Valletta, Malta Joe Dimech Barrakka Lift
Leave your feedback
LEAVE YOUR FEEDBACK

Video ID: 402

Submitting Feedback

Going down? The story of Malta’s original Barrakka Lift

Description

Valletta’s first Barrakka Lift operated between 1905 and 1973, linking the Grand Harbour to the heart of Valletta.

The original lift structure was 60 metres tall and had two cabins each capable of carrying 12 passengers.

Built at a cost of £5,000, it connected Lascaris Wharf with Upper Barrakka Gardens offering passengers a shorter and quicker rout

It was originally operated McCartney, McElroy & Co, the engineering company responsible for laying tramlines in Malta as well as dozens of cities across the British Empire. 

Malta’s state-of-the-art tram network linked the Three Cities and Rabat to Valletta, via Floriana, Hamrun, Birkirkara, Attard and Zebbug.

The original Barrakka Lift closed in 1973 and after being abandoned for almost a decade, the structure was eventually dismantled in 1983.

A modern-day replacement was opened in 2012.

Today, there are two lifts, which are 58 metres high, and can carry 21 people at a time.

The journey takes less than 30 seconds, making it the quickest way into the city from the Valletta Waterfront.

More places from Valletta

Malta pays tribute to Sir Winston Churchill
Valletta, Malta churchill in malta churchill death
This archive footage shows how Malta mourned the death of Sir Winston Churchill....
A new lease of life for a Valletta landmark
Valletta, Malta Anton Buttigieg mcc opening 1979
This archive footage shows some of the extensive restoration work carried out in...
Honouring Maltese social reformer Manwel Dimech
Valletta, Malta
This film from the archives shows the installation of a statue of Maltese social...
Valletta marks a very special anniversary
Valletta, Malta Archbishop Michael Gonzi valletta anniversary
This colour footage from the archives shows special events in Valletta in 1966 t...
The proud history of Fort St Elmo in Valletta
Valletta, Malta
Guarding Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour is Fort St Elmo, named after the patr...
Valletta prepares for Carnival in the 1950s
Valletta, Malta carnival in malta
Carnival in Malta falls right before Lent, usually at the end of February. The f...
Building one of Malta’s most iconic landmarks
Valletta, Malta
With its huge dome, the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of the most ...
Malta marks the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
Valletta, Malta Easter in Malta
The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, or ‘Jum id-Duluri’ has a special p...
State Opening of Malta’s Parliament in 1950s
Valletta, Malta George Borg Olivier opening of malta parliament
This amazing film from our archives shows the pomp and ceremony surrounding the ...
Malta celebrates the Coronation of King George V
Valletta, Malta King George V Coronation
This amazing archive footage shows a military parade in Valletta to mark the Cor...
What powers does the President of Malta have?
Valletta, Malta Agatha Barbara
The President of Malta is the island’s head of state. Presidents serve a f...
‘It was terrible’: How Malta survived the war
Valletta, Malta archive footage malta war
This extraordinary archive footage shows how people in Malta struggled during th...

Places Nearby

Military divers at Tigne Point in 1974
Malta
This film shows divers from the Malta Pioneer Corps at Tigne Barracks in 1974. T...
Ceremony marks end of British military base in Malta
Birgu Dom Mintoff Freedom Day
  The last minute of 31st March 1979 marked the end of an era as Malta ceas...
Exploring one of Malta’s oldest pre-historic temple sites
Zebbiegh Malta temples
The Skorba temples are megalithic remains on the northern edge of Zebbiegh and p...
Digging deep to uncover Malta’s ancient history
Dingli
This archive footage from 1966 shows archeologists exploring one of Malta’...
A look inside one of Malta’s Royal Naval Hospitals
Mtarfa
The Royal Navy Hospital Mtarfa, also known as David Bruce Royal Naval Hospital i...
Remembering the Charlie Chaplin of Malta
Gwardamanġa George Farrugia
This is an excerpt from a comedy series featuring George Farrugia, known as Char...
Malta’s maritime city: Meet the people of Vittoriosa (Birgu)
Birgu
This is a short extract from a documentary which was first broadcast in 1978. It...
Remembering Maltese Prime Minister Dom Mintoff
Cospicua Dom Mintoff Prime Minister of Malta
Dom Mintoff dominated the political scene in Malta for almost four decades. Born...
Malta miracle! How Cospicua Church defied the odds during the war
Cospicua National Pilgrimage of the Immaculate Conception
Cospicua is well known for its annual Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which ...
How Floriana has never played second fiddle to Valletta
Floriana Sir Maurice Dorman Floriana football club
Floriana has a rich history. The town, a stone’s throw away from Valletta,...
Malta’s Silent City of Mdina over the years
Mdina
The charming walled city of Mdina, perched high on a hilltop, at the highest poi...
‘Move back please’: Remembering Malta’s vintage buses
Floriana Malta bus
Loved and hated in equal measure, Malta’s vintage buses were a tourist att...