The Story Behind Our Spa Wall
April 14, 2026
How a 16th-century fortification wall became the centrepiece of one of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive luxury spas.
As Malta’s first five-star hotel, The Phoenicia Malta has stood at the gates of Valletta since 1947. Yet the story held within its walls extends to centuries before.
Indeed, heritage and modernity have always met here. Conceived by a countess in the 1930s, the hotel has withstood war and welcomed royalty – and continues to bear witness to Malta’s history almost 80 years later.
When the time came to build a spa, we discovered that the hotel’s grounds had another story to tell.
A historic find beneath the surface
The plan for Phoenicia Spa & Wellness was carefully considered. Our in-house spa would be a wellness space befitting today’s discerning luxury traveller – a world-class spa to match a world-class hotel.
However, no one expected that the construction process would uncover something far older than the hotel itself. Excavation of the site revealed one of Valletta’s original 16th-century fortification walls, built by the Knights of St John. The wall had been buried for centuries, hidden beneath the grounds of a property set at the gates of Malta’s historic capital city.
The decision that shaped the spa
Most construction projects treat an unexpected archaeological find as a problem to be solved – an obstacle to work around or, worse, to remove. At The Phoenicia Malta, our response was the opposite. Here was the essence of Maltese heritage and culture – our home country’s history, quite literally embedded in our walls.
We consulted with architects and historians on how best to preserve and celebrate this architectural treasure. Through redesigning the spa to ensure the wall became its centrepiece rather than its footnote, we have created a luxury wellness setting unlike any other in the Mediterranean.
A luxury wellness space, centuries in the making
The fortification wall dates to the 1500s, when the Knights of St John – the famous order that shaped Malta’s identity – constructed Valletta in the years following the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. The city’s grid system included an elaborate defensive network, with walls designed to withstand sieges and protect the new capital. These walls have since defined the island’s skyline for generations.
Today, guests at Phoenicia Spa & Wellness can see and touch that same stonework while moving between the indoor pool, the sauna, the Himalayan salt room and the steam room. Here, they find a contrast unique to this luxury spa in the Mediterranean – contemporary wellness design in walnut, marble and Maltese limestone, set against rough-hewn fortification stone that predates the hotel by more than 400 years.
Some walls are built to keep people out – this one invites them in.
What the spa offers today
Phoenicia Spa & Wellness spans 1,200 square metres across two floors, where facilities include an indoor heated pool, a sauna, a Himalayan salt room, a steam room, multi-jet showers and a fully equipped fitness centre.
Our treatments are exquisitely curated, blending time-honoured wellness traditions with the finest innovations from around the world. Each experience is designed to deliver a harmonious balance of indulgence, restoration and visible results.
Guests are invited to discover a collection of globally inspired therapies. The Himalayan salt stone massage harnesses the soothing warmth of mineral-rich crystals to ease tension and rebalance the body. Our classic hot stone massage offers deep relaxation through the comforting heat of smooth volcanic stones, while the bamboo massage – rooted in Eastern healing practices – uses warmed bamboo tools to release muscular stress and enhance circulation. Reflexology, grounded in ancient techniques, stimulates key pressure points to support overall wellbeing, while our Phoenicia signature massage provides intensive, targeted relief for chronic tension and fatigue. It combines three different techniques – deep tissue, hot stones and bamboo – all enhanced by our own signature oil to deliver a deeply restorative and bespoke experience.
For those seeking a more advanced, results-driven approach to skincare, we offer innovative tHermoCEUTICAL formulations from South Korea, renowned for their scientific excellence and transformative results. These are complemented by our first-class treatments, including the JetPeel™ – a sophisticated, non-invasive technology that deeply cleanses, exfoliates, and infuses the skin with essential nutrients – and the Feather Touch treatment, a refined technique designed to enhance skin texture with exceptional precision and delicacy.
For a truly bespoke experience, VISIA® skin analysis utilises advanced imaging technology to provide an in-depth assessment of the skin, enabling our specialists to create personalised treatment plans tailored to individual needs.
Beyond the spa’s walls, the hotel’s more than seven acres of private landscaped gardens extend the wellness experience outdoors. The Relaxation Garden and Gazebo offer open-air treatments surrounded by olive, cypress and citrus trees, while seasonal outdoor yoga and Pilates classes take place against a backdrop of Mediterranean light and birdsong.
Named Best Spa Hotel at the International Hotel Awards 2024–2025, Phoenicia Spa & Wellness is also recognised as one of the finest spa facilities in the region.
Ready for your unique luxury wellness experience?
From the 16th-century fortification wall to the Himalayan salt room, Phoenicia Spa & Wellness offers a luxury wellness experience unlike any other in the Mediterranean – set within a Forbes four-star rated hotel at the gates of Valletta.
Our dedicated team will gladly help you plan your spa experience or put together a wellness package tailored to your stay at The Phoenicia Malta.
Book a spa treatment or explore our wellness packages at Phoenicia Spa & Wellness.
Violeta Čolić
Spa Manager
Violeta Čolić is a CIDESCO-qualified therapist with over a decade of experience in five-star hotels in Malta. She spent her early career as a therapist before transitioning into spa management and she has been Spa Manager at The Phoenicia Malta for the past five years. In that role, Violeta has overseen the continued evolution of Phoenicia Spa & Wellness, leading its rebranding and building the team behind it. She has been recognised as Therapist of the Year and runner-up for Head of Department of the Year, but counts the spa's growth in reputation – and the team she has developed – as her greatest professional achievement.
Connect with Violeta:
[email protected] or call +35699027121
FAQ: Your Phoenicia Spa & Wellness Questions Answered
What is the fortification wall inside Phoenicia Spa & Wellness?
The wall is an original 16th-century fortification built by the Knights of St John as part of Valletta’s defensive network. It was uncovered during excavation work for the spa and has been preserved as the centrepiece of Phoenicia Spa & Wellness. Guests can see the wall while using the spa’s pool, sauna, salt room and steam room facilities.
What spa facilities and treatments are available at The Phoenicia Malta?
Phoenicia Spa & Wellness spans 1,200 square metres across two floors, featuring an indoor heated pool, sauna, steam room, Himalayan salt room, multi-jet showers, fitness centre and elegant changing rooms, all designed for a serene and restorative experience.
Our treatments draw on global wellness traditions and modern innovation, including Himalayan salt stone massage, hot lava stone massage, bamboo massage, reflexology, harmonising relaxing massage and muscle recovery massage. Guests can also enjoy our signature massage, combining deep tissue, hot stone and bamboo techniques with our signature oil.
For advanced skincare, we offer KORRES natural products alongside bespoke facial treatments, innovative tHermoCEUTICAL products from South Korea, and first-class treatments as JetPeel™ and Feather Touch. VISIA® skin analysis is also available for a personalised approach.
Outdoor treatments are also available in the hotel’s Relaxation Garden and Gazebo, set within more than seven acres of private landscaped gardens.
Has The Phoenicia Malta’s spa won any awards?
Yes. Phoenicia Spa & Wellness was named Best Spa Hotel at the International Hotel Awards 2024–2025. The Phoenicia Malta itself holds a Forbes four-star rating and a MICHELIN Key, and is Malta’s only member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
