Set the scene.
Its foundation stone was laid directly in Grand Harbour’s water in 1774. Architect Giuseppe Bonnici designed the building, inaugurated in July 1776.
Here’s the twist.
The lower walls used harder coralline limestone to resist sea spray. Softer globigerina limestone served the upper part.
Why it still matters.
Some walls reach twelve feet thick. A harbour office needed more than an impressive façade: its materials had to cope with water and salt.
🧠 One to think about +
What does this story change about the way you see Malta today? Pick one detail you’d tell a friend — then check its source below.
