In his letter of February 7, Mario Dingli inquires about the recently-installed milestone at the Three Trees traffic island in Sliema. The following information might be of interest.

Once a common feature in Maltese urban and rural areas, these milestones, carved from Maltese coralline limestone, served to indicate the distance between their position and Valletta. During World War II, many of them were defaced when enemy invasion was feared. In more recent years, most were removed or lost to development. One such specimen is said to have existed in Sliema although its precise location is unknown.

The Sliema local council, with the assistance of the Sliema Heritage Society and Heritage Malta, took the opportunity to acquire one, installing it in this prominent position known to many as the Three Trees.

The Three Trees is one of Sliema’s most renowned landmarks. It is said that, many years ago, two other ficus nitida trees accompanied the present one. The area gives its name to the very old and busy crossroads of Rudolphe, St Mary, High and Dingli Streets. Until Sliema was built this was the junction where Strada Reale (High Street) met with Strada Ridolfo (Rudolphe Street). With the spread of housing construction during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, St Mary and, later, Dingli Streets were set out from here.

Below ground lies a large vaulted reservoir that had been constructed as part of the original water supply system of Sliema.

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