Valletta, Malta’s Capital City and a World Heritage site, is nothing short of an open-air museum. Valletta known as Il-Belt, contains buildings from the 16th century onwards, built during the rule of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as Knights Hospitaller. The city is essentially Baroque in character with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture in selected area, though World War II left major scars on the city.
The City of Valletta was officially recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. The city is named for Jean Parisot de la Valette, who succeeded in defending the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565. The official name given by the Order of Saint John was ‘Humilissima Civitas Valletta’ – The Most Humble City of Valletta or Citta’ Umilissima in Italian.
The bastions, curtains andravelins along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches, led the ruling houses of Europe to give the city its nickname Superbissima – Most Proud.During the tour you will walk through the bustling streets and to Barracca Gardens for a breathtaking panorama of the Grand Harbour.
You will then visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral where you will see the painting ‘The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist’ by Caravaggio, considered one of Caravaggio’s masterpieces and the only painting signed by the painter.
You will then watch the Malta Experience Show which will help you discover the Island and Malta’s amazing history.