As a thank you, you'll receive our free itinerary planner. 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. Just opposite to the Law Courts there is an elevated area with a monument. 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. As you probably know, Valletta is the only UNESCO capital of Europe. Head a little further along Republic street and youll find the visitor entrance to the Cathedral on your right. This stretches the full length of the city from the gate, all the way down to the Fort St Elmo at Vallettas waterfront. In addition to this tour being pay-what-you-wish, they also offer discounts on tickets to St. Johns Co-Cathedral. If you need some help finding the most notable locations in Malta, you may want to consider taking a free walking tour. It was the first church built in Valletta, commissioned by Valette himself to commemorate the victory over the Ottomans. 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. Merchant Street. 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. This is a very important monument for various reasons. Opens usually on Sundays for mass and entrance is free. This Valletta city tour starts just outside the main gates but you can join it at any point along the circular route. We are in the most lively square of the city, St George square. Remember our past as a British colony, which puts into perspective the tea and the telephone boots (take this past into consideration when crossing the streets!). This is one of the most famous landmarks in Malta, and you will need a ticket to enter. The north section houses MPs rooms while the south holds parliament offices. The bust on the facade is of the Innocent XII, who served as Inquisitor in Malta for 3 years before being elected pope (1649-49). Opposite to the Royal opera House, there is an espectacular building,Palazzo Ferreria. 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. Retrace your steps to Merchant Street and walk down the street. It was originally a palace, used by the Knights of Malta, and now houses the National Archaeology Museum of Malta which is worth a quick look. Head straight over to the terrace and soak up the vista across the Grand Harbour towards the Three Cities of Malta. Represents the Order of St John (central figure) defending Malta and the catholicism (the two femenine figures). It may be a good idea to have a traditional pastizzi in one of the pastizzerias in this area: a pastry, filled with ricotta cheese, peas, chicken and mushrooms A delicatessen for less than a Euro. Its the first church building completed in Valletta by the Order of St. John in 1566 following the Great Siege of Malta. Youll find it just past the Church of Our Lady of Victories towards Upper Barrakka Gardens. Here sits the Church of St. Pauls Shipwreck, one of Vallettas oldest structures, dating back to the 1570s. Valletta, Entrance fee: Adults 6 ; Seniors/students 4.50 Children 3.00. Key works include those by Southern Italian artist Mattia Preti, British 20th century artist Victor Pasmore and Maltas own top 20th century sculptor Antonio Sciortino. Ask for a Cisk! As you continue your self-guided Valletta walking tour, stop by the earlier mentioned Royal Opera House to the left of the Parliament building. The three cities and Valletta are one of the most fortified areas in Europe. You are now in Castille Square. The day tour of Valletta includes, if you wish, the entrance to the co cathedral with a discount. The monument was erected during her Jubilee and, although slightly displaced during the war, remains until today. 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. Learn More. It was originally used for the firing of the saluting guns but during WWII it was used for military purposes when needed. Shes therefore credited with single-handedly reviving the old tradition of lace-making on the Maltese islands at a time of need. We really hope you have enjoyed your visit to the city. The Royal Opera House, has been transformed into an open theatre, respecting the remains from old times and its cafe, sited in Republic Street is a nice place to have a coffee and observe locals and tourists alike. 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. The Order of St John was administratively organised in langues (languages) even though we could call them kingdoms. Use our free Valletta walking tour map (at the bottom of this page) to help you navigate around the streets and alleyways of the historic capital of Malta. The name of the square is Republic Square, but in the past was Piazza Regina, what justifies the presence of the queen! The collection is laid out in sections inspired by stories grouped into four main themes being The Mediterranean, Europe, Empire and The Artist. (By the time we are writing this piece the palace is undergoing a huge refurbishment, so check before visiting). This former gunpowder magazine and armoury is now home to a massive exhibition covering the history of Malta from the bronze age to the 1990s. Here you can grab a panoramic view of the coastal Maltese towns Floriana, Msida and Sliema. Originally, the Maltese government proposed to clear the site for the Parliament buildings instead. You are now standing in the main artery of the city: Republic Street. These areas are so historic and well preserved that they have actually been used as filming locations for several movies and television shows depicting ancient worlds. Just follow the signs to find the gate in. Now you definitely can understand why the street is called Merchants: waiters calling you over to their restaurants, while on both sides of the streets, ground floors are full of shops. The complex lived on long after the end of WWII, being used by NATO to intercept Soviet submarines in the Med until shutting down in 1977. We will be orienting you relative to buildings and with the help of street names, but in Malta, street names are not in every corner, therefore it may take you some time to find them. MUA is also the Maltese word for inspiration. The canvas was commissioned by the Knights of Malta as an altarpiece for the cathedral and is the biggest canvas the artist ever painted. Its a relaxing spot so, be sure to sit on a bench next to the fountain for a couple of minutes. Now we go back to the previous smaller square where we first appeared when coming from Merchant Street, just a few meters from where we are standing, Grand Master's Palace closed for refurbishment. Its an easy and free way to explore if you have just one day in Valletta. Thank you, thoroughly recommend it. Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 08.45 - 16.00 HOLY MASS 08.45. Youll also see tiny Traditional Maltese fishing boats bobbing up and down the harbour crewed by the local folk. Finally, if you look just to the terrace below there are some cannons, and maybe some British soldiers dress as coming from the Victorian era. Just past St Dominic Street on the left, youll see a sign for Casa Rocca Piccola. But, luckily, Mr Piano had a better idea. Walk Republic Street, keeping the cafe on your right and Republic Square on your left. Hidden below the conference centre is The Knights Hospitallers, an exhibition detailing the medical beginnings of the Order of St John. Here are a few of the subjects you can learn about on this tour: Although you could just visit and explore this attraction on your own, you might want to consider taking this tour to learn about why its such an important structure in Malta. FREE TOURS BY FOOT IS THE ORIGINAL PAY-WHAT-YOU-LIKE WALKING TOUR. If youd rather explore Valletta at your own pace, we currently offer a free self-guided tour you may want to consider which is actually very similar to the service provided by Authentic Malta. And, amongst all this splendour, two names stand out: Mattia Preti and Caravaggio. It consists of two massive stone blocks with laser-cut windows and solar panels covering the roof. This is your final stop on your self-guided Valletta walking tour. 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. We took about 5 hours, including a lunch break and stopping to enjoy the views. Just enter the city through the City Gate, just behind the Triton fountain, but take a few minutes to observe the impressive curtain walls, bastions and the ditch protecting the city. Remember to wear comfortable shoes but try to avoid leather soles. Palazzo Parisio, one of the biggest palaces in the city on which used to live one of the principal families in the country. It was also Caravaggios only work which he signed. The grand entrance will lead you across the bridge and onto the 1 km long Republic Street. On the right side from the Three Cities we can appreciate the dockyards of the Order, still in use, once they have been modernised into dry docks. The Three cities are the two peninsulas just in front of you. 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. This is a superbly quirky thing to do in Valletta if you have some spare time. Main historic features such as the main staircase have been rebuilt in contemporary material . It was made by the most international Maltese artist: Antonio Sciortino. If you have plans to spend a couple of Hours in Birgu, take the Barrakka Lift from the gardens down to boats across to the Three Cities. As the signs warn, the noise is very loud so cover your ears if youre closeby at midday! Today, its a nice spot to grab some rare peace on the busy Maltese islands. 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. The latter, as we mentioned earlier, is run by locals who can even give you a quick 1-hour Grand Harbour tour for a few euros extra. This fifth and the most modern edition restored during 2011-2014 is often referred to as the ancient Egyptian temple of Edfu. If you dont fancy the self-guided version, why not book onto a guided tour of Valletta with a friendly local? Some juicy gossip of the period will be released during the free tour! The marble floor here houses tombs of around 400 Knights of the Order and so carries massive significance within Malta. Even though you can not see it from here, at the tip of the peninsula where Valletta is located, we have Fort Saint Elmo. Opposite to MUA you find Palazzo Parisio. Today, it hosts the Fine Arts Museum, MUA, acronym for Muew Nazzjonali tal-Arti, in MAltese. The peninsula on the left, with Fort San Angelo on the tip, and behind the city of Birgu o Victoriosa. Nothing special on the exterior, all the magic is hidden inside. Just head up the steps on the left as you enter the city. The Parliament, the new City Gate (yes, you are right, there is no gate. Valletta is one of the first planned cities built in Europe. One of our recommendations is taking the Tour of the dark side of the city, where you will be given more information about the punishments at the time. Today its used for its original purpose and, of course, for tourists amusement. A tourist information office is also available on site and accessible through the main courtyard. Our lady of Victories on the right and Santa Catherina of Italy on the left. Head out of the church and further along St Pauls Street and then left, down St Christophers Street to find. From here you can see the Three cities, known as well as Cottonera, first settlement of the Order in Malta and for this reason, the area where the famous Great Siege of Malta mostly occurred. Probably a good first picture as a memento of the day. The building on your left , crossing St. Gwann Street is the Cocathedral of Malta, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, and the exterior was built in a mannerist style. 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. Thanks so much for your comment and stay safe! Standing on stilts at Republic Square, Renzo Pianos masterpiece blends in well with the rest of the monuments surrounding the area. Just turning your back to the Queen you are in front of Caffe Cordina, the oldest cafe in the city. Nowadays it is still an official building, being the office of the President of Malta. If youre in need of some more info and what to see, do, eat and drink whilst in Malta then pop over to the Tourist Information Centre on Merchants Street. Construction of this auberge on Republic Street began in 1571.
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