LA VALLETTA
La Valletta, Malta
Valletta, the capital city of Malta is one of the smallest capital cities in Europe, stretching 1km long by only 600m wide. It was built after the Great Siege of 1565 by the knights under the Order of St John. They set themselves to “built a city by gentleman, for gentleman”. Thats how Valletta became home of numerous baroque buildings and also one of the world's heritage sites listed by UNESCO.
So even if small in size, this fortified city is packed with historical buildings, monuments and unique architecture (mix of baroque mixed with Mannerist features from Italy). Valletta can be almost considered an open-air museum since all of it can be discovered within a walking distance.
When I am remembering Valletta, I remember beige. I remember soft and warm stone, which absorbs the sun for 300 days a year. The beige walls, which envelops the city and bright blue, which lines its edge. I remember wind and steep streets lined with colourful wooden balconies, gallarijas and I remember wooden doors in matching colour.
What To Know Before Visiting Valetta, Malta
Maltese and English are widely spoken, making it easier to travel around the island. Especially when the transportation itself is quite dreadful
The Maltese drive on the left side of the road
The ferry is the best way to get between Malta and Gozo
It’s possible to rely only on public transport as it will get you to the most places, but certainly its not the fastest option and the timetables are quite wild (or none)
There are 300 days of summer, so any time of year is likely to be good. Avoid the heat of the summer, and come early summer or early fall
How long to spend? Anything between 4 night to 2 weeks. There is plenty to see and do and it really depends on your time.
What to do in Valetta
WALK THROUGH CITY GATE and SEE BUILDING OF THE PARLIAMENT - In order to enter the City of Valletta, you must enter through Valletta City Gate, which is already fifth one in place. It was built quite recently, between years 2011 and 2014 based on the designs of the Italian architect Renzo Piano. Not far from the gate you cans see also newly constructed Building of Parliament, again designed by Renzo Piano in between 2011 and 2015. As it happens with a lot of new buildings, this one was also bit controversial mainly due to the modern design of the building and the cost of construction, which amounted to around €90 million.
SEE UPPER & LOWER BARRACA GARDENS - These lush public parks offer wonderful views of the harbour and historic forts. Here on the St. Peter and St. Paul Bastions – the highest point of the city - you can see the Three Cities; Vittoriosa, Cospicua, and Senglea. The Gardens (Il-Barrakka ta’ Fuq) were initially created as a private garden for the knights in the 17th century and opened as a public park in the early-19th century.
(Note: An elevator can take you from the Upper Barrakka Gardens down to the waterfront, at the bottom of the bastion, for free. However, the ride up to the Upper Barrakka Gardens costs one euro)
Address: 292 Triq Sant' Orsla, Il-Belt Valletta, Malta; Transportation: Bus line 133 Kastilja Station, Opening Hours: Daily 07:00-22:00
TAKE A FERRY TO 3 CITIES and BIRGU-VITTORIOSA - the town is easily walkable and offers nice walks through old alleys and along the port. As a nice ending of this trip, treat yourself with a dinner at Tal-Petut. A traditional maltese restaurant with no menu, just tastyfood. (Address: 20 P.Scicluna, Birgu, Malta, Open: Mon-Sat 18:30 - 22:00)
What to eat in Valetta, Malta
FTIRA - try traditional maltese sandwich, or better described as filled semi-flat bread with a hole in the middle. In maltese also called Ħobż biż-żejt ,which literally translates to 'bread with oil'. The actual sandwich, can be loosely described as a tuna roll - The bread is typically rubbed with fresh Maltese tomatoes or tomato paste. It is then drizzled with olive oil and filled with tuna, capers, onions, olives, garlic, sea salt and pepper and a variety of other ingredients. The flatbread is light and the filling is juicy, so for me it made ideal lunch on the go in the hot maltese weather. Here is list of the best ftira in town.
PASTIZZI (pastries) - It shouldn't be hard to find them, especially in the morning when the smell of fresh baked pastizzis will guide you. These warm, savoury snacks are traditionally made out of puff pastry and are filled with either warm ricotta cheese 'tal-irkotta' or mushy peas 'tal-piżelli'.
STUFFAT TAL-FENEK - or rabbit stew, is one of the most popular ways to cook rabbit meat in Malta. The tomato based stew is cooked slowly, over around 2 hours, in order to bring out all the flavours. Locals regularly enjoy a fenkata, or 'Maltese rabbit nights', where they come together to eat and celebrate.
TORTA TAL-LAMPUKI - Is a pie made out of the fish known as the 'mahi-mahi', or the common dolphinfish. These fish migrate past the Maltese islands from the end of August until around November, so in these months the freshly-caught lampuki are cooked with tomatoes, onions, olives, capers and spinach and placed in a puff-pastry before being baked in the oven.
TIMPANA - is a baked macaroni dish. The macaroni are cooked in a sauce made with minced meat, tomatoes, onion, garlic and cheese.. and as you can see, maltese love tomatoes everywhere. The macaroni is then baked in a pastry case, resulting in a rich and filling pasta dish.
Taidekappeli is located on the island of Hirvensalo, far outside the city. Surrounded by spruces and pines, where the wooded hills rise from the flat fields.