The twin of the Upper Barrakka Gardens, this beautiful green space functions as an oasis in the city of Valletta. With a magnificent view of the Grand Harbour and the breakwater from the garden terrace, Lower Barrakka is the best place to visit if you’re looking to be refreshed spiritually. You can sit peacefully on a marble park bench in the shade, admiring the idyllic scenery of the Mediterranean Sea and its cruise ships, along with the other smaller vessels that busily ply the deep blue waters. The garden itself is landscaped in a romantic manner, occupying a prime position at the top of Valletta’s bastions. Palm trees and carefully pruned shrubberies are artfully arranged all around you, so there’s plenty to admire and take in. But the main draw of the garden is the Monument to Sir Alexander Ball, an ancient Greek temple designed in the Neoclassical style. Alexander Ball was the first Civil Commissioner of Malta and a much-loved figure among the public, hence it is fitting that his memorial is enshrined at the centre of the garden. The medieval looking architecture lends an otherworldly touch to the garden, and you will definitely feel as if you’ve escaped to another realm, if only for a short while.