The deep moat and arched bridge of Valletta fortifications

An unusual perspective reveals the deep moat protecting Valletta's entrance, carved into limestone by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century. The vertical walls, tens of meters high, testify to the imposing military engineering that made the city virtually impregnable. An arched bridge crosses the moat, connecting the city to the mainland. Trees grown at the bottom of the moat add a note of green to this otherwise austere landscape. These fortifications were tested during the Great Siege of 1565, when the Knights resisted the Ottoman siege for months. Today the moat houses gardens and cultural spaces.

Malta, Valletta, moat, fortifications, walls, Knights of Malta, Great Siege, bridge