Description: Definitive issue showing a view of the Wignacourt Aqueduct Horse Trough in Floriana, a historic Baroque structure built in 1610 to supply water to Valletta. The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II appears at upper left within a crowned oval. Denomination ½d at upper right; “MALTA” and the Maltese Cross emblem below. Printed in shades of orange.
Circa: 1956
Condition: Used
Notes:
Designed to highlight Malta’s historic landmarks during the early reign of Elizabeth II.
The Wignacourt Aqueduct (Maltese: L-Akwedott ta' Wignacourt) is a 17th-century aqueduct in Malta, which was built by the Order of Saint John to carry water from springs in Dingli and Rabat to the newly built capital city Valletta. The aqueduct carried water through underground pipes and over arched viaducts across depressions in the ground.
The historic horse trough associated with the aqueduct is located at the Wignacourt Water Tower in Floriana, Malta. It was built in 1615 as an inspection checkpoint for the 16-km aqueduct that brought fresh spring water from Rabat to the capital city of Valletta.