The Old Valletta Food Market

Abstract

This essay traces the development of the old food market in Valletta, an integral aspect of the social history of the city. Important historical descriptions of the market are derived from the journals and letters of European travellers to Malta. A steady stream of fresh produce was brought into the city every morning to be sold in the market square, sited directly behind the Palace. The building was modified over the years, and rebuilt as a covered market in the nineteenth century. The essay includes a feature by Christian Mifsud also presenting 3D computer simulations of the old market building.