Triton Fountain, Valletta (must see)

Just outside Valletta’s City Gate stands the Triton Fountain, a familiar sight for anyone arriving in Malta’s capital. Completed in the late 1950s and inaugurated in 1959, it was created by sculptor Chevalier Vincent Apap with draftsman Victor Anastasi. Today it serves not only as a monument but also as a kind of entry point, giving visitors their first impression of Valletta’s blend of Mediterranean heritage and modern life.

The fountain is composed of three bronze Tritons, figures from Greek mythology known for their ties to the sea. They raise a broad circular basin above their heads, supported by a round platform finished in travertine. Each figure carries the weight differently: two Tritons balance on one knee, while the third kneels fully. Viewed from City Gate, their faces all come into view, giving the composition a sense of unity and rhythm. The arrangement was influenced by Rome’s Fontana delle Tartarughe, a fountain admired for the interaction among its sculptures.

Here, the Tritons are portrayed with strong, expressive bodies, their muscles defined as if caught mid-motion. Their poses create a sense of cooperation, as though they are working together to lift the basin above them. The travertine platform beneath them adds texture and warmth, especially under Malta’s bright sunlight, which brings out the greenish tones of the bronze. The water that spills from the basin softens the monumental forms, adding movement and sound to the open square.