The Three Cities
Across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, three fortified cities sit on the peninsulas that have sheltered Malta’s harbours for centuries. Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua — known collectively as the Three Cities, or Cottonera — are where Malta’s maritime history runs deepest. The Knights of St. John built their first base here before moving to Valletta, and the stone streets still carry that weight.
Unlike Valletta or Sliema, the Three Cities have stayed largely residential. There are no souvenir shops on every corner. Instead, you’ll find neighbours talking on doorsteps, parish feast decorations strung between balconies, and family-run wine bars that close when they feel like it. It’s the Malta that most visitors drive past on the way to the beach — and the Malta worth slowing down for.
Bormla (Cospicua)
Bormla is the largest of the Three Cities and the one most Maltese people simply call home. It sits between Vittoriosa and Senglea, wrapped by the Cottonera Lines — massive 17th-century fortifications built to protect the harbour. The town took heavy damage in the Second World War and was largely rebuilt, but pockets of the old city survive: limestone townhouses with traditional wooden balconies, baroque churches, and narrow streets that wind without logic.
Magdalena stands on one of these streets — Triq Il-Gendus, a quiet lane in the heart of Bormla. The house has been restored with its original stonework, timber beams, and encaustic floor tiles intact. It’s a five-minute walk to the waterfront and ten minutes by ferry to Valletta.
What to See
Fort St. Angelo
At the tip of Vittoriosa, Fort St. Angelo has guarded the Grand Harbour since medieval times. The Knights used it as their headquarters, and the British Royal Navy based their Mediterranean fleet here. Now restored and open to visitors, it offers some of the best views in Malta — straight across the water to Valletta’s bastions.
The Inquisitor’s Palace
One of the few surviving Inquisitor’s Palaces in Europe, this Vittoriosa landmark tells the story of the Roman Inquisition in Malta. The building itself — with its courtyard, chapel, and prison cells — is as interesting as the exhibition inside. A ten-minute walk from Magdalena.
Malta at War Museum
Housed in a former bakery and air-raid shelter in Vittoriosa, this small museum covers Malta’s role in the Second World War — the siege, the bombing, and daily life underground. The shelter itself, cut deep into the rock, gives you a sense of what families in Bormla lived through.
Gardjola Gardens (Senglea)
A small garden at the tip of Senglea with a panoramic view across the Grand Harbour. The iconic vedette (watchtower) with its carved eye and ear is one of Malta’s most photographed spots. Come at sunset — bring a bottle of wine.
Cottonera Waterfront
The marina stretching along Vittoriosa’s waterfront has been redeveloped with restaurants and cafes, but it’s kept its working-harbour feel — superyachts moor next to traditional Maltese fishing boats. The walk from Bormla along the waterfront to Vittoriosa takes about fifteen minutes and is one of the best evening strolls on the island.
Eating & Drinking
The Three Cities have a growing food scene without the Valletta prices. Along the Vittoriosa waterfront you’ll find restaurants serving fresh fish and Maltese platters with harbour views. In Bormla itself, there are local bakeries for pastizzi (flaky pastry filled with ricotta or peas — under a euro), and a handful of wine bars that stay open late on weekends.
For groceries, there’s a supermarket within walking distance of Magdalena, and a Sunday morning market in Birgu Square with seasonal fruit, vegetables, and local honey. Valletta’s covered market — Mercato — is a quick ferry ride away for something more upscale.
Getting Around
Valletta Ferry: The harbour ferry runs every 30 minutes from the Three Cities waterfront to Valletta — the crossing takes about 10 minutes and costs a few euros. It’s the best way to get to Valletta, faster and cheaper than driving or taking the bus.
Bus: Several bus routes connect Bormla to the rest of Malta. The main stop is a short walk from Magdalena. Routes run to Valletta (10 min), Marsaxlokk (20 min), and the airport (25 min). A Tallinja card gives you cheaper fares.
On foot: The Three Cities are compact enough to explore entirely on foot. Bormla to Vittoriosa is 15 minutes along the waterfront. Senglea is another 10 minutes beyond that. Wear comfortable shoes — the streets are old and uneven, and there are steps everywhere.
Car: You don’t need one for the Three Cities or Valletta, but if you want to reach beaches, Gozo, or the north of the island, renting a car for a day or two makes sense. Parking in Bormla is generally easier than in Valletta or Sliema.
Gozo — A Day Trip or More
Malta’s smaller sister island is an easy day trip from the Three Cities. The Gozo Fast Ferry runs from Valletta’s Grand Harbour — a ten-minute ferry ride from Bormla — directly to Mġarr Harbour on Gozo in about 45 minutes. You can also take the traditional Gozo Channel car ferry from Ċirkewwa (about an hour’s drive north), which crosses in 25 minutes.
Gozo feels like Malta turned back a few decades — quieter, greener, more rural. The Citadella in Victoria is the island’s crown: a fortified hilltop town with views across the entire island and back to Malta on a clear day. Below it, Victoria’s narrow market streets are lined with bakeries and family restaurants.
Don’t miss the salt pans at Marsalforn, the red sand beach at Ramla Bay, or the inland sea at Dwejra. Gozo is also popular for diving and snorkelling — the Blue Hole at Dwejra is one of the Mediterranean’s best dive sites. For a longer stay, consider spending two or three days — Gozo rewards a slower pace.
Stay at Magdalena in Bormla
A restored Maltese townhouse and self catering holiday home in the heart of Bormla. Original limestone walls, timber beams, encaustic tiles — the character of a 19th-century house with the comfort of a modern holiday home. Book directly with us for the best rate — no platform fees, confirmed within 24 hours.