Valletta
Valletta, the capital of Malta, is a picturesque city built by the Knights of St John on a peninsula located on the central eastern coast of Malta.
The city is characterised by its unique architecture, rich history and beautiful views of the Mediterranean.
Get lost exploring Valletta’s historic streets and buildings. See the cannon firing and panoramic vistas from the Upper Barrakka Gardens and take a stroll along the Valletta Waterfront. Enjoy authentic Maltese dishes at one the many restaurants with al fresco dining, and finish off the evening discovering Valletta’s bars or at a Gelateria.
Valletta is also a great base for exploring the rest of Malta to see more of the island’s history, culture and stunning nature.
1. Wander Valletta's Streets
The best way to soak in Valletta is to explore its streets and squares lined in uniform limestone buildings with traditional enclosed balconies painted bright colours. Malta is often likened to an open air museum and Valletta is officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Wandering around inside the fortified city walls and seeing all the beautiful historic buildings, you get the sense that it almost looks unchanged throughout history.
Given that Valletta is one of the smallest capital cities in Europe, it is very walkable. However, watch out for the steep hills, with some streets even having steps built into the pavement.
Visit Pjazza Teatru Rjal to see the preserved columns of the open air theatre on the ruins of the former Opera House. Stop off to admire the stunning Baroque interior of St John’s Co-Cathedral. And explore Fort St Elmo and the waterfront.
2. Cannon Firing at the Upper Barrakka Gardens
The Upper Barrakka Gardens are fairly small but set against an impressive backdrop of towering stone arches and panoramic views over the harbour and across to The Three Cities.
From the viewing deck, you can watch the cannon firing that takes place every day at noon. The cannons are set off by members of the Malta Heritage Society dressed in British Artillery uniforms. The viewing platform can get very busy so get there early for a good spot. Alternatively, for around €5 (€3 online) you can get access to the Saluting Battery and watch the firing from the same deck as the cannons.
The Lower Barrakka Gardens, which are also free and open to the public, are about a 10 minute walk away.
3. Valletta Waterfront
The Valletta Waterfront is around a 15 minute walk from the Upper Barrakka Gardens. It is a nice setting to have a stroll along the promenade and take in the views over the water from the many patios.
The historic Valletta Waterfront buildings, known as ‘Pinto Stores’, were used by the Knights of Malta and other merchants to store their goods in the Grand Harbour. The doors of the warehouses have been painted in bright colours representing their past use. Blue for fish, green for agricultural produce, yellow for wheat and red for wine. They are now occupied by arts and craft shops, bars and restaurants.
4. Triton Fountain
Just off the bridge leading to the main city gate to Valletta and near the main bus terminus, is the Triton fountain. The fountain is made up of three statues of Triton, the Greek god of the sea, holding up a large bronze basin. These half-human, half-mermen are enormous. The square is pretty at night, when the fountain is lit up in colours.
5. Ortigya - Sicilian Food Experience in Valletta
With Sicily being Malta’s closest neighbour, there are strong ties between the two islands. The Sicilian (and Italian) influence runs through Maltese culture and its food.
In the heart of Valletta, Ortygia specialises in Sicilian cuisine in a warm and fun atmosphere. Some tables even have swing seats. A popular choice is the sharing platter, brimming with cured meats, cheeses, olives, arancini balls, mozzarella sticks, pasta, bruschetta and more.
For dessert, the the pistachio topped cannoli are deliciously rich! Cannoli are a Sicilian pastry consisting of a tube shaped fried dough shell, filled with a sweet and creamy ricotta filling.
6. Rampila - Valletta's Tunnel Restaurant and Terrace
Rampila is a unique restaurant located in the historic bastions of Valletta. These were originally designed and built by the Knights of St. John in the sixteenth century to guard the city.
Offering a mix of Maltese, Mediterranean and European cuisines, the tunnel restaurant is an intimate and romantic setting to dine. The outdoor terrace (not open for winter when we visited in January), is warmly lit with canopies covering the tables and a special view overlooking the arches of the ancient city gates.
Another, cheaper, option is That’s Amore located in the centre of Valletta and serving Maltese/Mediterranean food. It has mixed reviews on Trip Advisor but honestly the starter we had which was octopus cooked in a tomato sauce with the plumpest olives was absolutely delicious and perfectly done. The portion size was so generous that I ended up taking almost all of my gnocchi main to go. I would go back for that octopus! There’s outdoor seating which is heated and tented in the winter.
7. Bars and Gelato in Valletta
Later, take a stroll around Valletta’s centre to find lots of twinkly lit bars, many with seating along the streets, or stop for dessert at a Gelateria.
Amorino, is famous for its technique of sculpting gelato into a flower with the option adding a macaron to the centre. It has locations in Valletta, Sliema and St Julian’s (and all over the world, it turns out).
Their website shows a range of interesting flavours. I was particularly excited to try blood orange, passion fruit, or mandarin and Barbados cherry. The selection in winter at the Sliema location was quite limited. But the chocolate sorbet and pistachio (with real pieces) hit the spot nevertheless.
They cost a bit more, but can you really put a price on a little piece of art in the form of a tasty gelato cone?
8. Map of Valletta
9. Day Trips from Valletta
There are lots of great day trips from Valletta. Located to the east of Valletta are the Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua), and to the west are Sliema and St Julian’s.
Take a trip to to Mdina to explore the narrow winding streets of the fortified medieval town also referred to as the Silent City. Or visit Marsaxlokk, a charming traditional fishing village known for its markets, seafood and brightly painted colourful boats.
Explore Malta’s coastline and beautiful beaches, and see the Blue Grotto – a natural sea cave with a huge arch. Take a boat trip to explore the natural beauty of Malta’s other islands, Gozo and Comino.
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