The small town of Floriana is situated a stone’s throw away from the capital city, Valletta. The origins of Floriana date back to 1634 when Grand Master De Paule, sensing another attack by the Ottoman Turks, brought over an Italian engineer, Pietro Paolo Floriani (born in the city of Macerata, Italy), to examine the state of the Islands’ fortifications. Floriana offers an immense heritage and a rich history and we invite you to discover it through this dynamic web page. The buildings, churches, gardens and monuments provide an insight into Malta’s political and social past from the time of the Knights of St. John to this present day. The town is characterised by open spaces, gardens and some fine patricians' houses. Highlights include the elegant St Publius Church, overlooking Granaries Square and the Argotti Gardens on St Philip's Bastion. The vast flag-stoned Granaries Square hides a number of deep silos which were built in the late 17th century to ensure food supplies for Valletta in times of war.