Valletta travel guide

St Johns Co-Cathedral

Valletta's magnificent medieval cathedral is famous for the painting by Caravaggio, which hangs in its oratory, and the 369 inlaid mosaic marble tombstones that cover the floor. Each tombstone depicts the lives of the Grand Masters of the Order of St John, buried beneath.

The façade is rather sever and militaristic. Yet inside, the cathedral is lavishly splendid in the grandest tradition of high Baroque. Carvings cover every each of wall, while the vaulted ceiling sports paintings depicting the life of St John the Baptist, patron saint of the Knights.

The cathedral benefitted greatly over the centuries from many donations given by the Knights and their Grand Masters. Some of the most impressive works of art were gifts from the order. It's still an active place of worship, with frequent services, and also operates as a beautiful venue for cultural events.

The stunningly ornate cathedral is an exceptional sight and a must for tourist in Malta. Guided tours and rented audio guides help to greatly enrich the experience. Travellers should be sure to check the website for visiting hours to avoid disappointment.

Palace of the Grandmaster

The Grandmaster's Palace, built around 1571, today serves as the office of the President and seat of the Maltese Parliament. When parliament is not in session, the palace and its State Rooms are open to the public.

The palace is a treasure trove of art, from the unique collection of Gobelin Tapestries to frescoes depicting the Great Siege of 1565 by Perez d'Aleccio that cover the walls of the Halls of St Michael and St George.

The Knights decorated the palace richly and elaborately, conscious of showing off their wealth and influence. For visitors, exploring splendid chambers like the Hall of the Supreme Council of the Knights is thrilling.

Visitors can also view the Armoury and state apartments adorned with friezes depicting the history of the Order of the Knights of St John. The Armoury is perhaps the greatest attraction of the palace and it boasts one of the largest collections of its kind in the world.

Malta has a tumultuous history and the Armoury holds the assorted weaponry of centuries of invasions, sieges, and battles, making it a paradise for military history buffs. Guided tours are available and wonderful audio guides offer comprehensive commentary.

National Museum of Archaeology

The National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta houses one of the inns of the Knights of St John: the Auburge de Provence. The establishment's focus on Malta's prehistory includes displays such as the reconstruction of prehistoric remains found at the Hypogeum.

Pottery, sculptures, statuettes, stone tools, and jewellery from the prehistoric, megalithic, and temple-building periods feature. Punic and Roman tomb furniture are also present, with all exhibits sourced from excavations across the Maltese islands. The age of some artefacts is staggering.

Only those interested in archaeology will fully appreciate the wonders on offer, its treasures wasted on those easily bored by ancient histories and cultures. Young children especially should give it a skip. The collection is well-maintained and labelled, with exhibitions in chronological order.

Lascaris War Rooms

Valletta suffered great damage during World War II bombing raids. The war defence of Malta took place in the Lascaris War Rooms, with the island always holding a strategic military importance far out of proportion to its size,

Some of the most famous battles fought in the Mediterranean during the war were coordinated from these headquarters, a 17th-century underground complex of tunnels and chambers. Now restored, it acts as a museum with displays of charts, models, and dioramas.

It's fascinating to see all the old wartime paraphernalia and to explore the once top secret military operating rooms. Guides are enthusiastic and well-informed volunteers who greatly enrich the experience. Tours are conducted in English and take 75 minutes, after which visitors can freely stroll the grounds.

Malta Experience

The Malta Experience is a dramatic presentation that illustrates the history of Malta, from Neolithic to modern times. Shown at the Mediterranean Conference Centre at St Elmo's bastion in Valletta, the building originally served as a hospital by the Knights of St John in the 1500s.

Wards are now great sweeping halls with vaulted ceilings and marble floors, functioning as exhibition areas. A modern theatre the Malta Experience audio-visual show in 17 different languages.

The show is a sweeping expose of 7,000 years of history covering the original stone-age inhabitants, the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Knights of St John, and the nation's modern history. It is as entertaining as it is educational.

Indeed, the Malta Experience is a great way to begin a holiday in Malta as it provides an overview of the archipelagos' dramatic history and greatly enriches the sightseeing to come. This is particularly useful as not all sites on the islands have detailed information for tourists.

The documentary also offers great insight into the Maltese culture and people. About 45 minutes long, the Malta Experience is immensely popular and more than four million visitors have seen it since its opening.

Three Cities

Malta's main maritime towns have merged into a fortified conglomerate known as the Three Cities, resting on the promontories opposite Valletta. Vittoriosa is the oldest town in Malta after Mdina, featuring plenty of historical architecture, including several of the Inns of the Knights of St John.

There is also a hospital built by the Order in 1672, in which still lives a Benedictine convent of devout nuns. Dating from 1274, Fort St Angelo is the oldest fortified part of Vittoriosa and stands at the tip of the promontory. Additionally, the Museum of Maritime History is well worth a visit.

Founded in 1717, Cospicua is the youngest of the Three Cities and features some fascinating churches. Senglea, designed by Grand Master De La Sengle in 1551, exists as an important pilgrimage destination. Its parish church contains a statue of Christ the Redeemer, said to have miraculous powers.

There are many great restaurants and bars in the Three Cities and the marina area is becoming increasingly popular. The best way to explore is on a walking tour, wandering through the old districts and discovering unexpected joys and treasures.

Apart from the rich history, the Three Cities are famous for their residents' enthusiastic celebration of holy days and festas. The most exciting of these is the Easter procession, when status of Jesus Christ are carried at a run through crowded strets.

Hal Saflieni Hypogeum

Just southwest of the Three Cities in the suburb of Paolo, the Hypogeum is a labyrinthine limestone complex of man-made chambers extending some 36 feet (11m) below the surface. Experts believe it was a burial site and temple for Neolithic humans who used antlers and stones to carve it out more than 5,000 years ago.

It's comprised of several interconnecting chambers on three distinct levels. Used over a span of many centuries, the oldest remains at the site date back to about 4,000 BC. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Archaeologists have recovered numerous statues, amulets, figurines, and vases, many of which are on display in the Archaeological Museum in Valletta. The Hypogeum has been open to the public since 1908 and the droves of visitors have unfortunately had a negative impact on the ancient environment.

Now, only eight tours a day take place with 10 people permitted on each tour. They are often booked up weeks in advance so tickets should be booked early to avoid disappointment. The tours are more or less an hour long and provide audio guides.

Hagar Qim

Haqar Qim is a prehistoric temple complex located in western Malta. Discovered in 1839, it dates back to around 3,000 BC and boast some of the oldest human structures on the planet. The Hagar Qim and nearby Mnajdra ruins are close to the village of Qrendi, about nine miles (15km) southwest of Valletta.

The megalithic temples are carved from giant limestone slabs, housing sacrificial altars, oracular chambers, and carved animals and idols, themselves fashioned by flint and obsidian. The largest megalith is 23 feet (7m) high and weighs about 20 tons.

Although the ancient ruins of Malta are generally called temples, very little is actually known about their purpose. Many of the relics recovered from the Hagar Qim site, including the famous Venus of Malta and her accompanying fat lady statues, are on display in the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.

Unlike some of the other temples on Malta, Hagar Qim has an impressive visitors' centre that offers plenty of background information through interactive displays. While there are shelters around the site to protect one from the elements, they hardly detract from the otherworldly experience of the ruins.