Valletta, The Maltese Capital
Malta is an independent island nation in the Mediterranean . The country covers an area of about 316 square kilometers. It consists of the following islands : Malta, Gozo, Comino and some uninhabited islands as well. The island state is a popular destination in Europe and famous for its a lot of temples, prehistoric archaeological sites, caves and plenty festivals, which are held in honor of the patron saint of Malta.
The capital of Malta is Valletta with about 10000 inhabitants, also the smallest EU capital. It is located in the north and is surrounded by bastions , which served the city for defense . A visit to the city is an absolute obligation . The old fortress tower over the city was built by the Knights of St John who planned the city as a refuge to take care of injured soldiers and pilgrims during the Crusades in the fifteen hundreds . After the Ottomans were successfully fought in 1565 the fortress walls formed the foundation for a fully designed city. Even today, Valletta has lost none of its past charm. Visitors can have a kilometer long city walk completely as it is just one kilometer long and 500 feet wide. But these numbers do not harm the attractiveness of Valletta. On the contrary visitors can fully discover Valletta by walking and not get lost. Cars must stay largely outside.
Valletta became a UNESCO World Heritage and is popular for its historic cafés, restaurants, banks, accommodation and government buildings.
Mostly Valletta is separated by the Grand Harbour and the Marsamxett Harbour from its the cities nearby . Through the gate of the city which was built in the 1960s, you step inside the venerable knight city. The backbone of Valletta, Republic Street starts from here right down to the tip of the peninsula. Valletta’s most notable places can be found here, like the Grand Master’s Palace and as well as the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, elegant shops and some of the few outdoor cafes in the city. Side streets end at the two ports. Each visit Valletta is incomplete without a look at the walls and bastions at the two ports – and without a harbor tour. You can take a ride from the city of Sliema with tour boats or from the Valletta Waterfront by traditional boat taxis. If you step on the walls seen from the water, you can appreciate the valor and the astonishing construction work of the people. You should remember that Valletta was bombed in World War II and was later rebuilt .
Valletta’s story takes place not only in museums, but as well in the St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Even someone who is not a fan of churches should not miss this house of God . It is a work of art that no one would suspect outside Rome . The Cathedral is a showcase to Mattia Preti who intricately carved stone wall designs, as well as the painted vaulted ceiling and side altars with scenes from the life of St John. Among the treasures found in the Cathedral are the unique Caravaggio painting that depicts the beheading of St John, the extraordinary paving of some 300 marble tomb slabs of many sons of European nobility houses and the Grand Masters of Malta.
Not far from the cathedral lies Villa Casa Rocca Piccola. The ninth Marquis de Piro lives here whose family owns the house for generations. The 400 year old building is situated in Republic Street and it is a treasure chest of the city. Because the Marquis does not use all 50 rooms, tourists can visit many of them.
Also in Republic Street the Archaeological Museum exhibits the oldest findings. The Museum displays an exceptional array of artifacts from Malta’s unique prehistoric periods, starting with the first arrival of man in the Ghar Dalam phase (5200 BC) and running up to the Tarxien phase (2500 BC) . The collection is displays in the Auberge de Provence, one of the first buildings to be erected after the Great Siege in the late 16th century.
Malta and its capital, Valletta is unique . The Maltese have their culture with and without tourists. The small country is young and has recently become the part of the European Union. This makes traveling simple: no passport, no money exchanged, just fly away within Europe. This applies to the country all year long : there is no halt at winter time. Malta accommodation, restaurants and clubs are open all year round.
This applies to Valletta accommodation as well. All the hotels and private accommodation have European standards and cheap prices.
Malta is an island that offers programmes for everyone , whether young or old , be it sports on the a lot of golf courses, beach holiday on the beach or hiking on the trail of the past. A holiday to Malta is worthwhile in any case.