Valletta, Bus Terminus

When I came across this old picture of the Malta tram terminus (of about 1930s or 40s) I could not figure out where could it be.

Today it is totally revamped and not easy to make the connection with that picture. The belvedere on top of the bastions could give you a suggestion of the place but on the other hand there are several similar ones when looking at the skylines from Hastings Gardens, now Gnien Il-Gardjola. Besides, on the old picture there was Floriana written on top - and you wonder.

What gave the picture away, after some time, of course, were the block of buildings down in the ditch. They're still there exactly as in that picture. (photo M Atttard)

Today there are trees hiding the ditch area from the same viewpoint that picture was taken. So I wanted to present how this area is today with all the changes and new status of the place by taking two shots - one of area above and one of the ditch where until recently it was used as a car park. No trams exist anymore but buses took over the place.

Nowadays the Triton Fountain have pride of place in the centre around which the buses collect their passengers and drive by the devils and on to ......hopefully not hell! Along the years we remember well the colourful village buses who were later slowly replaced by better coaches - all in one colour.

(photo M Attard)
This week around 150 old buses were sold off for a LM100 each for scrapping.

Probably none will be preserved for a transport museum which is in the pipeline. It was intended also that some of the buses will be used on tourist routes.

Soon some odd 370 other buses are scheduled for scrapping too. Perhaps both the tourists routes and the transport museum will be satisfied from these lot.

For comparison with the old picture, check the barely visible belvedere right on top of the fountain in the above picture. You will understand better the bearings of the place.