Local Parks Spotlight: Ġnien Il-Mall, Floriana

Mall Gardens, also known as Maglio Garden, is a historic green space in the heart of Floriana.

The garden was originally commissioned in 1656 by Jean-Paul Lascaris as a private recreational area for the Knights of the Order of Saint John.

Its name comes from a popular game played by the Knights called palla maglio, which was similar to croquet or golf.

In 1805, under the direction of Alexander Ball, the area was transformed into a botanical garden and later opened to the public. It gradually became an important green entrance to nearby Valletta.

In recent years the garden underwent major renovation works led by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation.

Works included the restoration of the historic entrance arches, monuments and the central fountain. Around 7,500 square metres of new paving were installed together with a modern irrigation system and upgraded underground services.

Additional improvements included new lighting, CCTV security and public Wi Fi. The perimeter fence was also lowered to make the garden more open and welcoming from the street.

Today the garden is managed by Ambjent Malta, which focuses on landscaping and protecting the site’s plant life.

The space is also being developed as part of the Malta National Botanic Gardens network, with planting aimed at supporting bees, butterflies and other important pollinators.

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