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About the Region What to see and do Useful Information



About the Region What to see and do Useful Information



What to See and Do

The capital of Malta, Valletta, is linked to the history of the military and charitable Order of St John of Jerusalem. Built after the Great Siege of 1565, this fortified city has hundreds of monuments, all within a relatively small space, making it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world. Moreover, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gardens:

Although there are many things to do and see, you definitely can’t miss Valletta's beautiful gardens. The Upper Barrakka Gardens, Hastings Gardens and the Lower Barrakka Gardens are just three of the most popular ones, however, on further exploration, many more hidden gardens can be discovered.


Religious Sites:

The Maltese are among the oldest Christian people in the world. Therefore, there are over 360 churches and chapels scattered throughout the islands, some of them located in the capital city, Valletta. A few examples are: St. Paul Shipwrecked Church, Carmelite Church, Parish Church of St. Catherine and St. John’s Co-cathedral, which is one of the most beautiful and visited ones.

Many of these buildings are veritable works of art. You will notice how local craftsmen and artisans adorned the inside and exteriors of churches and cathedrals with intricate decorations and stone sculptures depicting saints, angels and sacred symbols.

 

St. John's co-Cathedral & Museum:

St. John’s Cathedral is a rich example of high Baroque architecture. The walls and ceilings are decorated and the floor is covered with memorials for the dead knights with inlaid intricate colourful marbles, creating a tapestry effect all over the cathedral floors. This elaborately adorned church is home to world famous artistic masterpieces by Caravaggio and Mattia Preti.

The museum adjoining the cathedral contains several art objects. The most important are the Flemish 29 priceless tapestries, designed by Peter Paul Rubens at the Flemish atelier of Judecos de Vos, famous as the court Weaver for King Louis XIV. Those tapestries are the only complete collection in the world, with over 780 square metres in total of woven colourful thread.

 

The Manoel Theatre & Manoel Theatre Museum:

The Manoel Theatre, or Teatru Manoel as it is known in Maltese, was commissioned and personally funded by António Manoel de Vilhena, Grand Master of the Knights of Malta. As stated in the Latin motto inscribed above the main entrance - "ad honestam populi oblectationem", the theatre was built to provide the general public with ‘honest' entertainment. Today, it offers a full calendar, ranging from comedy to classics in both English and Maltese. Furthermore, the theatre runs guided tours of the auditorium, back stage and the theatre museum.

 

National War Museum:

The National War Museum, housed within the fortified walls of Fort St. Elmo, contains a great collection of artefacts, displayed in a chronological manner. These artefacts narrate the military history of Malta from the early phases of the Bronze Age, around 2,500 B.C. when the first inhabitants arrived from Sicily, to Malta's EU Accession in 2004. Additionally, the museum provides particular insight into Malta's significant role during the First World War, the Inter-War Period and the Second World War.


Saluting Battery:

The Saluting Battery is an artillery battery in Valletta, one of Malta's most vibrant visitor attractions. Located high along Valletta's eastern wall, it offers spectacular views of the Grand Harbour and its surrounding fortified towns. The guns sound every day, at noon, and at important anniversaries in the history of the island, just like in old times, providing a unique spectacle.

 

San Anton Palace:

San Anton Palace, known officially as San Antonio, is a beautiful seventeenth century palace, surrounded by both public and private gardens. The palace and its gardens owe their origin to the Knight Antoine de Paule, a French knight from the Langue de Provence, who was elected 54th Grand Master of the Order of St. John in 1623. Throughout the years, the palace housed successive Grand Masters, as well as the Governors and the Governor-Generals of Malta. Nowadays, it’s the official residence of the President of Malta.



For more information on what to see and do in Valletta please visit Malta’s Official Tourism webpage.

 

 

 

 

 

Lower Barrakka Gardens

Parish Church of St. Catherine


St. John's co-Cathedral

Manoel Theatre


Salutting Battery


San Anton Gardens


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