Spinola Palace Garden was reopened on Saturday night.

The project cost Lm300,000 and the concept behind the garden is "baroque in plan, with a contemporary twist in its realisation", according to architect Victoria Valletta from Ray Demicoli and Associates said.

The garden, which has Spinola Palace as the backdrop, will be used as a shortcut to cross from St George's Street to Church Street and Portomaso.

The architects said an effort was made to ensure little interference with the palace's façade.

The central structure provides a shaded area in the hub and is surrounded by vines. The rest of the garden is composed of piazzas with seating areas and a water element with random jets. Rural Affairs and the Environment Minister George Pullicino said the area had been in a state of neglect and the Tumas Group had invested in the garden as a gesture towards the St Julian's community and linked to the permit to develop Portomaso.

Tumas Group, Mr Pullicino said, was committed to open its internal road for access to public traffic and which should be completed by the end of the month.