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Valletta, Malta: City of Knights
(April 2001)
Malta, a small Mediterranean island of
only 98 square miles, has a history stretching further back in time
than most other places in Europe. For one thing, it has the oldest
stone-built temple, named Ggantija, which predates the Pyramids and
Stonehenge. Due to its location on the Mediterranean (60 miles south
of Sicily and 200 miles from North Africa), Malta’s history is
rooted in a half-dozen empires, mostly from occupations by the
Phoenicians, Saracens, Romans, Arabs, Spaniards, French, and
British. Each of the occupants has left a mark on the island and has
contributed to an interesting cultural mix. At the heart of the
cultural mix is the vibrant capitol city of
Valletta.
Golden Valletta
Valletta is a Baroque
city built in the late 15th century by the Knights of the Order of
St. John, known today as the Knights of Malta. To arrive in Valletta
by water—just as travelers have for centuries—is an amazing
experience. The city has walls and ramparts that stretch along the
biggest natural harbor in the Mediterranean. As you approach the
harbor, you see steep walls, churches, and buildings made from the
island’s golden limestone. Jutting from many of the honey-hued
buildings are colorful balconies called gallerijas, which,
according to our guide, are symbols of the city’s Renaissance
birth.
 Everywhere you look, there are historical gems of
architecture, art, and nobility. Upon entering the City Gate (also
known as Kingsgate), you will find yourself on lively Republic
Street, the main avenue that runs all the way down to Fort St. Elmo.
At the beginning of Republic Street is the Royal Opera House, once
the center of Valletta’s cultural life. Across the street is the
Palazzo Ferriera, a city palace that housed the Knights’ armory.
Walking along, you will find the native Maltese and tourists
mingling in the plentiful cafés and shops, which display lovely
local crafts of lace, glassware, jewelry, brass doorknockers, and
yes, souvenir Maltese falcons.
Points of Interest in
Valetta
 Grand Master’s Palace: Built in the late 16th
century to serve as the official residence of the Grand Master, the
head of the Knights of Malta, the Grand Master’s Palace is a
testament to the Knights’ vast wealth and power. It’s now a museum
and the home of the Maltese parliament. Its exterior offers opulent
courtyards with elegant landscaping; inside, it has spacious halls
and rooms with high ceilings. At every turn, you can see frescoes,
paintings, tapestries, carvings, and marble that adorn the walls.
As you walk around the palace, you can see the actual armor
of the Knights of Malta, including a display of spears, shields, and
swords. This display runs the entire width of the back of the palace
and is one of the most complete collections of the Knights’
weapondry in Europe.
 St. John’s Cathedral: This church is one of
most important buildings in Malta both architecturally and
historically. The plain exterior could fool you for an ordinary
cathedral; however, the outside’s simplicity contrasts vastly with
the ornate Baroque interior. The floor is inlaid with more than 400
slabs of multicolored marble, each the tomb of a knight that
includes an elaborate inlay of his coat of arms. The Oratory and
Museum contains 28 priceless Flemish tapestries as well as the
famous 1608 masterpiece by Caravaggio, The Beheading of St.
John.
Upper Barracca Gardens: A stone’s
throw from the Cathedral lies the Upper Barracca Gardens and WWII
Memorial. These gardens, like many of Valetta’s open spaces, were
cultivated by the French during the siege of 1798 to1800 and are
ablaze with flowers in the spring and summer months. From here,
there is a panoramic view of the harbor where the fortified cities
of Senglea, Cospicua, and Vittoriosa can be seen.
Other
places to visit in Valletta’s confines include the Lower Barracca
Gardens, Fort St. Elmo (the first fort built in Valletta), Auberge
De Castille (the Knights’ military headquarters), Sacra Infermia
(the Knights’ hospital), and our Lady of Victory church (the city’s
first building).
The People and Way of
Life
Visitors will find the Maltese people courteous and
friendly, and eager to share the history and culture in which they
take such pride. English and Maltese are considered the country’s
official languages, so communicating is easy. It is interesting to
listen to the Maltese language, which is really a montage of many
other languages. Our guide explained that there are many words from
the French and Italian languages mixed into Maltese. For example,
bonjour (“good morning” in French) is called bongu in
Maltese, and grazzi (Italian for “thank-you”) is the same in
both languages.
Not Just For History Buffs
Besides historical monuments, Malta is blessed with
year-round sunshine, crystal-clear waters, and inviting beaches that
offer vacationers an idyllic setting for outdoor wanderlust.
Clearly, Malta is one of the most charming destinations in
the
Mediterranean, offering the traveler a unique vacation
experience.
For more information:
Malta Tourist Office
The Malta
Experience
AboutMalta.com
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