Hi Helen, so happy to hear you liked our suggested Valletta walk, theres quite a lot to see in one day. Its a lovely spot to take a load off and escape the busier streets of Valletta. Pop in the entrance regardless as you can wander around one of the two palace courtyards for free. That said, there is a free pay-what-you-want walking tour available which will lead you through the Co-Cathedral and provide details about the history of this location. Try to imagine a messy car park next to the derelict Royal Theatre site instead of the New Parliament Building and the restored Royal Opera House. Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 08.45 - 16.00 HOLY MASS 08.45. Valletta is one of the first planned cities built in Europe. The day tour of Valletta includes, if you wish, the entrance to the co cathedral with a discount. Its a shame that the virus has closed doors to many attractions worth seeing, but luckily Valletta has several good lookout points. This stunning venue has been hosting performances since 19th January 1732. Since both cities are walled, they overgrown out of their main gates into what today is Bormla or Cospicua, the city inside the creek between the two peninsulas that eventually was walled too. And yes, everyone of them has two names. The original structure dates back to the times of the knights, but this modern one is a reconstruction of a posterior market built by the British, as the main food market in the city, where the majority of the population of Valletta used to do their daily shopping. It is also likely that, if you visit during summer, the square will be full of flags, to celebrate one or another festa, the Maltese holy days to honour the local Saints. The construction took almost 5 years and the tritons were cast in bronze in an italian foundry. It was made by the most international Maltese artist: Antonio Sciortino. And, amongst all this splendour, two names stand out: Mattia Preti and Caravaggio. Take a wander along St Christophers Street and take a left when you reach Old Mint Street. Even though underneath is full of prisons, today these have been converted into archives and peculiarly enough, in an interesting revest, today houses the Ministry for Health, Ministeru tas Sahha in maltese, very important word, since Sahha it means health, it is used to say bye and to make a toast. This free ghost tour starts at Triton Fountain and moves on to some of the lesser visited alleys in Valletta. The iconic dome can be seen from far across the country and is easy to pick out of the Valletta skyline. You can see one of the reasons just in the centre: a modern fountain without a basin where, if your visit is during summer, for sure a number of kids (and grown ups) are playing and refreshing. In addition to this tour being pay-what-you-wish, they also offer discounts on tickets to St. Johns Co-Cathedral. Its also a tribute to Queen Victoria ordering eight dozen pairs long and eight dozen pairs short mitts, besides a scarf made from Maltese lace. Actually, for a long time it was the biggest building in the city, and the only one with a clock. Although it looks a bit like a Roman ruin, the columns are the remnants of the once grand exterior. The grand entrance will lead you across the bridge and onto the 1 km long Republic Street. This fifth and the most modern edition restored during 2011-2014 is often referred to as the ancient Egyptian temple of Edfu. The Parliament, the new City Gate (yes, you are right, there is no gate. Its a relaxing spot so, be sure to sit on a bench next to the fountain for a couple of minutes. It consists of two massive stone blocks with laser-cut windows and solar panels covering the roof. We took about 5 hours, including a lunch break and stopping to enjoy the views. It is a good example of the baroque evolution of the city, as the original building was little more than a small chapel, being enlarged later on and being added the impressive portico in a posterior addition. This is a superbly quirky thing to do in Valletta if you have some spare time. The marble floor here houses tombs of around 400 Knights of the Order and so carries massive significance within Malta. Walk straight crossing Merchant Street. In the corner, as seen before, the church of St Catherine, the building next to it, the Auberge of Italy. If youve got the time then its a great place to get a handle on the complete history of the islands. We are surprised too) and the remains in front of you, belonging to the Royal Opera House, the neoclassical theatre built by the British which was bombarded during WWII, are all in its present state part of a plan by the italian architect Renzo Piano to remodel the entrance of the city. The Palace Armoury is open from Thursdays to Sundays between 10:00hrs and 16:30hrs. Most of the private palazzos are still today in private hands. Nowadays it is still an official building, being the office of the President of Malta. Its worth a look to experience the spooky network of tunnels running deep into the Valletta rock. It was the first church built in Valletta, commissioned by Valette himself to commemorate the victory over the Ottomans. At this point, you can either carry on following this Valletta city walking tour or stray away to the tranquil Three Cities. Valletta, Entrance fee: Adults 5 Euros; Seniors/students 3.50 Children 2.50. Just turn around so you can admire the Grandmaster's Palace. floriana Valletta is a city filled with legends and stories of the macabre, many of which focus on some of the most notable locations in Malta. But what you can see for sure is a big building with a neoclassical entrance in the centre, on top of which you can appreciate the coat of arms of the British Empire: that used to be the guard of the palace. Maltese spend the whole year preparing floats and dances for the parades that take place that week. Hordes of visitors gather at the upper and lower tiers to hear the loud bang and see the three cities disappear in a cloud of smoke. Recently, it has been restored and reinstalled for Valletta 2018, when the city was European capital of culture. Keep on going down Merchant street and in the next corner we have on our left the street of the jewellers (St. Lucias Street), where you can easily find a traditional maltese filigree silver cross. This is one of the most popular tour companies in Malta, and they currently offer an extensive 2 hour tour which provides an introduction to Valletta. This outing is available every Monday and Thursday at 10:30 am. So, for one reason or another, this is a place to pay a visit: you can enter to admire the old structure, which conserves painting of the time, or you can go inside to enjoy one of the best coffees in the city, better if complemented with a Maltese traditional sweet. ), but if you want to visit a traditional Maltese palazzo, the homonymous one in Naxxar is known as the little Versailles of Malta, and it is a memorable visit. Theres a heavy focus on World War II with the St Georges Cross which Malta received for its pivotal role in the allied victory, proudly on display. This free pay-what-you-wish walking tour provides details about both paranormal activity and true tales of murder, massacre, and plague. He had his studio in Rome, where he was also the Director of the British Academy and he moved back to Malta when he became curator of the Museum of Fine Arts of Malta. Back inside the Upper Barrakka Gardens, youll find some more military history if thats your thing. This type of tour is best for anyone who wants to learn about more than just one landmark or subject, as an introductory tour covers a variety of attractions and offers tips about the best museums, places to eat, and more. If there is one place in Valletta that you cannot miss is the co-cathedral. The public can visit the State Rooms and Armoury exhibition areas run by Heritage Malta. The building on your right as you enter Castille, is today a museum Spazju Kreattiv for modern temporal exhibitions and an alternative cinema, but as you can see it was built by the knights as the cavalier of Saint James, to defend the entrance to the city. This is a great opportunity to discover a side of Malta that you wont see in Valletta, so if you have some time, its hard to beat a price of pay-what-you-wish! Join our free FTBF travel community! Main Entrance in San Gwann Street is only for religious functions. Today its home to the office of the President of Malta. Let us know in the comments below. Considered to be his greatest work, the painting offers a rather gory depiction of human death. valletta In the next corner, Merchant street with St John Street (Triq il Merkanti with Triq San Gwann), we have on our right, another baroque administrative building of the Order of Malta, Castellania, used as a Court of Justice. It was originally used for the firing of the saluting guns but during WWII it was used for military purposes when needed. It is famous for the wooden statue of St. Paul, which is paraded on the streets of Valletta on February 10th each year during the celebration of St. Pauls Shipwreck. Castille Square is also one of those highlights you cannot miss when visiting the city at night, with its beautiful illumination. You are entering the oldest and, for a long time, the only garden allowed in the city. Nothing special on the exterior, all the magic is hidden inside. You are now standing in the main artery of the city: Republic Street. Palazzo Ferreria is where the foundry of the Order of St John was located (hence its name), but it was transformed in late 1800 into the second biggest Palace in the city, after the Grand Masters Palace. valletta ditch valletta Main historic features such as the main staircase have been rebuilt in contemporary material . The original statue, due to structural errors, collapsed in 1978. What palace?

The collection is laid out in sections inspired by stories grouped into four main themes being The Mediterranean, Europe, Empire and The Artist. Actually another Palazzo Parisio can be found in Malta, in the village of Naxxar, in the centre of the island. The Triton fountain was constructed in 1959, by a Maltese sculptor, Vincent Apap, and his inspirations were the fountains in the Roman squares. Lots of sites that will help you to discover why Valletta has been described as A city built by knights for gentlemen but also to understand why it has been described as an open air museum by UNESCO. On your right hand side you will see an impressive white building with huge columns. This pay-what-you-wish tour is currently only available in Spanish. on Self-Guided Valletta Walking Tour: Explore Maltas Capital on Foot, Self-Guided Valletta Walking Tour: Explore Maltas Capital on Foot, Cool and Quirky Things to Do in Cologne (Germany) in 2 Days, Top Things to Do on Holy Island (Lindisfarne), 11 Fabulous Things to Do in Gozo on Your Trip to Malta, 3 Days in Malta: Itinerary for the Perfect Long Weekend on the Island, The Cost of Living in Malta: Things to Consider Before Moving, 41 Best Restaurants in Malta: A Food Guide to the Maltese Islands. Turn to your right with the Royal opera House. Just head up the steps on the left as you enter the city. Head out of the church and further along St Pauls Street and then left, down St Christophers Street to find. The monument was erected during her Jubilee and, although slightly displaced during the war, remains until today. Today, its a nice spot to grab some rare peace on the busy Maltese islands. Maybe you recognize her from old coins, as you are looking at Queen Victoria. You shouldnt leave Valletta without visiting the two-tier Upper Barrakka Gardens. Head back towards the waterfront along St Lucias Street and hang a left on St Paul Street just before the steps. Although you cannot compare this Carnival with those of Rio, Venice or Tenerife, locals are extremely proud of their Carnival, and if you happen to be here during those days you must participate even if you do not want to, because Carnival will be everywhere in Valletta! Most of these outings are pay-what-you-wish walking tours, which means that you get to decide what the tour was worth after its over. The full name of the knights is The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta From now on on this tour and for the sake of time, Order of St John, Order of Malta or just the Order. The business dates back to 1837 but the original building dates back much further, as it used to be the Treasury of the Order of Saint John. The fountain is located right in the centre of a large square in front of the City Gate, till few years ago, surrounded by buses, since this was the main central bus station of Malta. Next up on your guided Valletta walking tour is Auberge de Castille. Walk down the street to the next crossing. The Three cities are the two peninsulas just in front of you. The peninsula on the right, with the small garden on top of the bastion, is Isla or Senglea. This self-guided tour will lead you through some of Valletta's main attractions, from the City Gate (remember is a walled city) to the center of the city. Triton was Poseidon's son in Greek mythology and Neptune's son in Roman mythology. So much, that this monument is not from the times of the Order, but from 1927, almost 400 years after. You can walk into the main courtyard, which is a public space in its own right, to discover the beauty of the building or explore the culinary experience at its bespoke cafeteria and restaurant serving dishes inspired by and branded to complement the collection on display. Just behind the Royal Opera House, on your right-hand side, youll see the Church of Our Lady of Victories. Theres no shortage of churches to visit in Malta but this one holds a special place for many of the locals. Ask for a Cisk! Three grand bronze Tritons holding a huge basin of water above their heads stand proudly outside the main gates of Maltas capital. Anyone driving can use the main MCP underground car park just outside the city walls on St Anne Street, Floriana. One of the most notable works of art and the one tourists flock to Valetta to see is the Beheading of St John the Baptist by Caravaggio. Keep on walking Merchant street till the next corner, Old Theatre Street, and you will have on your right the old market hall. Would you rather explore Valletta by yourself or with a local guide? Some juicy gossip of the period will be released during the free tour! While a normal ticket to the attraction will cost 15, if you purchase your tickets with this tour, youll get a discount of 2 on tickets! Being a walled city, buses will leave you in Floriana, less than 200 metres from the Triton Fountain, a well known modern landmark just before the entrance of the city. Dating from the time of the knights (it could not be other way), Carnival is the main celebration of the islands, and specially in the city of Valletta. It also overlooks the Manoel Island and Marsamxett Harbour. Navigate your way back to the furthest end of Republic Street and begin walking back up towards the city gates. Theres been a place of worship here since 1570 but the current structure only dates from 1958 despite seamlessly blending into the surrounding streets. As the signs warn, the noise is very loud so cover your ears if youre closeby at midday! Right beside the gardens, youll see a giant bell hanging in a simple memorial tower overlooking the Grand Harbour.

We move to the terrace at the end of the gardens, from where we can see the Great Harbour, considered the biggest natural harbour in Europe, and the reason for so many civilizations establishing in Malta: Phoenicians, Romans,Arabs, French, Spanish, BritishThey all have been interested in controlling the islands but, specially, the Harbour. In addition to offering a lot of spooky and creepy information about the city, this outing also serves as an excellent night tour! The name of the square is Republic Square, but in the past was Piazza Regina, what justifies the presence of the queen! Thats what Valletta entrance was like before 2015 not so grand! Come closer to look at the ornate shawl covering Queens lap its made from Maltese lace. The public garden at the top tier contains beautiful arches built by the Italian knights and a number of monuments commemorating several famous people including Sir Winston Churchill.



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