The Historic Destination with the Coloured Doors

The historic Valletta Waterfront combines food, shopping and entertainment within a maritime hub and commanding some of the Islands’ most impressive views, has proved to be a highly popular destination with locals, cruise passengers and land-based tourists alike over the last years.

The iconic buildings of the Valletta Waterfront, located in Valletta’s majestic Grand Harbour, were built in 1752 by Grandmaster Emanuel Pinto da Fonseca and designed by Andrea Belli. The 19 spacious warehouses, still known as ‘Pinto Stores’, were built to further boost harbour activities, and to be used as stores by the Knights of Malta and other merchants. A large bronze bust of the Grand Master was placed above the portal of the middle warehouse. When this bust was ceremoniously unveiled on the evening of 10 August 1752, the whole wharf was lighted with torches as part of a majestic water carnival, with activities including a full orchestra on a barge.

Adjacent to the Pinto Stores are the Forni Stores, which are even older, built in 1626 and 1720 respectively. Although the Forni Stores were originally constructed to provide storage facilities, they were converted by the British Navy in 1810 into a bakery - this was the first naval bakery that furnished the growing navy with ship biscuits.

Today the honey-hued bastions echo bygone days: raging sea and air battles, bustling activity with diverse sea vessels laden with goods and passengers, crisscrossing the Harbour waters, with Fort St. Angelo, Fort Ricasoli and the historic Three Cities (Bormla also known as Cospicua, Birgu or Vittoriosa and Isla, otherwise known as Senglea) on one side and the magnificent re-developed Pinto Vaults on the other.

Now ushering in a modern era, the iconic doors of the stores have been revived with an artistic impression of colour, representing the storage of goods from days past: blue for fish, green for agricultural produce, yellow for wheat and red for wine. A cruise port complemented by various food outlets, retail stores and services, home to various entertainment and cultural events.

The Pinto Stores, included on the Antiquities List of 1925, are a Grade 1 national monument and are listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands (NICPMI).

Whether you are looking for a dining experience, a relaxed drink or two overlooking the evocative views, shopping, a memorable event, or simply a stroll along the promenade enjoying the balmy weather, the Valletta Waterfront has something for all your senses.