The Great Siege Monument stands on the western end of Republic Street, near the Courts of Justice, commemorating the defeat of the Ottoman fleet in 1565. The bronze sculpture by Antonio Sciortino depicts three allegorical figures and was unveiled in 1927. It is one of the most photographed monuments in Valletta and serves as a natural waypoint on the walk between City Gate and St George's Square.
The monument's position at the head of Republic Street means it is passed by virtually every visitor to the city. The Courts of Justice building behind it is a solid neoclassical structure from the 1860s and is the working courthouse for Malta, which gives this end of the city a somewhat institutional character compared to the Baroque palaces further east.