Il-Belt Valletta

Built by knights, fortified against epic sieges and crowned in golden limestone, the Maltese capital is one of Europe's most extraordinary urban experiences — a tiny, perfectly planned 16th-century fortress city compact enough to walk end-to-end in twenty minutes, yet packed with such Baroque richness that the entire centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sitting on a peninsula between two of the world's great natural harbours, the city was designed by the Knights of St John as Europe's first planned grid-pattern Renaissance city after their famous 1565 victory over Ottoman forces. Café culture spills out onto the pedestrianised Republic Street, the cosy stepped alleys, and the spectacular Upper Barrakka Gardens overlooking the Grand Harbour, where pavement terraces serve thick Maltese coffee, the local ftira sandwich, pastizzi savoury pastries and crisp glasses of Cisk lager. The dining scene blends traditional Maltese cooking (rabbit stew, lampuki fish pie, bragioli beef olives, kapunata vegetable stew) with strong Italian and North African influences and a confident new fine-dining tier that has earned multiple Michelin stars in recent years. The Manoel Theatre is one of Europe's oldest still-working theatres (built in 1731 by the Knights), the strikingly modern Valletta Campus Theatre hosts contemporary drama, and the open-air Pjazza Teatru Rjal built into the ruins of the old Royal Opera House delivers spectacular summer performances. Nightlife is famously varied for such a small city — wine bars in 17th-century palazzo courtyards, craft-cocktail dens on Strait Street (once the rowdy 'Gut' of British naval days), lively gin bars, jazz cellars, and the lively bayside Sliema and St Julian's areas just across the harbour. Major events include the spectacular Carnival in February (Malta's biggest party); the Malta International Arts Festival each summer; the Notte Bianca all-night arts festival each October; the Valletta Baroque Festival in January; the Christmas Lights Festival; and the annual Easter pageants with statues paraded through the streets. Distinct neighbourhoods include the gridded centre with Republic and Merchants streets and the historic auberges (knights' lodges); the dramatic harbour bastions and the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens; the buzzing modern resort areas of Sliema, St Julian's and Paceville just over the bridge; the historic Three Cities of Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua across the Grand Harbour; and the leafy embassy district of Floriana. Architectural highlights are extraordinary: the spectacular St John's Co-Cathedral (with two original Caravaggio masterpieces and a richly inlaid marble floor); the Grandmaster's Palace; the Renzo Piano-designed City Gate and rebuilt Parliament; the imposing Fort St Elmo; the Lascaris War Rooms; and the gardens, watchtowers and bastions ringing the entire peninsula. Day trips fan out across the small islands: the silent walled medieval capital of Mdina; the prehistoric Hypogeum and Tarxien Temples (some of the world's oldest free-standing structures, predating Stonehenge); the spectacular Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk fishing village; the beaches of Mellieha; and the ferry to the wonderfully rural sister island of Gozo with its Ggantija temples and Azure Window cliffs. Founded in 1566 by Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette of the Knights of St John, the city safeguards its remarkable heritage in St John's Co-Cathedral and Oratory, the National Museum of Archaeology, the Grandmaster's Palace State Rooms, the MUŻA national art museum in the restored Auberge d'Italie, the Casa Rocca Piccola noble family home and dozens of churches, auberges and bastions.

This 5 rated description was provided by Mac

To rate this description and view other descriptions, click here

Population

480,000

Weather

Sub-tropical Mediterranean climate gives Valletta one of the longest sunny seasons in Europe — hot dry summers, mild rainy winters and almost no genuinely cold days. The surrounding sea moderates everything, keeping humidity bearable in summer and frost-free in winter. Spring (March-May) climbs from 11-19°C (52-66°F) in March to 16-25°C (61-77°F) by May, with the island's wildflower bloom putting on its annual spectacular show. Summer (June-August) is hot but tempered by the Mediterranean breezes, averaging 21-32°C (70-90°F) with heatwave spikes touching 38°C (100°F) and the sea hovering at 24-27°C (75-81°F). Autumn (September-November) is long and golden, cooling from 21-29°C (70-84°F) in September to 13-19°C (55-66°F) by November, with the sea staying swimmable into November. Winter (December-February) is properly mild Mediterranean, with daytime highs of 14-17°C (57-63°F), overnight lows around 9-12°C (48-54°F), occasional rain and never snow; café terraces stay open year-round.

Website