Argotti Botanic Gardens, Floriana

Welcome to Argotti Botanic Gardens & Resource Centre in Floriana. It is the Commonwealth’s third oldest botanical garden, after that of Oxford (1632) and Edinburgh (1670).

You might be wondering where these gardens got their name from. Well, there were many owners throughout the years, but in 1741 it was passed on to Argote de Guzman, hence the name of Argotti. After his death the garden was neglected for a while, but then brought back to life with planting more exotic and indigenous plants and trees.

The gardens with its collection of cactuses, succulent and other exotic plants were only recognised as a botanical garden in the late 1890.

Argotti Gardens were originally a private possession, but are accessible to public now.

The inner section of the Argotti Botanic Gardens is administered by the University of Malta. The gardens are periodically open to the general public for guided tours and surplus plant sales. If that’s of your interest, please send an email at argottigardens@um.edu.mt.

During the war, Argotti Gardens were heavily bombarded, turning it into a shambles. However, at least the famous herbarium was taken down to a rock shelter and saved for future generations.

Today Argotti Gardens have a dual personality. The publicly accessible area contains rare trees, plans and flowers. There are plentiful of benches to enjoy some needed relaxation and gorgeous views.

The botanical garden has several roles including maintaining indigenous and exotic collections of plans, cactus plans and succulents. The garden also educates as many University students undertake their research projects here.

Argotti Gardens are overlooking St Philip’s Garden (below), which were built by the Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris as a private garden.

You can also partially admire Robert Sammut Hall. A beautiful Methodist church built in Neo-Gothic style.

In 2013 a Anzac memorial was installed at the Argotti Gardens. The author is internationally recognized veteran sculptor Ganni Bonnici. The statue commemorates the heroic symbol of Anzacs – Australian and New Zealand Army Corps – that were wounded while fighting in Gallipoli in Turkey and were evacuated to Malta for treatment.

Bonici’s design includes a man and a woman with open arms and palms pointing to the top of the central pillar. As you can see these two figures are bending sideways from their torso. They express the struggle for survival and the glory achieved after the war finished.

This is our favourite place in the garden, Olly couldn’t get enough of this fountain. We enjoyed our visit very much. Next time you’re walking around Valletta and Floriana and feel the need to sit down somewhere quiet with nice views, come here. It’s not as popular as other nearby gardens and it’s rather quiet, or at least when we visited.

Below you can find the exact location of the garden. It’s very easily accessible and it’s stroller and wheelchair friendly.