Lower Barrakka Garden

The Lower Barrakka Gardens offer a stunning view of the Santa Maria Bell, the Grand Harbour and the Breakwater. Like the Upper Barrakka Gardens, there is an open arcade, which is now a terrace. The garden houses numerous commemorative plaques recording the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the Prague Spring, Giuseppe Garibaldi and the 50th anniversary of the European Union.In the centre of the garden is a monument in the form of an ancient Greek Doric temple, dedicated to the memory of Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Ball, Bt (1757-1809). He led the two-year blockade of Malta between 1798 and 1800, following which the French garrison was starved into submission. The force employed was small, made up of 500 English and Portuguese marines and 1,500 Maltese who hated the French and revered Ball. From 1801 until his death, he served as Governor of Malta. He was instrumental in persuading the Maltese to allow Britain to use Malta as a naval base and trading port. Some English settlers thought he was too lenient with the Maltese, but he credited the latter with the British victory of 1800. In turn, the Maltese adored him.