Malta was a destination that was on my top list of places that I really wanted to see in Europe. Finally, it’s time to get to know this country. Initially, I was supposed to spend a classic holiday week on this tiny island, but the hotel prices were too high for my budget at the time, so I decided to explore Malta on my own. Of the seven planned days, I ended up spending five on the island.
Malta is an archipelago of three inhabited islands: Malta, Comino and Gozo, and several smaller islands located in the southern part of the Mediterranean Sea.
Day one – Valletta. It is the capital of this tiny country and at the same time my base – this is where I spent the most time. If someone plans their stay in Malta well, they are able to visit the whole country (island) within a few days.
Valletta is the smallest capital of the European Union, and at the same time the sunniest city in all of Europe. The sun shines here 310 days a year. The capital of Malta is as small as the whole country. This does not mean, however, that there is nothing to do here – on the contrary! The entire capital is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The amazing architecture of buildings built of yellow sandstone makes a really electrifying impression.
What is definitely worth seeing in Valletta? The first attraction is waiting for us at the very beginning of the tour – entering the city, we pass through Valletta City Gate – defensive walls with a gate
The next and in fact the first sightseeing point that I saw was the Grand Master’s Palace. This building is one of the oldest buildings on the island, built in honour of the founder of the city, Jean Paristo de la Valette, from his name the city was named. Entering the building in the middle, you come across a nursery, from which corridors lead to historic chambers. For many years, the palace was expanded by successive great masters. It is now the official seat of the President of Malta.
Then I went to the Cathedral of St. John. which was built in the years 1573-77. Initially, it was a Church of the Order of St. John, in later years, it became a concatedra. From the outside, the architecture does not impress, but the inside is fabulously beautiful.
Valletta is a small city, there are not many parks or greenery here, but there are three small gardens that are very popular among residents as well as tourists. The most interesting are definitely the Barrakka Gardens, which are located to the left of the main gate. The central point of the park is a fountain located in the middle, around which benches are placed, beautiful vegetation and trees are planted, which provide a bit of shade on hot days. It’s a great place to relax while sightseeing and drink delicious coffee. The park has one more great advantage, namely the fabulous panorama of the Grand Harbor and the towns opposite Valletta.
At the foot of the Barrakka Gardens is another interesting attraction of the city. Tradition in Malta is very important and visible at almost every step. One of its elements is the cannon salute, which takes place twice a day at 12:00 and 16:00.
Near the Barrakka Gardens there is another interesting attraction of the city, namely the Pjazza Teatru Rjal. It is an open-air theatre built on the site of the 19th-century Royal Opera House. In the summer, a lot of different kinds of happenings, performances and concerts take place there.
Walking along the main avenue of the city on the right, you will come across the National Library, whose collections include works from the Middle Ages to modern times. There is a statue of Queen Victoria in the square in front of the library.
The last point of the first day of visiting Malta was a cruise around the bay. To be honest, Malta looks fabulous from this perspective, it’s a completely different point of view. Cruises start from the town of Sliema, during which you can learn some interesting stories told during the cruise.
At the end of the day, after seeing all the must-see points on the map and having a delicious lunch, it is worth wandering around the old town without any plan or purpose. You can come across tiny squares where local life is vibrant, or churches squeezed between tenement houses. This is the charm of Valletta.
You can read more about Malta here.
