This new museum on the Floriana bastions opened its doors to the public last week.

This garden was in use from when the French surrendered in 1800 until 1857.

Due to its proximity to The Grand Harbour, this place of heritage was heavily bombed during World War Two. This damage, as well as erosion of the soft stone over 200 years, theft and vandalism, left the site derelict.

In 1988, Din l-Art Helwa, together with the government and the British High Commission, decided to restore and open these gardens to the public.

Actual restoration work began in 1993 and in 2001, Din l-Art Helwa was awarded the prestigious Silver Medal by Europa Nostra for its work on this project.

One of these cabinets displays a Maltese alphabet theme, and in it one can also admire an original well-preserved copy of Mikiel Anton Vassalli’s Ktyb Yl Klym Malti published in Rome in 1796.

Vassalli is considered the father of the Maltese language today, and this is the first comprehensive Maltese dictionary when the language was a spoken one rather than a written language.