Sunseekers, history buffs and those inclined to explore on two feet will thrive on a city break to one of Europe’s smallest capitals, Valletta.
Protruding from Malta’s main island, Valletta, once an enclave for the Knights of St John, blends Baroque with a modern elegance.
Balmy Gozo and Comino, two of 21 islands in the Maltese archipelago, may have the beaches, lagoons and scuba diving that attract holidaymakers to the sparkling Mediterranean, but walled Valletta’s heritage and landmarks are at the heart of the island nation.
The Maltese capital is known as “The Fortress City” for good reason with a host of harbourside history in its ornate churches, war museums and 17th century fortifications that link the Unesco World Heritage Centre to the Order of St John of Jerusalem and both world wars.
From touring the golden corridors of St John’s Co-Cathedral to cruising the Grand Harbour and embracing Maltese cuisine, here’s our guide to the best sightseeing, dining and activities to do during a sun-drenched stay in Valletta.
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Tour St John’s Co-Cathedral
The Baroque building is laden with tapestries, chapels and a series of tombs accented with gold
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Going to church is not the usual affair at St John’s Co-Cathedral, with its gilded Baroque interiors, an excess of marble and paintings by Caravaggio the setting for a full Latin Mass on Sundays at 9.15am. Built by the Order of St John, the architectural masterpiece is a lavish display of the knights’ wealth with nine ornate chapels, a series of tombs and a crypt.
Head up and down the Upper Barrakka lifts
Linking the Grand Harbour to the Upper Barrakka Gardens and Valletta city centre, the lifts cost just €1 to ride
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A day at the Upper Barrakka Gardens guarantees views over the azure Grand Harbour and Fort St Angelo. A panoramic glass lift, 58m tall, connects the gardens to Valletta’s waterfront for sea-level ferry access – a round trip costs just €1 to ride. In the lush gardens themselves, you’ll find fountains, monuments and a neoclassical shrine alongside some of the finest skyline scenes in the city; it’s the ideal place to picnic with a loaf of Malta’s staple sourdough.
Explore Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum
Built by knights in 1552, Fort St Elmo is home to military memorabilia from World War I and…
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