedin issejhulu teatru jien kif gej aktar insejahlu aquarium u hut ghall go fih hawn kemm trid ghax Gonzi u ta ma dwaru il hin kollu jbellawna is sunnara!!! minn jiblahha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark-anthony Fenech
May 15th 2011, 15:07
Jeez.... All you do is grumble and complain... Get a life...
Mr j mifsud
May 15th 2011, 15:56
i agree 100%..all people do is complain, judge, whine, grumble and complain a bit more..
Mr Lawrence Fenech
May 15th 2011, 14:00
City Gate has been opened to please Piano and his friend Gonzi only.
Mr Charles.C. Brown
May 15th 2011, 13:40
While all this is going on at the top end of valletta why not start consentrating on strait street and fort st elmo and on the rest of the water front as well.
Charles Massa
May 15th 2011, 13:25
U tinsewx tijatru bla saqaf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr C Cassar
May 15th 2011, 15:02
boring, stuck in the past and would leave Valleta a stagnant, unvisited museum.
Robert Lewis
May 15th 2011, 11:47
Although I don't agree with the proposed Renzo Piano City's Entrance, it definately already looks better without the ugly structure there was before. It was absolutely filthy and disgusting. The best alternative is to have another City Gate like the Old One, something similar to Portes Des Bombes.
Mr Matthew Galea
May 15th 2011, 14:36
FLAHHAR!!
xi hadd qal xi haga bis-sens.
Mr Alexander Genuis
May 15th 2011, 11:34
Now it's better!!!Roofless City Gtae,roofless theatre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr C Cassar
May 15th 2011, 15:00
You really don't understand do you? Valletta will finally have a fusion of old and contemporary. The whole point of not having a 'gate' is that is brings valletta into the 21st century while retaining it's old heart. As for the theatre, again it's mixing new with old. There are many, many open air theatres around the world and they bring a very unique atmosphere to any productions they hold.
The world moves on and so should Valletta otherwise it will become a stagnant, boring museum which will only be visited by those stuck in the past.
Mr Joseph Bartolo
May 15th 2011, 16:45
YES true and LETS have a roofless Parlament too ;)
Mr Paul Cassar
May 15th 2011, 11:28
ONLY IN MALTA
A WALLED, FORTIFIED CITY WITHOUT A GATE !!!!!
A THEATRE WITHOUT A ROOF !!!!!
A PARLIAMENT NOBODY WANTS!!!
MONEY COMING NOBODY KNOWS FROM WHERE!!!!
FOOLS' PARADISE??????????????
Mr Zack Xuereb Conti
May 15th 2011, 14:47
Last I checked, there was no enemy approaching to attack our capital city. Valletta no longer needs to be protected from the enemy. If the old gate was still standing, then yes, it would have been respected and preserved, same as the fortifications, however the old gate no longer exists therefore recreating history would make no sense! I believe the idea of not having a 'gate' has to be understood as an opportunity to adapt the city to today's requirements. The function of a gate is no longer valid. This mentality of preserving Valletta in a bubble will lead to the death of life in the capital.
Mr A. Mizzi
May 15th 2011, 18:53
You forgot to mention Monuments and Fountains on wheels .... at our expense!
Where are the funds coming from ? Wit the record deficits of the country there should not be enough to buy the hinges for a City Gate....
Mr marco caruana
May 15th 2011, 11:16
kollox bl ghaggla....basta ftahna 10 piedi fetha !
Keith Tanti
May 15th 2011, 10:35
it does not look that bad after all!! I like the sense of openness! Looking forward for the whole project to be completed
Mr John Micallef
May 15th 2011, 11:39
Indeed! I hate to admit, but it's almost starting to make sense with no 'gate'....maybe a change was needed, but perhaps not so drastic and expensive. A pity that the sense of openness will be taken away with the building of the (not-really-needed in my humble opinion) new parliament building.
Mr Alexander Genuis
May 15th 2011, 11:39
What openness?the theatre or the gate????
Mr Anthony Mizzi
May 15th 2011, 10:18
City gate without a gate like the theatre without the roof being wholly funded by income from traffic contraventions being given out like pastizzi with the continuous changing of routes which unwary drivers being continuously harressed by wardens and traffic policemen instead of being guided in this traffic havoc qith road signs being changed practically daily!
Why just not give traffic wardens and traffic police a cash register and transfer all to the IRD! They have become a source of income collection and not to keep order and guide and crime control!
Mr Anthony Borg
May 15th 2011, 11:33
I second your comment Mr. Mizzi.
The trouble is this generation is acting like the frog being boiled gradually to death without realising it.
Our politicians do not have souls...they are all there for the own benefit.
Quote from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politician
"Politicians can also be criticised for becoming "career politicians". A politician who makes politics the source of their income, yet has to face re-election every few years can be less likely to make bold decisions or side with an unpopular bill. Some feel that fear of "rocking the boat" leads to a stagnant political climate, in which it becomes hard to address injustices and create change. Various measures have been taken in attempt to mitigate this effect, such as the implementation of term limits and paying them less."
"Paying them less...." my foot, they have just rewarded themselves with a scandalous raise and all we do is talk about it!
Mr Victor Laiviera
May 15th 2011, 10:05
Please stop referring to "City Gate" - it's "City Gap" or "City Gash" now.
Mr Claudio Cilia
May 15th 2011, 12:20
I prefer to call it "The City Main Entrance" :)
Mr J. J. Borg
May 15th 2011, 14:18
Wow you're so funny!
Mr Steve Cassar
May 15th 2011, 22:57
I prefer to call it part of the regeneration of Valletta rather than "go back to the old" mentality of yours!
I'm sure that if your labour party would have done the same project , you would be singing a different song here!
Oh btw I wont vote for the PN as you might think! But at least SOMETHING is being done to regenerate that ugly area! No more parking area as an entrance!! No more litter! No more ugly entrance (if you can call it an entrance!!) Valletta deserves better! With your vision we would be moving backwards not forward if you can call it a vision!