Valletta Waterfront Malta Beautiful Scenery

Описание: VALLETTA WATERFRONT MALTA


The Valletta Waterfront is a promenade in Floriana, Malta and immediately brings to mind the celebrated comment of Marlon Brando in the famous film ‘On the Waterfront’:
-I cudda been a contender.
Whatever about Brando, The Valletta Waterfront is a strong contender for the title of most picturesque waterfront on Planet Earth and not just Europe.

The buildings, which were orignally warehouses, oil-vats and stores, were erected in the 18th Century and designed by Andrea Belli. The official opening in 1752 was celebrated with vivacious Mediterranean festivities and over the years became the centre of British naval bakeries. These days it is now the hub of Malta’s cruise liner traffic.

While the area suffered massive damage during the aerial bombardment of World War 2, with many of the warehouses obliterated, nonetheless the facades of the buildings have since been restored to their original design (with a car park to the rear) and now house at ground level a charming front of elegant bars, restaurants and retail outlets. It is a natural location for concerts and other cultural events, such as the Malta Jazz Festival and the Malta Fireworks Display.

The doors of the buildings are painted in various colours, each symbolising the different kinds of goods that once were stored in them: blue represents the storage of fish, green for agricultural products, yellow for wheat and red for wine.

At the heart of the splendid facade stands the Church of the Flight into Egypt, which was built in 1752. It too was bombed in WW2 but the damaged parts have since been faithfully restored. Mass is celebrated there every Saturday evening.

At the feet of the splendid terrace slaps the waters of the attractive Laguna Marina with its speedboats and other pleasure craft. Which look tiny beside the vast floating skycrapers known as cruise liners.
We started with Marlon Brando and so, will finish with the legendary actor. If his career took off with ‘On the Waterfront’ his career was brought to a successful conclusion with his pivotal role in ‘The Godfather’. Curiously enough, he was not the first choice of the director, Francis Ford Coppola.
That honour fell on the shoulders of a Maltese actor, Joseph Calleja who had worked with Coppola in Hollywood. Alas, while greatly honoured by the invitation, Calleja had to regrettfully decline, due to advanced years and ailing health. His bust may be seen in his native Rabat.
Thus, are Marlon Brando and Malta linked in an enchanting if only peripheral