Beauty in the Narrow Streets of Birgu, Malta

I can tell I'm not in the USA when I walk through the streets of Birgu. There's an amazing amount of gorgeous potted plants lining the narrow streets of this town from the Middle Ages. It's incredible that no one steals these plants.

Known as one of The Three Cities in Malta, Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa) is one of the earliest inhabited parts of the island, some parts dating from the ancient Phoenicians and earlier. Birgu, the first capital of Malta and the first home of the Knights of St. John--is located on the south side of the Grand Harbor in Malta.

So the first thing you see is that gorgeous Mediterranean as you arrive in Birgu (you can get there by bus or car). Then it gets better as you walk up from the docks to the city itself. First you'll walk through and around the fortifications; Birgu is a walled (fortified) city.

A walled city may not mean much until you've seen or been in one. The walls (also referred to as bastions) of Birgu are huge and surround the entire city. The walls were meant as protection or defense against the many invaders of Malta, including the Turks. The walls are made of that alluring golden Maltese limestone that almost all buildings in Malta (ancient, old and modern) are constructed from. You enter the city from one of three giant gates. See more information and photos of the fortifications here: The Fortifications of Birgu.

If you don't like getting lost along winding and narrow streets that lead to dead ends here and there, then don't visit Birgu. The city, which only has a couple thousand inhabitants, is a small network of meandering alleys that eventually lead down to the sea.

I love the fortifications and the ancient stone of the bastions and houses. But, truly, my favorite part is the potted plants.

Most of the plants overflow their dry and dusty, simple terra cotta containers. You'll see every variety of Mediterranean plants here-from small palm trees, snake plants, cacti, rubber trees and flowering shrubs. The beauty of these arrangements is their haphazardness. Some creep along the ground; others crawl up the stone walls and archways or slither down from a small arched window or balcony. You'll see the end of a winding alley glowing with sunshine while the other part of the street rests in the shade. But all the plants are healthy and vigorous.

Amazingly, you don't see anyone tending the plants. In the summer, they may dry out a bit. But come winter and the rainy season, the potted plants of Birgu wake up again-just as all of Malta does.

Source:

Birgu-A Walled Maritime City in Malta

Ilene Springer lives in Malta and is author of An-American-in-Malta.com.