The two delightful gardens, at the back of the Mall, are laid out
on two superimposed terraces on the ramparts of the bastion. ARGOTTI is the
upper garden. The lower one on St. Philip's Bastion, is ST. PHILIP'S. The
two gardens form the main Botanic gardens in Malta, and are administered by
the Department of Agriculture. The gardens were constructed to the order of
Bailiff Ignatius de Argote in 1774.
Rare plants and medicinal herbs are cultivated for botanical
studies and research. Argotti boasts also of a big collection of cactus and
succulent plants, bequeathed to the university by Dr. John Borg, a former
professor of Botany.
The public section, with numerous exotic trees and flower-beds, is
a popular venue for many visitors from the capital and other parts of the
island.
Near the entrance gate there is a curious grotto, decorated with
shells and corals which originally formed part of Bailiff Argote's villa on
the site.
A superb fountain, which formerly adorned Gnien-is-Sultan near the
Victoria Gate in Valletta, now stands in a large open space in the centre
of the garden. From the spacious terrace of Argotti one can admire a
splendid view of Marsamxett harbour, of distant towns and of the
countryside.
ST. PHILIP GARDEN, located on the lower ten ace, is an extension of
Argotti. It is a pleasant formal garden with wide paved passages and many
fruit trees and decorative plants. Rose bushes and other flowers bloom
beneath the bastion face.
In the centre is a tall ornate fountain which, until 1927, stood on
the north side of St. John's Cathedral where the Great Siege monument is
now located.
