Valletta is not only the capital of Malta and the famous tourist center, but also one of the largest and oldest ports in the Mediterranean. The city is located in the north-east of the country, in the largest natural bay of the European continent.

How to get

Direct flights from Moscow during the season (charter and regular Air Malta), as well as in winter (Air Malta). Airport (Malta International Airport) is 6 km southeast of the capital, you can get there from the city center by bus or taxi.

A bit of history

Valletta is a fortified city, where practically every square has at least one castle. It was founded in the late 16th century by the Knights of the Order of St. John. During a long siege they managed to liberate these lands from the Turkish yoke, which for a long time paralyzed the lives of local residents. The construction of the city began with the erection of a small chapel for the glory of the victory over the Turks, over time it grew into a beautiful temple of the Madonna of the Victory. It was here that the glorious knight Jean de la Vallette laid the foundation for large-scale construction.

Later, to work on the construction of the city, the well-known European architect Laparelli was connected at the time, he immediately developed a detailed development plan, taking into account the fact that Valletta was considered primarily a fortress. So the city was built on a hill, having previously expanded it, and surrounded by a powerful stone wall with a watch tower.

How to navigate

The streets in the Maltese capital are very narrow, only on some of them is possible a two-way traffic, the rest are exclusively pedestrian. All houses were built on one clear line, so as not to hide additional space. For the same reason, on the streets of Valletta there is practically no vegetation, the only decoration of them are numerous sculptures and elegant facades. But at the same time they are so related to each other that even a deep sea breeze penetrates deep into the city.

Transport Valletta

The cape, on which the capital of Malta is located, stretches for only a couple of kilometers, and it's easy to go along and across on your two. On a rented car in the city is better not to stop: the streets in the historical part are very narrow, there are difficulties with parking, in addition, many pedestrian areas. Intending to ride through the streets of Valletta by horse-drawn carriage, you need to bargain properly. Among other things, the Maltese capital can be traveled by bus: route 98 follows clockwise, and 198th - against (interval of traffic - 15-30 minutes).

The climate of Valletta is

March 1, Sunday Clearly +13 ° С in the day +12 ° С at night ° С water	March 2, Monday Partly cloudy, light rain +14 ° С in the afternoon +13 ° С at night ° С water	March 3, Tuesday Clearly +15 ° С in the day +14 ° С at night ° С water
Weather forecast for Valletta for 10 days

Shopping

Most of the shops of interest to tourists are concentrated on the main street of the Republic and around the eponymous square. Another shopping place - parallel to her shopping street, sells mostly clothes here, but there are also cute trinkets in the national spirit "for the house, for the family."

Entertainment, excursions and attractions Valletta

The Republic Street meridian passes through the whole city, here is concentrated the greatest number of attractions .It has to leisurely walks, pleasant meetings and just an interesting pastime .One of the most notable on the streets of the Republic is the building of the Cabinet of Ministers of Malta - Auberge de Castille, where in the Middle Ages the residence of the knights of Spain was located .And next to the Palace Square is the President's apparatus in the most mysterious and majestic palace of Valletta, the Palace of the Grand Master .Despite the fact that there are daily high-ranking men doing their work there, some halls of the Palace can be visited with an excursion of .Moreover, there is much that is admirable, for example, a unique knight's outfit, made in the 14th century .

Near the Palace there is Liberty Square. It is worth a visit here to admire the beautiful palace of Ferreria, built in the spirit of the best Italian architectural traditions, or to go to some premiere at the Royal Opera.

If you follow the street of the Republic further towards the sea, then you can be near to Auberge de Provence, in this refined building once lived the French knights, the British Union club was located, and now is the National Archaeological Museum. There is also the National Museum of Fine Arts, which presents many fine works of both European and Maltese painters - and the highlight of the exposition is the legendary canvas by Michelangelo "The Beheading of John the Baptist."

At Fort Saint Elmo there is a military museum, and every month there are entertaining costumed reconstructions of legendary military battles.

The cathedrals, churches and chapels of Valletta

Of particular note are the numerous cathedrals of Valletta, of which the most famous is the Cathedral of St. John. Looking at it from the outside, it's hard to guess that this is a temple, it's more like a strict defensive structure. But once you get into the building, you realize how deceptive the first impression can be - its interior decoration impresses with its luxury and grace, the walls are decorated with frescoes, and the floor consists of marble tombstones under which the ashes of knights rest.

Not inferior in beauty and the Cathedral of the Shipwreck of St. Paul, located on the street of the same name. It is here that there are relics associated with the life and death of this Saint, and the throne of the Grand Master, cast from pure silver.

• Cathedral of St. John of Jerusalem, the main temple of the Order of the Johannites, one of the main attractions of Valletta (built in the 16th century) is
• Cathedral of St. Paul (Anglican)
• Parish Church of Sts. Augustine (built in the early 20th century)
• Church of St. Francis (built in the 17th century)
• Parish Church of Sts. Dominica (built in the 16th century, rebuilt in the 19th century)
• Basilica of the Virgin of Mount Carmel (built in the 16th century, rebuilt in the 20th century)

• Church of St. Maria the Winner (built in the 16th century). This is the first church * of Valletta, dedicated to the victory of the Knights-Johannites over the Turks in the Great Siege
• Church of St. Catherine, the temple of the Italian Lang (d 'Italie) of the Order of the Johannites (built in the 16th century)
• Church of St. Barbara, the artillery temple (built in the 16th century)
• Church of St. Jacob, the temple of the Castile, León and Portugal lagoons of the Order of the Johannites (built in the 18th century)
• Church of the Holy Gifts, it is the Church of the Savior (built in the 17th century)
• Church of the Theotokos of Damascus (built in the 16th century, rebuilt in the 20th century) - Greek Catholic temple
• Church and monastery of St. Catherine of Siena
• Parish Church of the Shipwreck of St. Paul (built in the 16th century)
• Church of St. Rocha, built after the end of the plague epidemic (16th century)
• Church of St. Lucia, a temple of wine merchants (built in the 16th century)
• Church of St. Mary Magdalene, shelter for "fallen women" (built in the 16th century)
• Church of the Jesuits (built in the 16th century)
• Church and monastery of St. Ursula (built in the 16th century)
• Church of St. Nicholas, the temple of commemoration of the souls of the dead (built in the 16th century, rebuilt in the 20th century)
• Church of Our Lady of Lisa (built in the 17th century)
• Church of the Departure of St. Families in Egypt (built in the 18th century)
• Church of the Virgin Jesus (built in the 16th century)
• Church of the Virgin Pilar (built in the 17th century)

Photo of Valletta (23)