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WHY YOU HAVE TO VISIT VALLETTA, MALTA ON YOUR NEXT CITY BREAK
By
LaurenC
30 Sep 2019
It may be the smallest capital in Europe, but Valletta certainly packs a punch when it comes to crowd-pleasing. One of the most concentrated historic areas in the world, this walled city proudly houses over 350 320 historical monuments, so its European Capital of Culture accolade, awarded in 2018, is no real surprise. But with so many popular city destinations across Europe, this gem in the Mediterranean is often overlooked. Well, not for much longer…
Whether you’re planning a couple’s weekend away or you’ve got the whole family in tow, Valletta offers something for everyone. Consider yourself a culture vulture? There’s no denying you’ve come to the right place, with an abundance of landmarks to cast your eyes on you won’t know which to visit first! To name a few must-sees, there’s The Grandmaster’s Palace, which is filled wall-to-wall with paintings, tapestries and armoury, St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the Grand Harbor (which used to dock its battleships), and the Upper Barrakka Gardens and Military Ceremonies – peaceful tiered gardens which encircle a selection of the cities fortifications – here you’ll also find the saluting battery (beneath the top tier of the main garden) where gun shots are still fired at noon.
While you’re here it’s also worth a visit to Merchants Street; located in the middle of the city it’s one of the longest and quirkiest open-air markets in Malta
, lined with colourful stalls selling traditional fare, plus old shops and the odd palace. Once you’ve explored all that the city has to offer, why not discover some of Malta’s other major locations such as its idyllic sister islands of Gozo and Comino – their rugged coastlines are steeped with baroque buildings, old stone houses, natural lagoons and peaceful towns – with plenty more treasure to uncover once you arrive.
While it’s easy to sightsee this destination unattended, it might be worth hopping on a guided tour to really get the most out of the island’s capital. There’s Harbour Boat Tours and Walking Tours available, which can be booked online before your fly, or while you’re away. Well, what are you waiting for?
