Beauty of Malta

Golden stone buildings, ornate churches, colorful balconies, and sparkling seas – Malta’s capital Valletta might be tiny but it’s full of charm. It stretches just 1km by 600 meters and is surrounded by water on three sides, but has so much historic architecture that UNESCO designated the whole city a World Heritage Site. Walking its streets is like stepping back in time, but Valletta’s not just living in the past, with recent renovation and redevelopment after being 2018 European Capital of Culture. It’s a popular cruise stop and plenty of off-season sunshine makes it a great place for a spring or autumn break. So here are my favorite things to do in Valletta, Malta.

CHECK OUT THE VIEWS FROM THE BARRAKKA GARDENS

For one of Valletta’s best views, head to the Barrakka Gardens. There are two of them – the Upper and Lower gardens – but both lie along the east side of the peninsula and both come with a panoramic view out over the harbor. The Upper Barrakka Gardens were originally built in 1661 as an exercise ground for the Italian division of the Knights of St John.

They’re surrounded by arches and originally had a roof, but once the French invaded Malta they turned them into a public garden. The gardens are filled with flowers, sculptures, and shady spots as well as a café to relax in with a drink – they’re also a favorite for wedding photoshoots.

And at night the garden looks just stunning.😍😍

If you head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens at 12 pm or 4 pm, you can catch the cannon firing from the Saluting Battery, just underneath the gardens. Originally the cannons were fired to welcome ships into the harbor, but they’ve been recently restored and are back in action. There’s a little show which takes place before each firing, where guides in military costumes explain what’s going on. Or the Lower Barrakka Gardens look similar to the Upper Gardens, with the same arches as well as a mini Greek-style temple, but are a bit quieter.

GET LOST IN THE BACKSTREETS

Valletta is the perfect place to wander around – small enough that you can’t get lost (walk in any direction and you’ll probably hit water), not too much traffic, lots of hilly narrow streets and tucked-away churches to discover. The city was designed on a grid pattern to bring cool sea breezes in, with tall buildings to keep it shady. So even in summer, it's not sweltering hot.

A lot of the original 16th-century buildings have been converted into restaurants and boutique hotels. And there are tons of pavement cafés too if you need to refuel with a coffee and pastizzi (a local flaky pastry which is filled with ricotta – or more weirdly mushy peas).

Wherever you are in Valletta, if you look up you’ll see the distinctive, brightly colored, square Maltese balconies. When the city was built, the Knights of Saint John decreed every corner had to have either a statue, shrine or corner balcony to decorate it, and most are still there. It’s a photographers’ paradise with an endless supply of vintage shopfronts and artfully peeling doors.

But Malta’s also has its modern side too – in among all the traditional architecture, the new City Gate and Parliament Building are a real contrast. They were designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and use the same kind of stone as the surrounding buildings, but they still really stand out against traditional Valletta – and have been pretty controversial with the locals.

EXPLORE MALTA’S HISTORY

For a small country, Malta has had a seriously eventful history. It’s been fought over for centuries and ruled by everyone from the Greeks and Arabs to the Turks and British. There are a few places in Valletta where you can learn more about Maltese history, starting off way back in 5200 BC in the Baroque building of the National Museum of Archaeology.

There’s also the National War Museum for Malta’s wartime history. It’s set inside Fort Saint Elmo at the tip of Valletta’s peninsula. The museum takes you through all the conflicts over the years – from the Great Siege when Valletta was built right up to Malta becoming independent in 1964.

TAKE TO THE WATER ON A BOAT TRIP

Valletta is surrounded by water, and a boat trip is one of the essential things to do in Valletta, with various different options you can take. Quickest is public ferries, which shuttle people over to Sliema from one side of the peninsula and the Three Cities from the other.

The journey doesn’t take much longer than five minutes and costs €1.50 (€2.80 return) but the views along the way are stunning. For peak photography timing, head to the Three Cities in the morning and Sliema around sunset to see Valletta in the best light. Though beware that if the weather’s rough or the swell’s too high then the ferries don’t run.

A VISIT TO ST. PAUL’S CATACOMBS IN RABAT

St. Paul’s Catacombs are situated right in the center of Malta’s main island in the city of Rabat. They are considered an important relict of the period of early Christianity in Malta, covering roughly the time between the 3rd and the 8th century AD. 

The earliest tombs date back to the times of the Phoenicians and the Romans. They were part of an old city that today no longer exists, Melite. The area is today known as the cities of Rabat and Mdina. The catacombs stretch over an area of roughly 2,000 square meters, which makes it the largest in all of Malta. There are 30 entry points into the underground maze of tunnels, chambers, and tombs, of which 20 are accessible by the general public.

Malta has so many things to offer, so much history and beauty on a small island. In the next part, I will cover the trip to Mdina, the silent city also know as Game of Thrones filming locations. Thanks for reading the article I hope you liked it, and we’ll read on in the next one. 😀😀