And, amongst all this splendour, two names stand out: Mattia Preti and Caravaggio. The church served as the burial site for Grand Master La Vallette, the 49th GrandMaster and the hero of the Order. It is one of the first buildings to be erected in Valletta after the Great Siege in the late 16th century and therefore one of the oldest buildings in the city. It sits proudly, looking inland across the recently remodelled plaza area. Shes therefore credited with single-handedly reviving the old tradition of lace-making on the Maltese islands at a time of need. This company offers one of the best deals on a tour of St. Johns Co-Cathedral. Considered the most Baroque building in the world, it is decorated from ceiling to the bottom. At the top of the square (it is a good time as any other to get acquainted to the ups and downs of the city) there are two churches. Follow the map to find it, its annoyingly tucked away and non-signposted for a tourist office, but hey, at least it wont be busy! The bust on the facade is of the Innocent XII, who served as Inquisitor in Malta for 3 years before being elected pope (1649-49). During the Second World War Malta became the most bombarded place in the world per square kilometre, as Malta stood all the war cutting the Axis supplies although we were completely surrounded by the enemy. Nowadays it is still an official building, being the office of the President of Malta. Standing on stilts at Republic Square, Renzo Pianos masterpiece blends in well with the rest of the monuments surrounding the area. We also have a tour of the Dark side of Valletta in the late evening, so you can see the citys beauty at night, discover different streets, stories and its nightlife. This outing is available every Monday and Thursday at 10:30 am. Maltese stone is slippery You can take fantastic pictures of emblematic locations and charming streets, have a break for a typical pastizzi, a good coffee or tea. Even though you can not see it from here, at the tip of the peninsula where Valletta is located, we have Fort Saint Elmo. This website uses cookies to improve your browsingexperience and analyze the use of the website. If you are interested in his works, we recommend you visit MUA since an important representation of his works are exhibited. We really hope you have enjoyed your visit to the city. Try to imagine a messy car park next to the derelict Royal Theatre site instead of the New Parliament Building and the restored Royal Opera House. Come closer to look at the ornate shawl covering Queens lap its made from Maltese lace. Completed in 1943, these rooms hidden 150 feet below the city streets were the central hub for directing allied military operations in Malta and the wider Mediterranean. (By the time we are writing this piece the palace is undergoing a huge refurbishment, so check before visiting). The display is surprisingly unusual as it juxtaposes old masters with contemporary artworks, groups artworks and objects in ways similar to contemporary art installations, presents techniques on videos and interactive experiences complement objects and artworks on display. After youve admired the circular Triton Fountain, step into the city of Valletta through the controversial yet grand Valletta City Gate. We have just finished your self guided walking tour of Valletta. It was also Caravaggios only work which he signed. In addition to offering a lot of spooky and creepy information about the city, this outing also serves as an excellent night tour! St. Georges Square. As you keep walking down the street, you can see we still have some british memento, like the telephone boots and postbox. Theres no shortage of churches to visit in Malta but this one holds a special place for many of the locals. It was the first church built in Valletta, commissioned by Valette himself to commemorate the victory over the Ottomans. It is highly recommended to visit this area, especially the city of Birgu. Its also a tribute to Queen Victoria ordering eight dozen pairs long and eight dozen pairs short mitts, besides a scarf made from Maltese lace. If youve got the time then its a great place to get a handle on the complete history of the islands. The canvas was commissioned by the Knights of Malta as an altarpiece for the cathedral and is the biggest canvas the artist ever painted. The present building dates back to the 1740s in a Baroque style, and it has been called probably the finest building in Malta.. The full name of the knights is The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta From now on on this tour and for the sake of time, Order of St John, Order of Malta or just the Order. Its located right next to the main Valletta bus terminal and taxi rank if you are taking public transport. Finally, if you look just to the terrace below there are some cannons, and maybe some British soldiers dress as coming from the Victorian era. Just turning your back to the Queen you are in front of Caffe Cordina, the oldest cafe in the city. Recently, it has been restored and reinstalled for Valletta 2018, when the city was European capital of culture. But what you can see for sure is a big building with a neoclassical entrance in the centre, on top of which you can appreciate the coat of arms of the British Empire: that used to be the guard of the palace. In the monument, he is holding the plans of the city in one hand and the sword of victory in the other. Its the first church building completed in Valletta by the Order of St. John in 1566 following the Great Siege of Malta. We will pass some arcades on your left hand side and you will be in a widening area. Keep on walking in front of the Aubergue, cross the road in the zebra crossing and keep on going straight to the Garden opposite. The building is the historic seat of the Italian knights of the Order of St John with a 500 year old history and is in itself a prime historic site, meticulously restored to expose historic layers. Lots of sites that will help you to discover why Valletta has been described as A city built by knights for gentlemen but also to understand why it has been described as an open air museum by UNESCO. One of our recommendations is taking the Tour of the dark side of the city, where you will be given more information about the punishments at the time. Ask for a Cisk! Remember to wear comfortable shoes but try to avoid leather soles. Built as a home for the Grandmaster (ruler of Malta) in the 16th century, its been used and altered by various occupants every since. Originally, the Maltese government proposed to clear the site for the Parliament buildings instead. You are now standing at the back of the theatre in an open area with a monument dedicated to Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette, founder of the city and 46th ruler of the Order of Malta. As you continue your self-guided Valletta walking tour, stop by the earlier mentioned Royal Opera House to the left of the Parliament building. Luckily, Palazzo Ferreria survived WWII and today houses shops at street level and government offices on top. The Triton fountain was constructed in 1959, by a Maltese sculptor, Vincent Apap, and his inspirations were the fountains in the Roman squares. We werent able to go into any of the buibecause of current health concerns (covid19) but it has been perfect.

Here sits the Church of St. Pauls Shipwreck, one of Vallettas oldest structures, dating back to the 1570s. Considered to be his greatest work, the painting offers a rather gory depiction of human death.

Use our free Valletta walking tour map (at the bottom of this page) to help you navigate around the streets and alleyways of the historic capital of Malta. For instance, the first building to your left on the corner is the Church of Saint James, built and used by the knights from Castille and Portugal, and another great example of Baroque. He revived the bombed site as an open-air theatre naming it after its origin structure, Pjazza Teatru Rjal. Would you rather explore Valletta by yourself or with a local guide? Despite multiple alterations over the years, the interior still holds true to the original stunning 18th-century design. The monument was erected during her Jubilee and, although slightly displaced during the war, remains until today. We recommend our guided free tours of Valletta that operate on the pay-what-you-think-is-worth model. Back on our self-guided walking tour, head two streets over and back onto the main shopping drag of Republic Street. The original statue, due to structural errors, collapsed in 1978. Actually another Palazzo Parisio can be found in Malta, in the village of Naxxar, in the centre of the island. Despite its relatively plain exterior, a quick look inside will show you why St. Johns Co-Cathedral is considered to be one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Europe. The north section houses MPs rooms while the south holds parliament offices. If you have the opportunity to visit the interior don't miss it. The view from the upper level is probably the most satisfying on the island. The business dates back to 1837 but the original building dates back much further, as it used to be the Treasury of the Order of Saint John. Palazzo Parisio, one of the biggest palaces in the city on which used to live one of the principal families in the country. This former gunpowder magazine and armoury is now home to a massive exhibition covering the history of Malta from the bronze age to the 1990s. But do not let yourself be distracted by the movement of the street and its inhabitants, and look a bit higher. Represents the Order of St John (central figure) defending Malta and the catholicism (the two femenine figures). Three grand bronze Tritons holding a huge basin of water above their heads stand proudly outside the main gates of Maltas capital. The Grand Master was buried under the crypt below, even though it was transferred to the Conventual Church of the Orden dedicated to St, John the Baptist (today the Co-cathedral of St John), as soon as this was finished. While a normal ticket to the attraction will cost 15, if you purchase your tickets with this tour, youll get a discount of 2 on tickets! Here, we turn into the narrow street covered with an arch on our left, Old Theatre Street, leaving the market at your back. Although it looks a bit like a Roman ruin, the columns are the remnants of the once grand exterior. It was erected in 1891 to commemorate Queen Victorias 50th Jubilee during British rule, despite her never having visited the country. That is because this is the Saluting Battery, where every day at 12:00 and 16:00 a salva is shot, as used to happen during the British period in the island. Today its used for its original purpose and, of course, for tourists amusement. If you visit, be sure to pick up an audio guide to learn all the details about this masterpiece of shadows. Now you definitely can understand why the street is called Merchants: waiters calling you over to their restaurants, while on both sides of the streets, ground floors are full of shops. Enjoy! This free walking tour focuses on the cities of Mdina and Rabat, taking you outside of Valletta for an interesting experience in central Malta. The Three cities are the two peninsulas just in front of you. The British began expanding the existing network of tunnels and chambers during the Siege of Malta in 1940. The service will last for around 2 hours, giving you plenty of time to explore and discover the spookiest areas of the city. You can take this tour every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10:30 am. Even though underneath is full of prisons, today these have been converted into archives and peculiarly enough, in an interesting revest, today houses the Ministry for Health, Ministeru tas Sahha in maltese, very important word, since Sahha it means health, it is used to say bye and to make a toast. Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 08.45 - 16.00 HOLY MASS 08.45. This is a very important monument for various reasons. Just opposite to the Law Courts there is an elevated area with a monument. Its an easy and free way to explore if you have just one day in Valletta. Just in front of the Library we have a nicely dressed lady in the centre of the square. We will be orienting you relative to buildings and with the help of street names, but in Malta, street names are not in every corner, therefore it may take you some time to find them. on Self-Guided Valletta Walking Tour: Explore Maltas Capital on Foot, Self-Guided Valletta Walking Tour: Explore Maltas Capital on Foot, Cool and Quirky Things to Do in Cologne (Germany) in 2 Days, Top Things to Do on Holy Island (Lindisfarne), 11 Fabulous Things to Do in Gozo on Your Trip to Malta, 3 Days in Malta: Itinerary for the Perfect Long Weekend on the Island, The Cost of Living in Malta: Things to Consider Before Moving, 41 Best Restaurants in Malta: A Food Guide to the Maltese Islands. We start our tour at the impressive Triton Fountain. This fifth and the most modern edition restored during 2011-2014 is often referred to as the ancient Egyptian temple of Edfu. This is one of the most famous landmarks in Malta, and you will need a ticket to enter. This post will provide details about the best free walking tours you can take in Malta, including information about both guided and self-guided options. It was refurbished just in time to celebrate Vallettas stint as European Capital of Culture in 2018 and is a popular spot to hang out at any time of the day or night. Our lady of Victories on the right and Santa Catherina of Italy on the left. The latter, as we mentioned earlier, is run by locals who can even give you a quick 1-hour Grand Harbour tour for a few euros extra. Thank you, thoroughly recommend it. The Palace Armoury is open from Thursdays to Sundays between 10:00hrs and 16:30hrs. The iconic dome can be seen from far across the country and is easy to pick out of the Valletta skyline. Theres a heavy focus on World War II with the St Georges Cross which Malta received for its pivotal role in the allied victory, proudly on display. Head down the stairs to discover Maltas best-kept secret. Their words, not ours! So our guided tour starts under the Parliament. You can take this tour every Friday at 19:30 (7:30 pm), which also makes it an excellent option for a free night tour. Just past St Dominic Street on the left, youll see a sign for Casa Rocca Piccola. The floor, often described as the most beautiful in the world, is decorated with the tombstones of the most important knights of the Order in polychrome marble, creating a spectacular game of colours, opulence and messages of glory and power. Being the second most important street of the city, we can see here the monumentality of the administrative buildings of the order. Valletta is lively even after dark, with people sitting in terraces and squares, enjoying the fantastic Mediterranean weather, and it is safe day and night, therefore you can walk around the city at any time. Navigate your way back to the furthest end of Republic Street and begin walking back up towards the city gates. Explore the capital city of Malta with our self-guided Valletta walking tour. Opens usually on Sundays for mass and entrance is free. Now we go back to the previous smaller square where we first appeared when coming from Merchant Street, just a few meters from where we are standing, Grand Master's Palace closed for refurbishment. Walk Republic Street, keeping the cafe on your right and Republic Square on your left. The building on your right as you enter Castille, is today a museum Spazju Kreattiv for modern temporal exhibitions and an alternative cinema, but as you can see it was built by the knights as the cavalier of Saint James, to defend the entrance to the city. The peninsula on the right, with the small garden on top of the bastion, is Isla or Senglea. Walk straight crossing Merchant Street. You are now looking at what was the centre of power of the island for centuries. La Valette laid the first stone of the city with his own two hands in 1566 but, unfortunately, died before the city was finished. Sometimes also known as the Knights of Malta, history generally depicts them as a band of sword-wielding warriors. The entrance is just to the right of the monument to the Great Siege. If you do, a last tip: compare the simple mannerist facade with the lavish inside, and you will probably have the best resume of Valletta. The tour itself is approximately 1 hour long, and its available every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. This free pay-what-you-wish walking tour provides details about both paranormal activity and true tales of murder, massacre, and plague. The Grand Master Valette ask from every langue to choose 2 locations: one for their Aubergue and one for their church, This explain why there are some many churches in the city. Here you can grab a panoramic view of the coastal Maltese towns Floriana, Msida and Sliema. Twinned with the Upper Gardens of the same name, Lower Barrakka Gardens are a much smaller and quieter affair. You are now in Castille Square. Despite being a tourist hotspot the prices are reasonable and the service is snappy. As you probably know, Valletta is the only UNESCO capital of Europe. Together protected the Grand Harbour from possible enemies. Getting around in Valletta is pretty easy, remember the city is built like a grid, on top of Mount Sciberras and it is located in half of a peninsula with a length of 1.5 km and a width of 1 km. You are now standing in the main artery of the city: Republic Street. This unusual Royal Theatre is another site brought to life after sitting derelict for years as a carpark in Maltas capital city. Its a shame that the virus has closed doors to many attractions worth seeing, but luckily Valletta has several good lookout points. It now houses the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta hence the security guards waving away any curious visitors. Its currently home to Maltas National Theatre and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Here are a few of the subjects you can learn about on this tour: Although you could just visit and explore this attraction on your own, you might want to consider taking this tour to learn about why its such an important structure in Malta. Malta is a well known paradise for film-makers, as many super productions have been filmed around and in the harbour some examples are Gladiator, Troy, Agora or Games of Thrones. We are surprised too) and the remains in front of you, belonging to the Royal Opera House, the neoclassical theatre built by the British which was bombarded during WWII, are all in its present state part of a plan by the italian architect Renzo Piano to remodel the entrance of the city. Some juicy gossip of the period will be released during the free tour! This lesser-visited Valletta attraction sits at the top of St. Johns Bastion and St. Michaels Bastion. A majority of guests will tip their tour guide around 5 - 10. If youre in need of some more info and what to see, do, eat and drink whilst in Malta then pop over to the Tourist Information Centre on Merchants Street. Head straight over to the terrace and soak up the vista across the Grand Harbour towards the Three Cities of Malta. So much, that this monument is not from the times of the Order, but from 1927, almost 400 years after. Turn to your right with the Royal opera House. Remains of the old ravelin can be seen in the floor in front of the gate, under a glass. The construction took almost 5 years and the tritons were cast in bronze in an italian foundry. Before the bomb hit and severely damaged the precious Maltese site during WWII, the Royal Opera House was regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in Valletta. If youd rather explore Valletta at your own pace, we currently offer a free self-guided tour you may want to consider which is actually very similar to the service provided by Authentic Malta. Main historic features such as the main staircase have been rebuilt in contemporary material . The public can visit the State Rooms and Armoury exhibition areas run by Heritage Malta. This made the city one of the most modern in the world. We are in the most lively square of the city, St George square. Opposite to MUA you find Palazzo Parisio. One of the most popular locations to visit is St. Johns Co-Cathedral, and while youll need a ticket to get inside, there are free walking tours you can take which cover the history of the landmark and even offer a discount on admission! The complex lived on long after the end of WWII, being used by NATO to intercept Soviet submarines in the Med until shutting down in 1977.