Malta is a great destination where you can combine beach, beautiful landscapes, art, culture and tradition. In this post I tell you what to see and do in Valletta, the capital of Malta. Essential places full of history that you cannot miss. In the following posts you will find what else to see on the island, beaches and coves, little-known places, where to stay... Shall we start?
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN VALLETTA, MALTA
Valletta is the capital of Malta. Walk around this charming city and see the beautiful architecture, historical museums and incredible views over the sea and neighboring cities. You get to know Valletta by walking through the streets, and enjoying every step. Don't miss visiting:
1. Free Tour of Valletta
Take the opportunity to get to know the city with a local guide. Learn about the history, the conquest and let yourself be carried away to know all the secrets of the capital of Malta.
2. St. John's Cathedral
Although St. John's Cathedral usually goes unnoticed and does not usually attract attention from the outside, it is impressive inside. It is full of gold and magnificent paintings by Caravaggio. Beneath the marble floor are the tombs of the Grand Masters of the Order of Malta and other nobles. Nearly 400 of them are buried there, it's a must-visit for history lovers in Malta!
3. The Grand Master's Palace
The Grand Master's Palace is located in the historic center of Valletta. It is a 16th century building, full of history and with objects of great value. The founder of the current capital of Malta, Jean Parisat de Valette, was the one who ordered the construction of this Palace as the official residence of the masters of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller. During the period of British occupation, the Palace was occupied by political power. Today, the palace houses the Parliament of Malta and the residence office. If you want to see the changing of the guard, they do it every 25 minutes.
When visiting the Palace you can visit different rooms, look at the walls, ceilings, furniture and architectural details. The Palace is beautiful. The rooms that stand out the most are the Throne Room and the Tapestry Room. In the latter, authentic works of art from the year 1700 are kept.
The armory is one of the most interesting parts of the entire visit, here you will find an impressive collection of armor, swords, spears, cannons and all kinds of original war objects that are preserved from the knights of the Order of Malta.
4. The Barraka Gardens
Also called Upper Barraka Garden and Lower Barraka Garden. The lower garden is quite small but has a very photogenic temple and is a haven of peace and tranquility. The upper one is larger, with beautiful colonnades and a wonderful view of the three cities. Visiting the gardens is an essential stop on your visit to Valletta.
5. Republic and Merchant Streets
These two streets are the main shopping streets in Valletta, with numerous shops and restaurants. Here you can find everything from Maltese crafts to souvenirs for your family. And although the area of restaurants and bars is a little expensive, it is an area with a lot of atmosphere, especially in the afternoons and evenings.
6. Fort Saint Elmo
Fort Saint Elmo is a fortification located in Valletta. This imposing monument has been a witness and protagonist of important moments in the history of Malta. Today, it is possible to visit the fort. The structure of the fort remains almost intact and it is interesting to walk inside and appreciate the different rooms and the magnitude of the fort.
Inside it houses the Maltese police academy and the War Museum. Many of the original cannons and artillery are still preserved.
During the Second World War, Fort St Elmo withstood aerial bombardments from Italy and Germany and the Maltese were awarded the Cross of St George. Due to its symbolism as a defensive core, the National War Museum is located within the fort. Among the collection of weapons on display are airplanes, ammunition, motorcycles and artifacts from World War II.
In the museum it is also possible to see examples of the original costumes worn by the Maltese navy and air force during the war. The War Museum also exhibits primitive weapons from Prehistory found in archaeological excavations. It is a very interesting place, don't miss it!
7. Hypogeum
It is a prehistoric temple excavated in the rock, it is the only monument of this style in the world. Here there are a set of galleries, tunnels and small rooms connected to each other, established on three levels underground.
The beauty of the Hypogeum lies in the complexity of the gallery system and the date on which this underground temple was built. The upper level, the oldest, dates back to 4000 BC, while the lower one was excavated between 2500 and 3150 BC.
At this time, the civilizations that lived in Malta used quite advanced techniques and even carved decorative motifs on the stones that served as doors and decorated the interior of the temple with red pigment.
The different rooms of the Hypogeum are carved directly into the rock, have different shapes and are connected to each other by narrow passageways.
8. National Museum of Archeology
If you are interested in learning a little more about the history of Malta, make a stop at the National Museum of Archaeology. Here you will find a collection that houses artistic demonstrations of the ancient civilizations that populated the island over the years.
The oldest objects date back to 5000 BC, when the first settlements took place on the island. The museum is not very large, but it houses pieces of incalculable value, and it is worth spending an hour to explore its rooms.
9. Free food tour in Valletta
If you are one of those who loves to try all kinds of traditional food, in Valletta there is a free gastronomic tour that is great. With the help of a guide, you will walk the streets of Valletta in search of traditional bakeries, small food stalls, markets... They will teach you the traditional dishes, what they typically eat, how they cook them, etc... Yes, although the tour is free, you have to pay for the food you want to eat and leave a tip to the guide, he surely deserves it!
10. Stroll around and find the most beautiful buildings
Valletta has cobbled streets, with stairs and not very tall buildings made of brown stone and colorful balconies. You can find balconies of all colors, I assure you. It is one of the details that I liked the most about the city. There was a building with red balconies that I fell completely in love with, and right on the same street, buildings with purple, green, blue balconies...
All of them with plants, flowers and lights. Get lost in its streets and find the most beautiful building, tell me about it!
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Malta and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue readingmany more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!