| Valletta Il-Belt Valletta | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Malta Xlokk | |
| Altitude | 58 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 0.8 km² km² | |
| Inhabitants | 6.966 (2011) | |
| Name inhabitants | belti | |
| Prefix tel | 356 | |
| POSTAL CODE | VLT | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | San Domenico, Madonna del Carmelo, San Paolo, Sant'Agostino (10 February, 3 August) | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Valletta is the capital of Malta and heritage ofUNESCO.
To know
It was founded in 1566 by the Knights Hospitallers, who gave it the name of their great master Jean de la Valette: precisely it was called, in Latin, Humilissima Civitas Valettae ("The very humble city of Valletta"). In Maltese it is known as Il-Belt is The city.
Valletta is "European capital of culture"for 2018, together with Leeuwarden.
Geographical notes
The city is located on the northern coast on a rocky peninsula that rises between two large inlets where the city's ports are located: Porto Grande (renamed by the English Grand Harbor) and Porto Marsamuschetto (Marsamxett Harbor).
When to go
The southernmost national capital in Europe, Valletta is one of the few places in Europe that has a mild and warm climate all year round. Night lows are around 10 ° C in winter, however at that time of year it is relatively rainy. During the summer, expect sunny and warm weather.
Background
The territory on which Valletta was built was first deserted. Part of it bore the name of Xagh-ret Meuuia, which in Maltese means uncultivated land of Meuuia, perhaps from the name of some ancient owner of those places. The city was built on Mount Sceberras, the most prominent part of the tongue of land that divides the Porto Grande from that of Marsamuschetto. The original name of this area was Gebel ir-ras, meaning mount of the extremity.
The city was founded by the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller Jean de la Valette, who after the siege of 1565, on March 28, 1566, laid the first stone. The architect who conceived the city was Francesco Laparelli from Cortona, sent by Pope Pius V. When Laparelli left Malta the work was continued by his assistant, Girolamo Cassaro, who designed, among other things, the Co-Cathedral of San Giovanni and part of the fortifications.
In 1571 the construction of the city was completed and it was baptized with the name of its founder. Until that time the capital of the island had been Medina (Mdina).
During the Second World War the city was heavily damaged and was chosen as a base by the British navy which only left the island in 1979.
How to orient yourself
Valletta: full screen map.Valletta is spread over a peninsula that sees to the north Sliema.
How to get
By plane
- 1 Luqa International Airport (Ajruport Internazzjonali ta 'Malta, MLA (IATA)) (TO Luqa). The airport is the main hub for the national airline Air Malta, as well as a basis for Ryanair making numerous flights across Europe and in the Mediterranean countries. The airport is also served seasonally by numerous European airlines with flights becoming more frequent throughout the year.
- The X4 bus connects the airport to Valletta, with two buses per hour which take around 20 minutes and cost € 2.00 in summer.
By car
Most of the bus lines and many road arteries converge on Valletta. However, within the city there are many one-way streets and some pedestrian zones. Parking can be difficult. However there is a large multi-storey car park at 2 Floriana and not only that, about half a kilometer from the entrance to Valletta.
- 3 Virtu Ferries Terminal, ☎ 356 2206 9022. Links with Pozzallo is Catania through the Virtu Ferries company.
- 4 Sliema Terminal. A much shorter trip can be made by Valletta Ferry Services across the beautiful Marsamxett Harbor from Sliema and fromManoel island, for only € 1.50. Much less expensive then a harbor cruise.
Another little known way is to visit Vittoriosa by bus and then take the Maltese version of the gondola, the so called Dghajsa which takes you back in style through the spectacular Grand Harbor in Valletta, and get off right at Victoria Gate for € 3.50.
By bus
- 5 Main bus station, Vjal Nelson (In front of the main entrance to the city). This station serves the whole island, the bus lines cover the island like a grid, most of them run from here and back.
How to get around
The Valletta peninsula is only a couple of kilometers long and therefore the ideal way is to get around on foot, which allows you to take many shortcuts via the stairs. However, the city is built on a ridge, and is steep in parts that require ascents and descents in places, which can be tiring. Most of the main tourist attractions are along the main road (Triq ir-Republika) which has no steep slopes.
Another possibility is to rent one of the wagons (Karozzin), but be sure to haggle over the price.
By public transport
Bus line 133 runs a circular route around Valletta, departing from the bus terminus surrounding the peninsula including the Valletta waterfront, Fort St. Elmo and many other locations. However, since most of Valletta is best reached on foot, it may be recommended to use this bus only for visiting a particular place rather than general sightseeing.
In the elevator
- 6 Barrakka lift.
1€. 
Nov-May: 07: 00-21: 00, Jun-Oct: 07: 00-24: 00. Two elevators between the waterfront and the main town level.
1€. 
Nov-May: 07: 00-21: 00, Jun-Oct: 07: 00-24: 00. Two elevators between the waterfront and the main town level.By taxi
A fleet of electric minivans they operate during the day in Valletta, with a maximum fare of € 5.00.
By car
An alternative would be the car, which is not ideal for visitors due to the lack of parking space, the presence of direction signs and the fact that the streets are very narrow, often one-way and confusing if not family members.
What see
1 Co-cathedral of San Giovanni (St. John's Co-Cathedral), Triq San Gwann (Entrance is through the Carappechia annex on Republic Street between St John's Street and St Lucia Street, directly across from the courthouse), ☎ 356 2122 0536. € 10 full, € 7.50 reduced (Sep 2018). Mon-Fri 09: 30-16: 30, Sat 09: 30-12: 30. Located in the street of the same name, it was built at the behest of the knights just after their settlement and used for over 200 years as a convent church of the Order of the Knights of St. John. In the oratory there are two paintings by Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi, 1573-1610) the most important, also because the only one signed by the artist, is the Beheading of John the Baptist you will see the signature at the edges of the bloodstain under John the Baptist's neck. The other canvas is S. Jerome.
- As you enter, you'll be provided with an audio guide included with your admission ticket that will take you through the cathedral in 24 stops, allowing you to gain additional historical information about the paintings and special parts of St John's Co-Cathedral.
- 2 Palace of the Grand Master, Palace Square, ☎ 356 21249349. € 10 full, € 7 reduced, € 5 children. Mon-Sun 09: 00-17: 00. It is a palace commissioned by the Great Master Pietro Del Monte and begun in 1571. The tapestry room is of considerable interest. Today the seat of the Parliament of Malta. The state rooms, when accessible, are quite impressive. There is also the Knights armory.
- At the entrance it is possible to receive an audio guide which is included in the admission price. It provides you with further historical information on the various armor of different eras starting from the medieval ones up to the armor of the 17th century.
- 3 Sacred Infirmary (Mediterranean Conference Center), Triq l-Isptar, ☎ 356 2124 3840. The large hospital built by the Knights of Malta in 1574, open to all, had the highest level of health care available in Europe at the time. It was largely destroyed during World War II, was rebuilt and now functions as a convention center. It is rarely open to the public.
- 4 Fort Sant'Elmo (National War Museum), ☎ 356 2123 3088. Apr-Sep: Mon-Sun 09: 00-18: 00; Oct-Mar: Mon-Sun 09: 00-17: 00. Built on the tip of the peninsula by the knights after the assaults of the pirate Dragut in 1551. During the Great Siege of 1565 the Turks made the mistake of choosing to take this fort first, for which they had planned a week of blockade. Instead the knights and soldiers present fought desperately for a month, buying essential time. Today the fort houses the National War Museum and the Police Academy. The National War Museum it mainly focuses on the world wars but covers the period from the Bronze Age onwards.
- 5 Saint James Cavalier (Kavallier ta 'San Ġakbu). A fortress facing the Auberge of Castille (now the Prime Minister's office), built as part of Valletta's elaborate defense systems. Today it houses a "Center for Creativity", with its own theater, cinema, music room and exhibition halls. His twin, St. John Cavalier it is currently the embassy of the Knights of St. John who are, like the Vatican, recognized by several countries as a sovereign entity.
- 6 Church of Our Lady of Carmel.
- 7 Church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria.
- 8 Castile hotel.
- 9 Hotel of Italy.
- 10 Wignacourt Aqueduct.
- 11 The National Library, 36 Old Treasury Street, ☎ 356 2123 6585. An evocative old library in Piazza della Repubblica, next to the Grand Master's Palace. Only part of it is open to the public - you will need to take a passport or other photo ID to enter. The entire archives of the Knights of St John from the Crusades in the 11th century until 1798 when Napoleon conquered Malta are kept here, in true Maltese style in rigid wooden filing cabinets. They are proud to mention that an irrigation system has recently been installed to protect this priceless collection.
- 12 The Casa Rocca Piccola, 74 Republic St., ☎ 356 2122 1499. A Maltese noble family on the Triq ir-Republika, a few hundred meters after the Grand Master's Palace on the right hand side. Very pleasant.
- 13 Lascaris War Rooms, ☎ 356 2123 4717. 10€. Mon-Sun 10:00 - 17:00. Underground complex used as a British headquarters during the defense of Malta in World War II.
- 14 St. Paul's Cathedral, Independence Square. Mon-Sun 10:00 -15: 00. Anglican cathedral built in 1844, with memorials of the defense of Malta in World War II.
- 15 City gate (Ground gate). The fifth construction of the main entrance to the city was built between 2011 and 2014 based on a project by the Italian architect Renzo Piano. The first gate of this site was built in 1569.
- 16 Parliament building (Il-Parlament) (Next to the entrance door). The Malta Parliament building was built between 2011 and 2015 at a cost of € 90 million based on a design by Renzo Piano. The building's design of two large stone blocks on stilts is controversial, but it has low emissions with solar panels on the roof. Public access to the building is limited.
Museums
- 17 National Museum of Fine Arts, South Street, Valletta VLT 11, Malta, ☎ 356 21225769, fax: 356 21239915.
- 18 Valletta National Museum of Archeology, Auberge de Provence, Republic St, ☎ 356 2122 1623. € 5 full, € 3.5 reduced, € 2.5 children. Mon-Sun 09: 00-18: 00 (closes at 17:00 in Jan and Feb). Although Malta has an impressive and unique ancient history, this museum housed in the former Auberge de Provence on via Repubblica can be quite a disappointment. The museum is currently partly undergoing renovations, hopefully it will bring something more worthy of its name.
- 19 Malta Postal Museum, 135 Archbishop Street. 5 €. Mon-Fri 10: 00-16: 00, Sat 10: 00-14: 00. Museum managed by Maltapost, includes a functioning post office.
Events and parties
- [link not working]Valletta International Baroque Festival. In January. Baroque music and opera concert festival.
What to do
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- Valletta fortifications. The impressive defensive walls and ramparts at the entrance to Valletta built by the Knights in the late 16th century are interesting to explore.
- 1 Barrakka Gardens (Il-Barrakka ta 'Fuq), 292 Triq Sant 'Orsla (to the upper south side of the peninsula). The gardens offer stunning views of the Grand Harbor.
- 2 Walk along the coast. You can take a spectacular walk along the sea around the city walls. If you go to the berth where the ferry to Sliema leaves, there is a chance to walk over the rocks to the tip of the peninsula and then return to the city right next to the Malta Experience. This walk takes about 30 minutes and is practically not performed by anyone.
- Audio guides. To get more historical information on the many places of interest across Valletta it can be helpful to get an audio guide. It is available in several languages at the Archaeological Museum on Republic Street. You can choose independently from the 24 stops and it is not necessary to follow the order given. Stops can easily be skipped or visited in another sequence when tired or full of new information.
- 3 Saluting Battery, Battery Street. One shot is fired twice a day, at 12:00 and 16:00.
- 4 The Malta Experience, St Elmo Bastions, Mediterranean St, ☎ 356 243776, 356 251284, @[email protected]. € 16 full, € 11 reduced, € 6 children. Although the price is not low, those with an interest in culture or history and who have not fully informed would do well to start their visit to Malta by going here as it is an excellent introduction to the country. It gives an impression of the great events that have shaped the island, but as it only lasts half an hour you shouldn't expect an in-depth discussion on the subject.
Shopping
Valletta's main street is the Republic Street, a very busy pedestrian area that crosses the center of the peninsula from the main gate to the Republic Square, where many of the best shops are located, although it cannot compete with Sliema for clothing.
The best gift shop can be found at Malta experiencebut there are many other shops in Valletta. There are several reasonable souvenir shops at the beginning of Republic street, but the prices are much cheaper if you walk 20 meters down South street (turn left if you have the bus station behind you) which crosses very Republic street. soon after entering through city gates.
There is a daily market selling cheap clothes on the street parallel to the Republic street called Triq il-Merkanti or Merchants Street.
- 1 Bookshop agenda, 26 Republic St, ☎ 356 2123 3621.
How to have fun
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Shows
- 1 Manoel Theater (It-Teatru Manoel), Old Theater St, ☎ 356 21246389. It is 'La Scala' in miniature, a beautiful seventeenth-century theater in its original state. One of the oldest active theaters in Europe, it is the place for many classical music performances, but also for the hilarious Christmas Panto
- 2 Pjazza Teatru Rjal (Open air theater), Cassar House, Triq il-Vittorja, ☎ 356 22478100. Theater opened on the site of the former Royal Opera House destroyed by a bomb in 1942. The open-air theater was designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 2013.
Where to eat
Valletta has a good selection of decent restaurants, especially on the waterfront. Since most tourists stay in Sliema or on the north coast of the island, there are fewer of them, although it does have the usual fast food chains. Look for traditional bakeries, with steaming fresh bread for pennies.
Moderate prices
- 1 [link not working]La Mère Restaurant, 174 Merchant Street (very close to the old market), ☎ 356 2122 3256, @[email protected]. Mon-Sat 12: 00-14: 30 and 19: 00-22: 30. Indian restaurant with a Maltese, Mediterranean and Arabic touch in an intimate and homely atmosphere.
- 2 Luciano (Italian restaurant), 21/22 Merchant Street (Adjacent to the Cathedral of San Giovanni), ☎ 356 2123 6212, @[email protected]. Good reasonably priced food in a lovely location near the cathedral - large portions. On the 3rd floor of the Hotel Luciano.
- 3 Caffe Cordina, 244/5 Republic St, ☎ 356 2123 4385. Mon-Sat 08: 00-19: 00, Sun 08: 00-16: 00. Venerable cafe, popular for lunch or for sweets and coffee in the cafeteria. Mixed reviews of the food
Average prices
- 4 De Robertis Restaurant (Castille Hotel Roof Top Restaurant)), Castille Square (On the corner of St Paul's St), ☎ 356 2124 3677. 12:00-14:30, 19:00-22:00. Great view and tasty food.
- 5 From 'Pippo Trattoria, 136 Melita St, ☎ 356 2124 8029. 11:30-15:30. A place where locals go for lunch. Good fish
- 6 Malata Restaurant, St Georges Palace Sq, ☎ 356 2123 3967. If you are looking for a place in Valletta to dine on a terrace then this is a nice place to go a little later in the evening when the square in front of the Grand Master's palace is almost emptied of parked cars.
- 7 Trabuxu Wine Bar, 2 Strait Street, ☎ 356 2122 3036. Tue-Sat 19: 00-23: 00. A charming wine shop in an old cellar serving light meals. It is at the beginning of a small alley parallel to Republic street, look for the wooden sign with the corkscrew. The bistro is opposite on South Street.
High prices
- 8 Pintonino Restaurant, Waterfront, Floriana, ☎ 356 2122 7773. Tucked away a few meters from the Valletta waterfront, a fine restaurant offering great food and a selection of over 150 wines.
- 9 Rampila Restaurant and Wine bar (Ramp it up), St John's Cavalier (Go through the city gate, first left and then left again, you will see an olive tree, an old stone bench and railings around the entrance to Rampila.), ☎ 356 2122 6625. 12:00-22:30. Maltese-Mediterranean fusion restaurant and wine bar in the imposing ramparts. You can enjoy a good plate of fresh fish, meat, game, pasta or risotto or enjoy a dish and / or dips accompanied by a vast assortment of wines.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- 1 Asti Guesthouse (Asti house), 18 St Ursula St, ☎ 356 2123 9506. €20. Small pension. Non-in-suite rooms, but three double bathrooms between nine rooms mean there's no problem with accessing the facilities. The price includes breakfast in a delightful room with a huge chandelier.
Average prices
- 2 British Hotel, 40 Battery St, ☎ 356 2122 4730, @[email protected]. $75. Friendly two-star. It has fantastic staff and a really cool bar with one of the best views in Valletta.
- 3 Osborne Hotel, 50 South St, ☎ 356 2124 3656. €200. 3-star hotel in a converted mansion.
- 4 Valletta G-House, 60 North St (near Fort Elmo), ☎ 44 7765 4321, @[email protected]. €150. Private residence for artists, two beds. Large bedroom with floor tiles and traditional 'gallery', rustic kitchen with all modern comforts and lounge.
High prices
- 5 Ellul House, 81 Old Theater Street (central, on the block between West St and Old Mint St), ☎ 356 21 224 821, @[email protected]. 4-star boutique hotel on a quiet street in central Valletta. It has eight suites (most with balconies) set around a central courtyard, with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and minibars, as well as tea- and coffee-making facilities.
- 6 Grand Hotel Excelsior, Great Siege Rd, Floriana, ☎ 356 2125 0520, @[email protected]. 5-star hotel located in 16th century ramparts
- 7 The Phenicia, The Mall, Floriana, ☎ 356 2122 5241, fax: 356 2123 5254, @[email protected]. €250. Check in: 14. 5 star luxury Art Deco hotel just outside the main entrance.
- 8 Valletta Suites, St Lucia St, ☎ 356 7948 8047. €140. Boutique hotel with 3 independent suites in a 17th century residence.
Safety
Aside from a few restaurants and bars open in the evenings, Valletta still has almost nothing in the way of nightlife, so apart from the street of the Republic, the streets are pretty empty late at night. Most of the usual petty crime that travelers face happens to Sliema is St Julians, but it's something to keep in mind.
How to keep in touch
Around
7 Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni, Triq Ic Cimiterju, Paola (Reachable by any bus line up to Paola (for example, Route 1,2,3) and a few steps from the bus stops.), ☎ 356 2142 4231, fax: 356 2124 4231. € 35 full, € 20 reduced, € 15 children. 09:00-16:00. The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is an underground structure excavated in 2500 BC. Thought to be originally a sanctuary, it became a necropolis in prehistoric times. It is the only prehistoric underground temple in the world. To ensure its conservation, the microclimate of the site is strictly regulated. For this reason, the site is open to a maximum of 80 visitors per day. Each tour is limited to ten visitors with eight tours each day. A tour of the site begins with a short introductory exhibition and a multilingual audiovisual film focusing on the peoples building the temple and the hypogeum's relationship to Malta's temple sites. Advance booking on the Heritage Malta website is highly recommended. If you are unable to book in advance, tickets for the next day's tours at 12pm and 4pm are sold at Valletta Museum of Fine Arts the day before. They are sold on a first come, first served basis. Plan to queue half an hour to an hour and a half in advance to guarantee your ticket purchase.
- Another possibility is to virtually visit the site through an audiovisual support of 20 minutes for € 5.
- 8 Tarxien Temples, Triq It Tempji Neolithic, Tarxien. 6€. Mon-Sun 09: 00-17: 00. This site, dating from the period between 3600 and 2500 BC, is the most complex of all temple sites in Malta and consists of four megalithic structures.
- Midna
- Gozo
Itineraries
- Megalithic temples of Malta - a visit to the megalithic sites of which 6 are registered in the Unesco list is very interesting.
Useful information
- 9 Tourist information (Malta Tourism Authority), Auberge D'Italie, Merchants Street 229. Mon-Sat 9: 00-17: 30, Sun 9: 00-13: 00.
