Valletta - World Heritage Site and Capital of Malta
Valletta, the 459-year-old capital of Valletta and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a remarkable and captivating city.
A historic city perched on a peninsula between two harbors, it was built by the Knights of St. John following the Great Siege of Malta (when the Knights successfully repelled an attack by the Ottoman Empire despite being significantly outnumbered).
Valletta is a walled city known for its stunning Baroque architecture, narrow, bustling streets, and many amazing cultural landmarks.
I've traveled multiple times to Valletta during the last 5 weeks of my Maltese trip and will no doubt return before I leave in three weeks.
The massive St. John’s Bastion is part of Valletta’s impressive fortifications.
This is one of Valletta's many stair-lined streets, such as the steep slope in St. Paul Street, which originally featured a series of side-to-side steps.
Beautiful old buildings and weathered stone are prevalent in Valletta.
New Meets Old
Decals placed on vertical slats inside an ancient archway.
Located just outside the city gates, Triton’s Fountain features three bronze Gods of the Sea who look towards the entrance of the city.
Victoria Gate, constructed in 1885, is the primary entrance to Valletta from the Grand Harbour. It is adorned with the coats of arms of Malta, Valletta, and the British Empire, and was once equipped with a drawbridge.
The gallarija, a distinctive wooden enclosed balcony, is a prominent feature of Valletta's streets. It provides color and architectural interest to the stone features that dominate the city.
Restaurant tables decorate the narrow, stair-lined streets.
The interior of a monastery for cloistered nuns, founded in 1575. The doors were just recently opened to the public, after being secluded in the city for over 400 years.
“Cats of Malta” is a 2023 documentary describing the stray cats of Malta, fed and cared for by the community, and how cats unite the island. This is a lucky cat who calls the monastery it’s home.