One of Malta’s unique gardens, Argotti Gardens, which is shrouded with historical and cultural elegance, is to undergo extensive rehabilitation works after the Planning Commission within the Planning Authority approved planning permission.
The approved works will include the creation of an open piazza at the entrance of the gardens. This will replace the public convenience facility, which is a modern accretion and jars with the architectural quality of the gardens. A new public convenience facility will be constructed towards the north of the site, in an area less conspicuous than the current location. A boundary wall similar to the existing one will be constructed to close off the gap as a result of the demolition works.
The existing cement paving in and around the garden area will be replaced with hardstone and lava paving which will certainly improve the aesthetic quality of this historical open space. Additionally, in line with the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, the soil areas abutting the bastion walls along the south-western perimeter of the gardens will be removed, and replaced by paving. This is being done to discourage tree growth directly adjacent to the bastion walls.
Furthermore, two reservoirs will be excavated, one beneath the public convenience, and another one beneath the pump room to increase the water storage and sustainability of the gardens.
The Argotti gardens in Floriana were originally two private gardens, one belonging to Grand Master Pinto and the other to Bailiff de Argote. In 1730, once Pinto was elected Grand Master, Bailiff de Argote decided to purchase Pinto’s property to build his summer residence. The original summer residence today houses an exhibition hall, museum and visitor’s centre.
The gardens also incorporate within them a nymphaeum, which is a Grade 1 national monument. The nymphaeum is an ornamental grotto with its interior formerly completely lined with an intricate mosaic pattern formed by rustic rocks, red coral, calcite crystals, sea shells and coloured pebbles.