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9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 26 | https://www.dailysabah.com/life/travel/valletta-malta-winter-escape-of-rich-history-affordable-luxury | en | Valletta, Malta: Winter escape of rich history, affordable luxury | [
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"Irfan Raja"
] | 2023-12-10T11:56:00+03:00 | Explore Valletta's historic charm and affordable luxury amid a warm Mediterranean winter escape | en | https://idsb.tmgrup.com.tr/ly/theme_dailysabah/images/favicon.ico?v=1 | Daily Sabah | https://www.dailysabah.com/life/travel/valletta-malta-winter-escape-of-rich-history-affordable-luxury | If you are after a package holiday to enjoy the winter break, then don’t delay. I highly suggest a visit to Valletta in Malta. As a city rich in history, arts and culture, it offers an affordable stay at luxurious hotels.
Valletta is a perfect choice for a city break in winter to enjoy warm weather like Dubai at half the cost. While the cost-of-living crisis and soaring food and fuel prices have adjourned many of us, traveling to Valletta is an affordable destination for winter adventures. EasyJet can take you to Malta from Manchester and London starting from 29.99 pounds ($37.63).
Last year, I made use of the December break to visit Pakistan. Since the direct flights were around 1,200 pounds. I shopped around and fortunately found a deal, using multiple airlines via Malta, Italy and Dubai, and finally reaching Islamabad cost me 250 pounds one-way.
The next challenge was to find bargain hotels in Valletta and Dubai. I learned Valletta welcomes fewer tourists in winter, so one can grab the best hotel deals as I found.
Heading toward Valletta
Malta Airport offers a well-linked comfort bus service to all cities directly from the airport. It depends, you can take a cab, use the hotel shuttle or take a bus X4 Birzebbug-Valletta, which takes around 20-30 minutes and charges 2 euros ($2.15) one way.
I boarded the bus and managed to get hold of a seat by the window because it is best to take pictures. At first glance, I felt that I had landed in the Middle East, a warm weather 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) in December, which was better than the cold back in England.
Although the main road was under construction, traffic was smoothly passing. I started enjoying the warm weather, a clear blue sky and the passing landscape were bonuses.
Although Malta is a peninsula with no sandy beaches, its crystal-clear blue water harbors and islands make it a favorite destination for millions.
As a first-time visitor, I had nothing to worry about the hotel location as the friendlier driver appeared well-informed of the area. So, after I learned that I was in safe hands, I resumed my widow-shopping of sight scenes. On the way to Valletta, I observed old buildings built of black stone that reminded me of Yorkshire in the North of England. Also, I noticed huge deposits of a seasonal prickly pear cactus plant and fields of sweat-corn corps.
Now, I learned that pear-shaped prickly cactus offers a range of health benefits, including its magical performance to control diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity, and is touted for its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Valletta feeling
As the bus entered the Valletta area, the blue sky and blue water marina of the Mediterranean Sea caught my attention. I wanted to get off the bus, but the driver signaled me to wait a few more minutes.
To my surprise, I booked a cozy room in the popular Carlton Hotel for only 19 pounds, which offers a rooftop and window view of the harbor. I could see ships traveling in the deep sea in the distance.
Surely, I will always remember how an unplanned trip to Valletta came with blessings and amazing memories. I left my luggage at the hotel and found myself relaxed to explore Valletta.
The front office desk staff, a Romanian and an Indian lad, was welcoming. They suggested that I should go on the rooftop and get some snaps before it gets a bit dark. I did so. At a distance, I heard loud celebration voices of football fans who had gathered nearby to watch the FIFA World Cup finals between Argentina and France.
Coincidently, it was a special Sunday evening, again, my most travel journeys took place on weekends.
In Malta most people speak English, however, most sound like the Maghrib dialect because Arabs have ruled it dating back to 869-870 for about 200 years and they have left strong footprints visible in street names and cuisines.
Valletta is slightly bigger than the Vatican City. As an administrative capital of Malta, it stands distinct in arts, culture, history and architecture, and symbolizes ancient imaginary tales often described as “Arabian Nights” or “One Thousand and One Nights.”
Fairly speaking, I found Valletta beyond description. I fear perhaps my explanation lacks words to wrap up its epitome. I am not a poet or a novelist.
Two words, extravagant and marvellous reflect its exemplary beauty. Back in 1980, Valletta was identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Without wasting time, I took a bus and headed toward the city center. I tried to capture every scene of the wharf, parked boats, pavements alongside the dock and the presence of the number of restaurants, cafes and vendors all make it an ideal coast to walk.
Sitting next to the window, a turban man, a Sikh, glanced and smiled at me. I nodded as we belong to the same region Punjab, known as the "Land of Five Rivers," which stretches between India and Pakistan.
Valletta city center was decorated for Christmas. A huge crowd gathered opposite the Parliament staircase to watch the final moments of the football match.
Here, next to the Triton fountain, I met Izabela, the Polish form of Isabella, who shortened her name to Iza. She was out to capture Christmas lights and observed a musical evening. We became friends swiftly, and she volunteered as a guide.
Iza had considerable knowledge of Valletta’s history, culture and people. In the next hour and a half, we covered the marketplace. Old Valletta looked like a military architect because it encompassed defensive walls and bastions.
Iza showed me ancient and present-day government buildings, perpendicular style narrow streets, the Grand Master Palace, the upper Barrakka Gardens, St. John’s Co-Cathedral (1572-1577), and especially showed me the courtyard of the garden, and St. Ursula Street famous as photogenic spots.
Here most buildings shared a common architect, especially the windows known as “the traditional Maltese balconies.” These symbolize the Turkish and Rajput dynasties of India.
We shared our travel experiences and talked about politics and Western civilizations. I admired her deep understanding of the issues and historical records.
I learned that during the last few years, thousands of Indians have come to live on lovely islands, especially from Kerala. We continued walking, took pictures, and stopped at a vendor to eat popcorn. Interesting to note that if you are a British citizen, you can qualify for free medication.
It was getting dark, and I had an early morning flight so we paused our exploration on an accord that I would come back for a week. On my return to the hotel, I managed to dine at the famous Istanbul Kebab House.
I wish I could have at least a few more hours in this exquisite city. I learned that the public transport shuts down early on Sunday, so I booked a taxi "Signolacompany" from the hotel for about 12 pounds.
Being talkative has made me social, so the driver and I quickly became friends. Umer Farooq, a young Pakistani, initially came from Dubai and fell in love with Valletta. I can’t blame him. Even I really want to go back as soon as possible, if I can. | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 85 | https://www.esl-languages.com/en/courses-abroad/english/malta/valletta | en | Learn English in Valletta | [
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City life
Malta’s capital is the place to experience the intense history and culture of this Mediterranean island as you study English abroad, from the stunning sights of the Grandmaster Palace to the modern dining on offer at the historic Valletta Waterfront.
The charming streets of the city centre beckon you to try a traditional sweet pastizzi’s, while you can also visit Casa Rocca Piccola to experience life in a 16th-century mansion - contact us for more information about living in Valletta.
Travel
Valletta is ideally located for exploring some of the other traditional towns in Malta on your English course in Valletta, from the fishing village of St. Julian’s to the medieval walled city of Mdina.
To see some of the island’s famed natural sights, escape to Marsaxlokk and swim in beautiful Saint Peter’s Pool, or visit the archaeological site of Tas-Silg, which dates back to the Bronze Age!
Activities
Malta’s capital offers a wealth of activities for you to explore while studying English abroad, from historical walking tours to surfing lessons!
You might also take a boat trip to see the city from a different perspective or try a traditional cooking class to get to grips with the local food.
How much does it cost to live and study in Valletta?
Weekly markets in Valletta’s city centre means you can find local produce for cheap while studying English abroad while eating out at a restaurant in the city could cost you between 10 EUR and 20 EUR. Our English courses in Valletta start from 205 EUR, and you can reach out to ESL for a free quote for your language studies abroad in Malta.
What are the benefits of studying English in Valletta?
On an English course in Valletta, you’ll get a taste for life in one of Malta’s most historic cities, all the while practising your English with the English-speaking locals!
Valletta is the heart of industry in Malta, meaning professionals will find plenty of lucrative jobs on offer in the city while studying English abroad, while there are also attractions like museums and watersports for younger learners.
What type of English courses can I study in Valletta?
On an English course in Valletta at one of our partner schools, you’ll be fully immersed in language learning in dynamic lessons that are made for both adult and junior language learners. If you want a more intensive experience, there are also private courses available! Some of our language courses abroad include:
A1 to C1-level lessons, including intensive courses
Combined group and private courses
Exam preparation courses (B2-C1) | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 30 | https://www.losethemap.com/24-things-you-need-to-do-in-valletta-malta/ | en | 24 Things To Do in Valletta, Malta | [
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Malta’s popularity skyrocketed after several movies and TV shoots used it as a filming location. Most notably, at least for super fans like myself (and half the world), Game of Thrones. The capital city of Valletta is where most people start their journey in Malta, and it’s a great base from which to explore the island.
Valletta itself is an incredible city for travelers. Safe and easily walkable, it balances a feeling of community and the charm of a small city with a loooong list of things to do, see, and most importantly, eat.
Malta has become a great long weekend destination for travelers in Europe, but you will want to spend at least two to three days exploring all that Valletta has to offer. Start with some of the things on the list below! But first…
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
Intro to Valletta, Malta
The capital of the Maltese archipelago, situated on the main island of Malta, Valetta is a historic city with a variety of cultural and historic influences. These include Sicilian and Arabic, a mixture of influences reflected in the Maltese language, as well as remnants of British rule.
Though the city of Valletta sprawls out into multiple suburbs, when people usually talk about Valletta proper, they are talking about the historic city situated within the city walls.
Most peoples’ first exposure to this part of town is via the impressive City Gate of Valletta. Once you pass the Triton Fountain out front and enter the Valletta City Gate, the first buildings you encounter seem ripped from centuries ago.
History of Valletta
Though the city may seem ancient, Grand Master Jean Parison de la Vallette actually founded Valletta in 1566 (after whom the city was named).
During this time, the Knights of Malta, also known as the Knights of the Order of St. John, ruled the island for 268 years, from 1530 to 1798. They constructed most of the ancient forts and other defenses visible on the island today.
Grand Master de la Vallette built a wonderful palace that has now become a tourist attraction. When you visit Palace State Rooms, you can get some insight into these first days of the city’s founding.
Malta then became a British colony from 1813 to 1964, which is why some general British-isms, like driving on the left side of the road, have remained.
In fact, Queen Elizabeth II lived in Valletta for a few years while Prince Philip served here as a naval officer. Her former home is supposed to open to the public at some point. However, it’s currently closed. Hopefully, it gets added onto the list of things to do in Valletta soon.
Filming in Valletta
Perhaps all this majestically preserved history is the reason why Malta, and Valletta in particular, have been used in so many works of film and television. The city retains a medieval atmosphere that’s hard to replicate with plywood sets, and also serves as a great setting for fantasy epics.
The generous local tax credit for filming definitely helps as well, but let’s focus on the location of Valletta, Malta itself for now, particularly the area within the city walls.
Things to Do in Valletta, Malta
1) Explore the Interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral
Malta is a deeply Catholic country, reflected in the numerous grand cathedrals and churches that dot its streets. However, the most beautiful of all is hands down St. John’s Co-Cathedral. It’s widely considered one of the grandest churches in the world, with a fascinating history attached to the Knights of Malta.
In this ornate cathedral dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, many Knights have been laid to rest. The reason it is known as St. John’s Co-Cathedral, rather than a simple cathedral, is because it is equal in status to St. Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina, the seat of Malta’s Archbishop.
You have to dress appropriately to enter St. John’s Co-Cathedral, as with any religious institution. Ideally you should cover your shoulders; wraps are provided at the entrance if you’re wearing a sleeveless shirt. Shorts should go to the knees, if not past them.
Entrance Fee: Adults – 15 Euros
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.; last admission is at 4:15 p.m. Closed Sundays.
2) Visit Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
UNESCO designates all of Valletta as a World Heritage Site. However, it’s not the only one on the island. Another site is the underground Neolithic chamber of Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum. This subterranean marvel is a short 15-minute drive from Valletta city centre, in the neighborhood of Paola.
Of all the things to do in Valletta, Malta, this attraction may be one of the most eerie and fascinating. It is an underground complex of the island nation’s prehistoric people. Within it lie the remains of over 7,000 former Maltese residents that lived at some point between 4,000 B.C. and 2,500 B.C.
Local Tip: You can only enter in small guided groups, and you cannot take photos. This is to preserve the integrity of the underground chambers. You must either reserve weeks ahead of time, or go to Fort St. Elmo, which opens at 9 a.m., and be one of the first people online to get the available next-day tickets. I used this tactic cause naturally, I failed to plan ahead.
The tour guide will point out the red ochre decorations of the ancient Maltese people. You will also hear a whole lot of theories about why they vanished one day. I won’t spoil any more of the information here; go take the tour yourself!
Entrance Fee: 35 Euros
Opening Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
3) Tour Casa Rocca Piccola
Get a taste of Maltese royalty by touring a 16th century palace in Valletta. Besides being a stunning residence, it provides a glimpse into Malta’s history, especially if you take a guided tour.
Casa Rocca Piccola is actually still used as a home by the family today. I discovered this when I came across the Marquis de Piro himself. He was talking about one of his ornate pieces of furniture to another group of tourists.
Don’t worry though, the family won’t be dressed in royal purple robes even if you do come across them. Their life seems pretty modern.
In fact, one seemingly out of place modern, simple desk we came across was apparently put in so the Marquis’ grandson could study, because 300-year old furniture isn’t the best for doing last minute college essays.
You can actually stay in the B&B that’s part of Casa Rocca Piccola. If you do, you get a free guided tour of the house. As well as a pretty cool place to rest at the end of a day of exploring Valletta.
Entrance Fee: 10 Euros
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.). Tours take place on the hour.
4) Shop at the Eco Market at Upper Barrakka Gardens
Everyone will tell you to visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens for the Saluting Battery. However, my favorite part of this visit was touring the Eco Market and the handmade products local artisans sell here.
With a fresh beer in hand from a nearby stand, of course.
Of all the things to do in Valletta, Malta, this may be one of the most relaxing. Don’t expect any intricate botanical gardens here. It’s a combination of a nice vista point of the Grand Harbour, a serene, green place, and a gathering spot for locals and tourists alike.
Skip the souvenir shops with generic offerings. Find something great to bring home with you at the Eco Market while supporting a local business. I picked up one of my favorite souvenirs here – a painting of a Valletta home and door on a piece of driftwood.
You can either walk up a fair amount of steps to get to the gardens, or if you’re tired after a long day in the Maltese sun, take the Upper Barrakka lift instead.
Of course, if you happen to be here around 12 p.m. or 4 p.m., you will hear military salutes from the Battery on the lower level of the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Meaning, don’t be too alarmed if cannon fire suddenly goes off around you.
5) Visit the Lascaris War Rooms
Since you’re here you might want to hop down some stairs and get to the Lascaris War Rooms.
Not-so-fun-fact: The Great Siege of Malta during World War II caused great damage to this island nation. The Axis Powers decimated the fortified city of Valletta. Over 80% of the city’s buildings were targeted by bombs.
The city’s residents hid in underground tunnels, and Malta’s leaders organized the defense of Valletta from these underground war rooms. Malta’s capital would earn the title of “the most bombed place on earth”. The ordeal was so horrific that King George VI awarded the George Cross to the entire island of Malta for the population’s heroism.
This suffering and destruction makes it all the more amazing that the city has been so beautifully rebuilt today, and remains a thriving European capital.
Entrance Fee: 14 Euros
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; closed Sundays
6) Look Into the National Library of Malta
This is a curiously under visited site among the tourist attractions of Malta. However, if you’ve been reading this site for a while, you know about my fascination with books.
I found the National Library particularly interesting. You can’t really browse the books; many are there to preserve the heritage and history of the island. But it’s a gorgeous space to walk through and take in.
7) Take a Ride on a Dgħajsa
If you have no idea how to pronounce that word you just saw, you’re not alone. A dgħajsa is a traditional Maltese boat. Wooden and low to the water, they transport people around the grand harbour even today.
When people travel to a new destination, they usually focus on the tourist attractions in the city they’re visiting. However, I am equally fascinated by the question of how people get around. If there’s a form of transport I haven’t seen or taken before, I’m all over it.
The dgħajsa ride is equal parts relaxing and visually appealing, as the boat moves slowly and silently, giving you the time and space to truly take in the coastline and skyline of Valletta. This includes stately Victoria Gate near the harbor.
The round trip to the Three Cities costs 4 Euros total. You will pay a slightly higher price if you want a tour of the cities via boat as well.
Cost: 4 Euros round trip
8) Cross to the Three Cities
Speaking of taking a dgħajsa…take this boat to cross from Valletta’s waterfront to the Three Cities right across the water. Traveling there by water is actually faster than traveling by car.
The Three cities are actually three little peninsulas. They feature gorgeous buildings, quieter streets, and waterfront dining. For some reason, even though they are one of the island’s main attractions, they are always less crowded than Valletta and retain a more local feel. Most of the time I walked around these areas, I rarely came across other tourists on the side streets.
Each historic city has its own ambiance. Vittoriosa’s peninsula is dominated by Fort St. Angelo, which juts out into the harbor. Vittoriosa is the oldest city, as it has been inhabited since before the Middle Ages.
The two newer cities are Senglea and Conspicua. The term “newer” is relative, of course. The Order of St. John built these cities in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Walk past classic Maltese houses on sun-drenched streets, then grab a table and admire the view of the Valletta waterfront right across the harbor.
9) Walk Down Republic Street and Marvel at the Maltese Doors
Some attractions aren’t destinations, but rather, wanderings. One of my favorite things to do in Valletta was walk around and admire the unique and medieval-looking Maltese architecture. Most fascinating were the emblematic wooden balconies (pictured above) known as gallariji.
Anyone who has walked around the Maltese capital will marvel at the stately, grand, often colorful local doors with ornate knockers. Walk down the main drag of Republic Street, and see what stunning entrances you can find on the way.
You may also have to dart out onto the side streets to find even more residential areas. That’s one of the best parts of wandering around Valletta; ambling down historic roads like Old Bakery Street on your own little walking tour. Republic Street runs from the city gate all the way through to the end of the peninsula Valletta sits on, so it’s a great thoroughfare to introduce you to the city.
Republic Street tends to get very busy during the day and in evening hours right before dinner. Take a stroll early in the morning or later at night if you want to avoid the crowds.
10) Visit the National War Museum at Fort St. Elmo
Though Fort St. Elmo itself appears kind of sprawling, my visit here actually took less time than I thought it would.
Despite the military history of this location, the exhibits of the National War Museum are quite family-friendly. You will find video exhibits and life-size cartoon posters of Maltese historical figures.
Thanks to its strategic position as a midway point between Europe and Africa, Malta is often a point of contention in regional conflicts. The museum at Fort St. Elmo provides a nice little insight into some of the many military campaigns that have taken place.
You can also see some cool airplane wrecks, as well as the George Cross Malta was awarded.
Entrance Fee: 10 Euros
Opening Hours – National War Museum: Wednesday – Monday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; closed Tuesdays
Opening Hours – Fort St. Elmo: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily
11) Visit the Church and Monastery of St. Catherine
This appears to be one of Valletta’s hidden gems. When I visited, I was pretty much the only person there.
Perhaps that was because the monastery had just been re-opened after extensive renovations, and people weren’t yet aware that it was open to visitors. The monastery is built around a tranquil courtyard, and preserves a lot of the monastery’s historic rooms.
Placards on the wall inform you of each room’s use. You get intriguing insights into how the sisters lived and conducted their daily routines. What did people do before Internet and microwaves?
Entrance Fee: 8 Euros
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Sundays, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
12) Take a Picture at the Siege Bell War Memorial
Right next to the smaller Lower Barrakka Gardens, you will find the Siege Bell War Memorial. It’s a pretty simple attraction, though definitely interesting to see. However it’s also a great spot to take a photo with a view of the Three Cities behind you.
After all, what’s the point of visiting Valletta if you don’t get any good captures of this beautiful city?
You can also get yet another great view of the Grand Harbour from the Lower Barrakka Gardens themselves.
13) Visit Ħaġar Qim
Another UNESCO site on the island – I try to visit as many as I can in every new destination – Ħaġar Qim is definitely worth a stop.
This massive temple complex is one of the oldest religious sites on Earth, dating back to somewhere between 3600 and 3200 BC. You can walk through the remarkably well-preserved (well…considering the age of it) passages and imagine what life was like on Malta over 5000 years ago.
14) Stop By the Great Siege Monument
The Great Siege Monument, located (fittingly) in Great Siege Square, commemorates the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. The three statues represent Faith, Fortitude, and Civilization.
However, in addition to learning about Maltese history here, you can also get a glimpse into the problems of modern Malta.
Members of organized crime ordered the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, an anti-corruption investigative journalist, in 2017. She was killed by a car bomb.
The citizens of Valletta built a makeshift memorial, and left flowers and other offerings on the base of this statue to pay tribute to her. They also meant it as a protest against the corruption of parts of Maltese government and society.
Initially, the police would take this memorial down almost every day, and citizens would stubbornly erect it every day, again and again. More recently, it’s been left alone for the most part.
15) Visit the Palace State Rooms
Wander along the 450-year old corridors of the Grand Master’s Palace, where you can gaze at the gorgeous architecture of one of the first buildings in Valletta. In addition, you will also learn a fair amount about the establishment of the fortified city.
Where to Eat in Valletta
One of the best experiences you can have in this capital city is eating your way through the many great restaurants, casual and Michelin-star alike. There are also a few local delicacies to try.
Here are some of the best food-related experiences you can have when you visit Valletta.
16) Eat at Grain Street
If you’re looking for a top-notch Michelin Guide restaurant that’s not stuffy or pretentious, this may be the one for you. Grain Street is on Merchants Street, where you can sit outside and enjoy a beautiful Valletta evening while dining.
17) Grab a Coffee at Republic Square
Republic Square is surrounded by some of the most historic and stately buildings in Valletta, including the National Library. Cafes line the square as well, so on a sunny day, you’re going to want to grab a seat and enjoy the soul-warming Maltese sun while drinking a cappuccino.
18) Splurge at ION Harbour
Near the Valletta waterfront, overlooking the still waters of the Grand Harbour, you will find the Michelin-star awarded ION Harbour. The food here is absolutely exquisite. However, make sure you have a big splurge night in your budget before you make reservations here.
19) Eat a Pastizz at Cafe Cordina
Any Valletta itinerary has to include sampling a pastizz, a local, popular Maltese pastry. These pastries have a phyllo-like exterior and a filling of either curried peas or ricotta. My personal favorite was the ricotta-filled pastizz.
Though you can find a pastizz almost anywhere in the city, I recommend Caffe Cordina both because it’s high quality and one of the oldest cafes around. It was founded in 1837 and relocated to the city of Valletta in 1944.
20) Get Ice Cream at Amorino Gelato
Considering how close Malta is to Italy, perhaps it’s not a surprise that the country tends to do gelato fairly well. Grab some at the local Amorino Gelato shop.
Where to Drink in Valletta
Head to some neighborhood bars and great cocktail lounges in Valletta to discover where the city’s best nightlife is hiding.
21) Have a Drink Kamy Cocktail Bar
I came across this bar completely by accident, simply because I saw hundreds of glowing reviews and a 4.9/5 rating online. And I’m so glad that I did.
Kamy Cocktail Bar is very casual and intimate. Enter the cozy, vintage-inspired environment and order one of the many shockingly well-crafted cocktails on the menu. The ambiance encourages conversations rather than getting drunk. It’s a great place to go for a nightcap, or at the start of a long night.
22) Drop by the Bridge Bar in Valletta
The Bridge Bar has become somewhat of a tourist attraction, so if you go on a weekend, you’re unlikely to get speedy service among the throngs of patrons.
Customers spill out onto the bridge and nearby steps, grabbing a spot to sit or stand wherever they can. As opposed to most other bars in Valletta, that tend to be more laidback and reserved, Bridge Bar is one of the few places that gets a little more raucous.
23) Explore the Nightlife on Strait Street
For a night tour of Malta’s fortified city, there’s no better street to explore than Strait Street. It originally became famous as a good-time destination in Valletta when American and British soldiers in the mid-20th century would bar hop down the street.
Though some of the establishments may have changed since then, this road is still a great spot to find a lively succession of bars and live music.
24) Have a Night Out in Sliema
Leave the city gates of Valletta and head to Sliema if you want a late night out. While Valletta may have its share of nightlife, bars tend to close up early. Sliema, on the other hand, is a young, trendy neighborhood that has a lot more bars and clubs blasting music until late into the night.
Things to Know About Valletta
Here are some general travel tips that can help you navigate Valletta:
Transportation in Valletta
You generally can’t drive a car past the Valletta city gate. Ubers and taxis may be hard to call when you’re past the city gate, as they can’t enter a lot of the pedestrianized streets, and can only really use the ring road around the city.
As mentioned before, the local Maltese boats are the best way to cross the Grand Harbour from Valletta to the Three Cities; driving or taking an Uber is a much longer and more expensive detour.
Lastly, keep in mind that people in Malta drive on the left side of the road. This is always good to know even when you’re not driving, as you don’t want to be looking the wrong way while crossing the street.
Have you visited Valletta? What were your favorite things to do in the city? Comment below! | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 91 | https://www.esl-languages.com/en/courses-abroad/english/malta/valletta | en | Learn English in Valletta | [
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] | null | [] | null | Learn English at top language schools in Valletta! ESL helps you find the English course in Valletta, that best fits your needs. Get your free quote now! | en | /themes/custom/esl_theme/favicon.ico | https://www.esl-languages.com/en/courses-abroad/english/malta/valletta | With museums, churches, palaces and monuments galore, you won't have time to get bored on an English course in Valletta. From studying in dynamic, intensive lessons to exploring the charming cobbled streets of the capital, you’ll have an unforgettable stay as you learn English in Valletta! Our fantastic partner schools are located in the heart of the old city, so you’ll be just steps from sights such as St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Upper Barrakka Gardens on your language course abroad in Malta.
City life
Malta’s capital is the place to experience the intense history and culture of this Mediterranean island as you study English abroad, from the stunning sights of the Grandmaster Palace to the modern dining on offer at the historic Valletta Waterfront.
The charming streets of the city centre beckon you to try a traditional sweet pastizzi’s, while you can also visit Casa Rocca Piccola to experience life in a 16th-century mansion - contact us for more information about living in Valletta.
Travel
Valletta is ideally located for exploring some of the other traditional towns in Malta on your English course in Valletta, from the fishing village of St. Julian’s to the medieval walled city of Mdina.
To see some of the island’s famed natural sights, escape to Marsaxlokk and swim in beautiful Saint Peter’s Pool, or visit the archaeological site of Tas-Silg, which dates back to the Bronze Age!
Activities
Malta’s capital offers a wealth of activities for you to explore while studying English abroad, from historical walking tours to surfing lessons!
You might also take a boat trip to see the city from a different perspective or try a traditional cooking class to get to grips with the local food.
How much does it cost to live and study in Valletta?
Weekly markets in Valletta’s city centre means you can find local produce for cheap while studying English abroad while eating out at a restaurant in the city could cost you between 10 EUR and 20 EUR. Our English courses in Valletta start from 205 EUR, and you can reach out to ESL for a free quote for your language studies abroad in Malta.
What are the benefits of studying English in Valletta?
On an English course in Valletta, you’ll get a taste for life in one of Malta’s most historic cities, all the while practising your English with the English-speaking locals!
Valletta is the heart of industry in Malta, meaning professionals will find plenty of lucrative jobs on offer in the city while studying English abroad, while there are also attractions like museums and watersports for younger learners.
What type of English courses can I study in Valletta?
On an English course in Valletta at one of our partner schools, you’ll be fully immersed in language learning in dynamic lessons that are made for both adult and junior language learners. If you want a more intensive experience, there are also private courses available! Some of our language courses abroad include:
A1 to C1-level lessons, including intensive courses
Combined group and private courses
Exam preparation courses (B2-C1) | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 2 | https://culture-malta.org/the-french-occupation/ | en | The French Occupation - Culture Malta | [
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On the 9 June 1798, a French fleet sailing to Egypt with over 30,000 men under Napoleon Bonaparte arrived off heavily fortified Valletta, ruled by the Knights of St John. A French Knight in Malta recorded the event in these terms: “the Maltese people saw from vantage points, the forest of masts which covered a vast expanse of sea….the sight petrified us.”
Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch refused Bonaparte’s demand that his convoy would be allowed to enter Valletta and take on supplies, upon which Bonaparte immediately ordered his fleet to bombard Valletta and landed several thousand soldiers at seven strategic sites around the island.
Most French knights commanding various strategic localities and forts deserted the Order. However, many Maltese regiments resisted bravely in spite of the confusion. At Fort Tigne, the Maltese Cacciatori regiment threw back three times the attacking French forces. At Fort San Lucian at Marsaxlokk, the Maltese garrison fought fiercely for 36 hours and the 165 men only gave up when they ran out of water and ammunition. Although Valletta was strong enough to hold out against a lengthy siege, the weakened Order failed to mount a strong resistance and once the city of Mdina fell to Bonaparte, Hompesch surrendered Malta to the French on the 12th June 1798, in exchange for estates and pensions in France for himself and his knights.
Napoleon stayed in Malta for a few days establishing a French administration, dismantling the Knights’ institutions, limiting the Bishop’s influence to purely religious matters, expelling all foreign clergy, seizing church property, protecting family rights in a Civil Code of Laws, granting free education for all and establishing freedom of press. The French abolished nobility, slavery, the feudal system and the inquisition. Slavery was abolished and all Turkish slaves were freed. All aristocratic rights and privileges were abolished.
Napoleon then sailed for Egypt, leaving a garrison of 3,053 soldiers under General Vaubois, but the Maltese turned against the French due to lack of employment after the departure of the Knights, French failure to pay salaries and pensions that were due to their Maltese sailors and others, while monies intendfor food supplies were stolen to fund the Egyptian campaign.
The Mdina Nobles and Church leaders encouraged insurrection when the French began meddling with Maltese churches and looting them of their silver. The last straw came when on September 2nd, the French ordered the auctioning of the damask of the Carmelite Church at Mdina. This was opposed by an angry crowd and rioting broke out. Colonel Masson was attacked and thrown from a balcony in nearby Rabat, dying along with some of his men while Col. Masson’s wife was only spared because she was expecting a child. The French troops took refuge behind the walls of Malta’s fortified cities, where they were blockaded by the Maltese militia. French control of Malta had lasted less than three months!
Valletta was surrounded by approximately 10,000 irregular Maltese soldiers led by Emmanuele Vitale and Canon Saverio Caruana. The Maltese were armed with 23 cannon and a small squadron of coastal gunboats. Although there were some skirmishes between the garrison and the Maltese, the fortress was too strong for the irregulars to attack.
When the French Mediterranean Fleet was destroyed at the Battle of the Nile on 1 August 1798, the British Royal Navy was able to start a blockade of Malta, assisting the Maltese rebellion against French rule. The French troops eventually ran out of food and had to eat cats and rats. Although small quantities of supplies arrived in early 1799, starvation and disease had a disastrous effect on the health and morale of the French troops.
Portugal, Great Britain and belatedly, the King of Naples and Sicily, sent ammunition and aid to the Maltese stopping French convoys to and from Malta, forcing them to surrender to larger British squadrons in hard-fought battles. These defeats and lack of regular supplies weakened the French position in Valletta and on the 4th of September 1800 after a two-year siege, General Belgrand de Vaubois surrendered his garrison, exhausted by malnutrition and typhus disease.
On the 15th of June 1802, the National Congress of the people of Malta and Gozo placed the Maltese Islands under the sovereignty of the British Crown, drawing up a Declaration of Rights in which they agreed to come “under the protection and sovereignty of the King of the free people, His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”. The Declaration also stated that “his Majesty has no right to cede these Islands to any power…if he chooses to withdraw his protection, and abandon his sovereignty, the right of electing another sovereign, or of the governing of these Islands, belongs to us, the Maltese alone, and without control”.
By the terms of the Treaty of Amiens of 1801 Britain was to return Malta to the Order of St. John. the Napoleonic Wars with France began soon afterwards, partly due Britain’s refusal to do so. The island subsequently remained in British hands until its independence in 1964. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 49 | https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/about/communities/MT | en | World Jewish Congress | [
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] | null | Representing Jewish Communities In 100 Countries Across Six Continents | en | World Jewish Congress | https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/about/communities/MT | Jews mostly likely first arrived in Malta alongside Phoenician traders around the ninth century BCE. Generally well-treated within the Phoenician Empire, Jews were able to sail the seas freely, and many settled on islands throughout the empire, including Malta. However, the Jewish communities in Malta during this time were largely temporary. It was not until the second half of the first century of the Common Era that Jews settled more permanently on the island.
After Muslims occupied the island around 870 CE and established a caliphate there, Jews living in Malta were civil servants and served in influential court roles, including even as vizier. When the Normans took control of the island in 1091, they found Muslims, Jews, and Christians all living together.
Throughout successive centuries, the geographical position of the island, at the crossroads of various Mediterranean routes, saw several different waves of Jewish communities arrive in Malta, including from Spain, Portugal, Sicily, Turkey, and North Africa. However, Spanish rule on the island saw some antisemitic measures imposed on the island’s Jewish population. Yet, Jews in Malta were pardoned by a sympathetic bishop in 1400, and orders not to meddle in their affairs as well as the abolition of a specific tax imposed on Jews allowed the Maltese Jewish community to prosper. But such prosperity was short-lived. After the Inquisition reached Malta in 1492, its Jews were expelled from the island and forced to forfeit a sizeable amount of their possessions. Several Maltese Jews converted as a result, and many of these "conversos" (converts) lived on the island. In 1530, Malta came under the control of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, whose relatively relaxed policies towards Jews saw some Sicilian Conversos settle on the island. However, the Knights were almost entirely focused on fending off the Ottoman Empire, and the island became a hotbed for maritime raids. The only practicing Jews who lived in Malta during this period were kept as slaves.
Centuries of slavery made Malta a detested place for Jews in the Mediterranean, and it was not until the French took power in Malta that the Jewish community began to reform itself. The French abolished slavery and enforced legal equality, and the English, who took over subsequently, followed suit. During this period, a number of Jews from Gibraltar arrived in Malta and established business connections.
Throughout successive centuries of British rule, Jews were afforded protection under the law, even during a somewhat contentious campaign organized by the Maltese against “foreigners” in 1805. In fact, by the end of the 19th century, most Jews on the island were British and had established themselves in the commerce or finance industries. Throughout the early years of the 20th century and into the interwar years, the Maltese Jewish community was small, and Jews continued to be largely involved in business.
The latter half of the 20th century saw Jewish life in Malta remain steady. This remains the case today, and some Ashkenazi Jews have recently arrived in Malta, usually for business reasons, but nonetheless, they are contributors to Jewish life on the island. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 50 | https://www.eurosis.org/conf/isc/2023/venue.html | en | Venue | [
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] | null | May 31 - June 2, 2023, University of Malta, Valletta, Malta | en | apple-icon-57x57.png | https://www.eurosis.org/conf/isc/2023/index.html | Capital city and local council in South Eastern Region, Malta
Valletta ( , Maltese: il-Belt Valletta, Maltese pronunciation: [vÉËlËÉtËÉ]) is the capital city of Malta. Located in the South Eastern Region of the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population in 2014 was 6,444, while the metropolitan area around it has a population of 393,938. Valletta is second only to Nicosia as the southernmost capital of Europe, and at just 0.61 square kilometres (61 ha), it is the European Union's smallest capital city.
Valletta's 16th-century buildings were constructed by the Knights Hospitaller. The city was named after Jean Parisot de Valette, who succeeded in defending the island from an Ottoman invasion during the Great Siege of Malta. The city is Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture, though the Second World War left major scars on the city, particularly the destruction of the Royal Opera House. The city was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.
The city's fortifications, consisting of bastions, curtains and cavaliers, along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches, led the ruling houses of Europe to give the city its nickname Superbissima â Latin for "Proudest".
History
The peninsula was previously called Xagħret Mewwija (Mu' awiya â Meuia; named during the Arab period) or Ħal Newwija. Mewwija refers to a sheltered place. The extreme end of the peninsula was known as Xebb ir-Ras (Sheb point), of which name origins from the lighthouse on site. A family which surely owned land became known as Sceberras, now a Maltese surname as Sciberras. At one point the entire peninsula became known as Sceberras. (See also)
Order of Saint John
The building of a city on the Sciberras Peninsula had been proposed by the Order of Saint John as early as 1524. Back then, the only building on the peninsula was a small watchtower dedicated to Erasmus of Formia (Saint Elmo), which had been built in 1488.
In 1552, the Aragonite watchtower was demolished and the larger Fort Saint Elmo was built in its place.
In the Great Siege of 1565, Fort Saint Elmo fell to the Ottomans, but the Order eventually won the siege with the help of Sicilian reinforcements. The victorious Grand Master, Jean de Valette, immediately set out to build a new fortified city on the Sciberras Peninsula to fortify the Order's position in Malta and bind the Knights to the island. The city took his name and was called La Valletta.
The Grand Master asked the European kings and princes for help, and he received a lot of assistance, due to the increased fame of the Order after their victory in the Great Siege. Pope Pius V sent his military architect, Francesco Laparelli, to design the new city, while Philip II of Spain sent substantial monetary aid. The foundation stone of the city was laid by Grand Master de Valette on 28 March 1566. He placed the first stone in what later became Our Lady of Victories Church.
In his book DellâIstoria della Sacra Religione et Illustrissima Militia di San Giovanni Gierosolimitano (English: The History of the Sacred Religion and Illustrious Militia of St John of Jerusalem), written between 1594 and 1602, Giacomo Bosio writes that when the cornerstone of Valletta was placed, a group of Maltese elders said: "Iegi zimen en fel wardia col sceber raba iesue uquie" (Which in modern Maltese reads, "JiÄ¡i żmien li fil-Wardija [l-Għolja Sciberras] kull xiber raba' jiswa uqija", and in English, "There will come a time when every piece of land on Sciberras Hill will be worth its weight in gold").
De Valette died from a stroke on 21 August 1568 at age 74 and never saw the completion of his city. Originally interred in the church of Our Lady of the Victories, his remains now rest in St. John's Co-Cathedral among the tombs of other Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta.
Francesco Laparelli was the city's principal designer and his plan departed from medieval Maltese architecture, which exhibited irregular winding streets and alleys. He designed the new city on a rectangular grid plan, and without any collacchio (an area restricted for important buildings). The streets were designed to be wide and straight, beginning centrally from the City Gate and ending at Fort Saint Elmo (which was rebuilt) overlooking the Mediterranean; certain bastions were built 47 metres (154 ft) tall. His assistant was the Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar, who later oversaw the construction of the city himself after Laparelli's death in 1570.
The Ufficio delle Case regulated the building of the city as a planning authority.
The city of Valletta was mostly complete by the early 1570s, and it became the capital on 18 March 1571 when Grand Master Pierre de Monte moved from his seat at Fort St Angelo in Birgu to the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta.
Seven Auberges were built for the Order's Langues, and these were complete by the 1580s. An eighth Auberge, Auberge de Bavière, was later added in the 18th century.
In Antoine de Paule's reign, it was decided to build more fortifications to protect Valletta, and these were named the Floriana Lines after the architect who designed them, Pietro Paolo Floriani of Macerata. During António Manoel de Vilhena's reign, a town began to form between the walls of Valletta and the Floriana Lines, and this evolved from a suburb of Valletta to Floriana, a town in its own right.
In 1634, a gunpowder factory explosion killed 22 people in Valletta. In 1749, Muslim slaves plotted to kill Grandmaster Pinto and take over Valletta, but the revolt was suppressed before it even started due to their plans leaking out to the Order. Later on in his reign, Pinto embellished the city with Baroque architecture, and many important buildings such as Auberge de Castille were remodeled or completely rebuilt in the new architectural style.
In 1775, during the reign of Ximenes, an unsuccessful revolt known as the Rising of the Priests occurred in which Fort Saint Elmo and Saint James Cavalier were captured by rebels, but the revolt was eventually suppressed.
French occupation and British rule
In 1798, the French invaded the island and expelled the Order. After the Maltese rebelled, French troops continued to occupy Valletta and the surrounding harbor area, until they capitulated to the British in September 1800. In the early 19th century, the British Civil Commissioner, Henry Pigot, agreed to demolish the majority of the city's fortifications. The demolition was again proposed in the 1870s and 1880s, but it was never carried out and the fortifications have survived largely intact.
Eventually building projects in Valletta resumed under British rule. These projects included widening gates, demolishing and rebuilding structures, widening newer houses over the years, and installing civic projects. The Malta Railway, which linked Valletta to Mdina, was officially opened in 1883. It was closed down in 1931 after buses became a popular means of transport.
In 1939, Valletta was abandoned as the headquarters of the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet due to its proximity to Italy and the city became a flash point during the subsequent two-year long Siege of Malta. German and Italian air raids throughout the Second World War caused much destruction in Valletta and the rest of the harbor area. The Royal Opera House, constructed at the city entrance in the 19th century, was one of the buildings lost to the raids.
Valletta harbour around 1850, photo by Calvert Jones
1853 King's Gate
Royal Opera House in 1911
Bomb damage in Valletta during the Second World War
Contemporary
In 1980, the 24th Chess Olympiad took place in Valletta.
The entire city of Valletta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980, along with Megalithic Temples of Malta and the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni. On 11 November 2015 Valletta hosted the Valletta Summit on Migration in which European and African leaders discussed the European migrant crisis. After that, on 27 November 2015 the city also hosted part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015.
Valletta was the European Capital of Culture in 2018.
Renzo Piano's Valletta City Gate (2014)
Mediterranean Conference Centre, former Sacra Infermeria (2016)
Renovated Tritonsâ Fountain (2018)
Auberge d'Italie, renovated in 2016 to host the new MUŻA (Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti)
Renovated covered market Is-Suq tal-Belt, 2018
Climate
Valletta features a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with hot, slightly long, dry summers and mild, wet winters, with an average temperature above 19 °C (66 °F). Valletta experiences a lack of precipitation during the summer months and most of the precipitation happens during the winter months. Winter temperatures are moderated by the surrounding sea, as a result, the city has very mild winters. The official climate recording station in Malta is at Luqa Airport, which is a few miles inland from Valletta. Average high temperatures range from around 16 °C (61 °F) in January to about 32 °C (90 °F) in August, while average low temperatures range from around 10 °C (50 °F) in January to 23 °C (73 °F) in August.
Cityscape
The architecture of Valletta's streets and piazzas ranges from mid-16th century Baroque to Modernism. The city is the island's principal cultural center and has a unique collection of churches, palaces and museums and act as one of the city's main visitor attractions. When Benjamin Disraeli, future British Prime Minister, visited the city in 1830, he described it as "a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen," and remarked that "Valletta equals in its noble architecture, if it does not excel, any capital in Europe," and in other letters called it "comparable to Venice and Cádiz" and "full of palaces worthy of Palladio."
Buildings of historic importance include St John's Co-Cathedral, formerly the Conventual Church of the Knights of Malta. It has the only signed work and largest painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. The Auberge de Castille et Leon, formerly the official seat of the Knights of Malta of the Langue of Castille, Léon and Portugal, is now the office of the Prime Minister of Malta. The Grandmaster's Palace, built between 1571 and 1574 and formerly the seat of the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, used to house the Maltese Parliament, now situated in a purpose-built structure at the entrance to the city, and now houses the offices of the President of Malta.
The National Museum of Fine Arts is a Rococo palace dating back to the late 1570s, which served as the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet during the British era from the 1820s onwards. The Manoel Theatre (Maltese: Teatru Manoel) was constructed in just ten months in 1731, by order of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, and is one of the oldest working theatres in Europe. The Mediterranean Conference Centre was formerly the Sacra Infermeria. Built in 1574, it was one of Europe's most renowned hospitals during the Renaissance. The fortifications of the port, built by the Knights as a magnificent series of bastions, demi-bastions, cavaliers and curtains, approximately 100 metres (330 ft) high, all contribute to the unique architectural quality of the city.
Neighbourhoods
Valletta contains a number of unofficial neighbourhoods, including:
Strada Rjali â the main thoroughfare, Triq ir-Repubblika
l-ArÄipierku â an area close to the Sacra Infermeria. Its name possibly derives from archipelago since it contains a number of lanes which break up the area into many "islands" of houses, or from archi-borgo since the area is located just outside Fort Saint Elmo.
il-Baviera â an area around the English Curtain, bounded by Old Bakery, Archbishop, Marsamxett and St. Sebastian Streets. It is named after Auberge de Bavière.
il-BiÄÄerija â an area close to il-Baviera, named after the slaughterhouse which was formerly located there.
il-Kamrata â an area close to the Sacra Infermeria. It is named after the Camerata, a spiritual retreat which was demolished in the 19th century and replaced by social housing.
Deux Balles (Maltese: Duwi Balli) â an area close to il-Baviera. The name probably originates from the French occupation.
il-Fossa â an area close to the Jews' Sally Port and Fort Saint Elmo. It is regarded as the worst maintained area of Valletta.
Manderaggio (Maltese: il-MandraÄ¡Ä¡) â an area behind Manderaggio Curtain, bounded by St. Mark, St. Lucia, St. Patrick and Marsamxett Streets. This was meant to be a small harbour (mandracchio) but it was never completed, and a slum area developed instead. The slums were demolished in the 1950s and were rebuilt as housing estates.
Parts of this text and pictures were copied from
Conference Location
University of Malta - Valletta Campus
Old University Building
Entrances: St Paul Street and Merchants Street
Valletta, Malta
Tel: +356 2340 7511
Email: lucienne.m.bugeja@um.edu.mt
The Valletta Campus, which is housed in the Old University Building, dates back to the founding of the Collegium Melitense in 1592. It has two entrances, one on St Paul Street and another on Merchants Street. (see map below)
Getting to Malta and the University of Malta - Valletta Campus
University of Malta - Valletta Campus Location Map
Useful Links | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 52 | https://www.josetteking.com/blog/malta-beyond-valletta/ | en | Malta — Beyond Valletta | [
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] | 2020-07-17T19:45:35+00:00 | Long before the Knights took control of Malta, the islands prime Eastern Mediterranean location had attracted successive waves of conquerors who also left their mark on the tiny country. | en | Josette King | https://www.josetteking.com/blog/malta-beyond-valletta/ | There is no denying that the Warrior Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (or Knights of Malta as they are commonly known) proved the most influential settlers in the long and convoluted history of the Maltese Islands. Their 250-year rule left an indelible legacy, most prominently the fortified capital city of Valletta, which they created from bare rock to guard the entrance of the Grand Harbour.
But long before they took control, the islands’ prime Eastern Mediterranean location and natural harbors had attracted successive waves of conquerors. The Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and Normand gradually shaped the unique character of the tiny country, and understood the need for fortified defenses.
The Fort Across the Harbor
When the Knights, having been driven out of Rhodes by the Ottoman Empire, were granted Malta by its then ruler Charles V of Spain in 1530, their obvious choice was to settle in Birgu. Strategically located on one of the promontories jutting between the Marsamxett Harbour and Grand Harbour, opposite what would later become Valletta, this ancient city was already protected by a sprawling fortress dating back to Norman times (11th century). The Knights hastily set out to expand the fortifications into the colossal Fort St. Angelo, which came in handy when the superior Ottoman forces attempted their ill-fated siege in 1565.
Seen from the southern side of Valletta, the panoramic view of Birgu is so spectacular that I hop onto one of the frequent ferries for the scenic, ten-minute Grand Harbour crossing to get a closer look. The ancient city’s waterfront has been transformed in recent years into a thriving marina and enjoyable promenade. At its head, an imposing building that was once the arsenal for the Knights’ galleys is now home to the Malta Maritime Museum. Its collections span over two millennia of Mediterranean seafaring history.
Behind the museum, the steep maze of the Collachio neighborhood remains the medieval heart of the city. In true Maltese fashion, it is a reminder of the different cultures that held sway here. Its narrow winding streets hint of the ancient medinas of North Africa, with the occasional European Renaissance and Baroque building thrown in. And on the far side of it, after decades of restoration, the colossal Fort St. Angelo is now open to visitors again.
The First Capital
Located on low a plateau of central Malta, the walled city of Mdina had been the capital of the islands since the Byzantine era at the time of the Knights’ arrival. Entirely enclosed within protective ramparts dating back to the Islamic and Norman times, its labyrinth of Moorish style winding streets was home to the highest echelons of Maltese aristocracy. Most of the town has remained intact, its quiet warren of pedestrian lanes, shady courtyards and stately palaces giving it an eerily Medieval atmosphere. But even so, there is no escaping the influence of the Knights.
Today, Mdina is a popular day-trip destination, an easy 20-minute bus ride from Valletta. But to enter its bygone world, one must first walk through its Baroque main gate designed in 1724 by French architect Charles François de Mondion for the Order’s Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena. Also included in the commission was the flamboyant Baroque Palazzo Vilhena (or Magisterial Palace) next door. Today, it houses the National Museum of Natural History’s extensive geology and paleontology collections. Even if natural history is not your thing, the museum may be worth a quick visit, just to see the sumptuous interior of the Palazzo.
The St. Paul Cathedral
Moments later, I come across another Baroque masterpiece: the St. Paul Cathedral, rebuilt to a design of Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafà after the original Norman cathedral was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693. Its opulent decor features elaborately inlayed marble floors, gilded detailing, pink marble columns and exquisite ceiling paintings, enhanced by the natural light flowing in from the dome. Many artifacts that had survived the earthquake were reused in the new cathedral, including the early Renaissance baptismal font, earth 15th century choir stalls, and a number of works by Mattia Preti.
Across the square, the former seminary, now the Cathedral Museum, showcases a rich collection of silver liturgical objects and sacred art. In addition to a number masterpieces of European painting, the museum also features a noteworthy selection of engravings by Albrecht Durer.
Bastion Square
Leaving behind the Baroque world of the Knights, I wander further back in time to the earlier days of Mdina, into deserted alleyways lined with stark golden sandstone facade and brightly painted wooden doors and shutters, until I emerge onto Bastion Square and the very edge of the citadel wall. The view from here is exceptional: a serene panorama of gently undulating farmland stretching all the way to the sea.
A Timeless Fishing Tradition
The Phoenicians settled it, then some 1500 years later, the Arabs gave it its name: Marsaxlokk (or Southeastern Harbor – pronounced Marsa-shlock). Today, the ancient seaside village at the very tip of the island remains home to the majority of its fishing fleet and a resolute slice of traditional Maltese life. Timeless low houses – now fronted by the busy terraces of top-notch seafood restaurants – circle the harbor filled with colorful luzzu (fishing boats). The boats are painted in stripes of bright primary colors, with at their bow a discrete pay of eyes. These “Eyes of Horus” are survivors of an ancient Phoenician custom, said to protect fishermen while at sea.
The town is especially popular with tourists on Sunday, when is holds its weekly fish market.
Good to Know
Getting there — Birgu: There is regular ferry service throughout the day between Valletta and Birgu. In both places, the ferry dock is centrally located on the waterfront. Mdina: Buses (numbers 51 and 52) run throughout the day approximately every 15 minutes between the Valletta bus terminal and Mdina. The trip takes about 30 minutes. Get off at Rabat, the modern district of Mdina. From there, its a five-minute walk to the main gate of the walled city. Marsaxlokk: Buses (numbers 81 and 85) run throughout the day every 30 minutes between Valletta and Marsaxlokk. The trip takes between 45 minutes and one hour depending on the traffic. In Marsaxlokk, the bus terminal is a five minute walk from the waterfront. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 44 | http://holidayletsmaltagozo.com/about/malta/valletta/ | en | Valletta, Malta | [
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"Holiday Lets Malta Gozo"
] | null | /favicon.ico | Holiday Lets Malta Gozo | null | Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt (English: The City) in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,966.
Valletta 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 areas, though World War II left major scars on the city. The City of Valletta was officially recognised 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 Città Umilissima in Italian. The bastions, curtains and ravelins 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'.
On Friday 12 October 2012, Valletta was unanimously named European Capital of Culture (ECoC) for 2018, by a jury of experts, following a presentation by the Valletta 2018 Foundation. The official declaration of the title is expected to take place at the next EU Council of Ministers meeting, some time around May 2013. ECoC jury chairman Manfred Gaulhofer, during a live-broadcast press conference in St John’s Co-Cathedral’s oratory, said the jury was convinced that Valletta had the will, motivation and the required ambition to receive the title.
The city is on the island of Malta so it shares its early history with the island. Immediately after the end of the Siege of Malta in 1565, the Order decided to found a new city on the Xiberras peninsula to fortify the Order's position in Malta and bind the Knights to the island. The foundation stone of Valletta was laid by the Grandmaster of the Order, Jean Parisot de la Valette on 28 March 1566. La Valette placed the first stone in Our Lady of Victories Church.
In his book Dell’Istoria della Sacra Religione et Illustrissima Militia di San Giovanni Gierosolimitano (English: The History of the Sacred Religion and Illustrious Militia of St John of Jerusalem), written between 1594 and 1602, Giacomo Bosio writes that when the cornerstone of Valletta was placed, a group of Maltese elders said "Iegi zimen en fel wardia col sceber raba iesue uquie" (Which in modern Maltese reads, "Jiġi żmien li fil-Wardija [l-Għolja Sciberras] kull xiber raba’ jiswa uqija," and in English, "There will come a time when every piece of land on Sciberras Hill will be worth its weight in gold").
Grand Master La Valette died on 21 August 1568 at age 74 and never saw the completion of his city. Originally interred in the church of Our Lady of the Victories, his remains now rest in St. John's Co-Cathedral among the tombs of other Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta. Francesco Laparelli was the city's principal designer and his plan departed from medieval Maltese architecture, which exhibited irregular winding streets and alleys. He designed the new city on a rectangular grid, and without any collacchio (an area restricted for important buildings). The streets were designed to be wide and straight, beginning centrally from the City Gate and ending at Fort Saint Elmo overlooking the Mediterranean; certain bastions were built 153 feet (47 m) tall. The Maltese architect Gerolamo Cassar was responsible for a number of the buildings.
After the Knights' departure and the brief French occupation, building projects in Valletta resumed under British rule. These projects included widening gates, demolishing and rebuilding structures, widening newer houses over the years, and installing civic projects. | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 13 | https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/malta-history-key-moments/ | en | Seven key moments in the history of Malta | [
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"Kev Lochun"
] | 2023-03-20T12:47:02+00:00 | Once traded for a falcon and collectively awarded the George Cross, the history of Malta is full of fascinating stories | en | HistoryExtra | https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/malta-history-key-moments/ | It has witnessed wars and strife, vanishing cultures, and the possible shipwrecking of a saint. It was traded for a bird of prey, became a pilgrimage hotspot on the sea route to the Holy Land, and witnessed the creation of one of the first planned cities in Europe. It served as a sanctuary for the exiled Mehmed VI after the dissolution of the Ottoman empire and was lauded as the ‘Nurse of the Mediterranean’ for its part in treating soldiers injured at Gallipoli during the First World War.
Malta’s past is chequered and complex. Here are seven key moments that have shaped the islands, and the world around them.
1
The disappearance of the temple builders – 2500 BC
Temple culture bloomed in Malta around 3600 BC. More than a millennium before the construction of the great pyramid of Giza or the raising of the trilithons of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, the ‘temple people’ built the first of a string of megalithic marvels that can be counted among the oldest free-standing structures in the world.
Today, six of these complexes spread across Malta and Gozo – Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Ta' Ħaġrat, Skorba and Tarxien – are counted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Their purpose remains clouded, though collectively they point to the people of the period having a ritualistic culture, with one tantalising clue being the prevalence of statuettes colloquially described as ‘fat ladies’, which may have served as idols of fertility.
Of more obvious purpose is the seventh UNESCO World Heritage site from this period, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum – not a temple, but a tomb. Hewn out of the soft limestone rock, this underground necropolis held the remains of an estimated 7,000 people when it was excavated in the 20th century.
But in 2500 BC, the temple builders died out and disappeared, leaving these grand structures as their testament. Historians have struggled to determine why this people suddenly vanished from Malta: drought, famine, epidemic and outside aggression have all been put forward as potential reasons for their abrupt end, with no conclusive evidence pointing towards any.
2
Rome ousts Carthage – 218 BC
Developing from a Phoenician colony, the city-state and then empire of Carthage ruled over Malta for almost 250 years before losing it to their greatest rival: the Romans.
Malta escaped unscathed during the First Punic War (264-241 BC) – as these clashes between and Rome and Carthage would become known. The islands were raided and occupied during the first months of the Second Punic War (218–201 BC); the Roman historian Livy records that the local garrison surrendered without a fight.
By the time Rome had finally annihilated its hated foe at the end of the Third Punic War (149–146 BC), Malta had been a Roman territory for more than 70 years.
Read more | How Hannibal beat the Alps but couldn't beat Rome
The change in overlordship ushered in a new age of prosperity that lasted until the Roman empire’s fracture into east and west in the fourth century AD. The Romans designated Malta a municipium, or free town, incorporating it within the province of Sicilia but otherwise leaving the islands to their own devices, and in time they became a major producer of olive oil.
Maleth, the old Phoenician colony that pre-dated the Carthaginians, became Melite after a period of rapid expansion (and reinforcement, in the form of thick walls and defensive ditches). It is here you can find the Domvs Romana, or Roman House, and its almost entirely intact mosaics.
3
The shipwreck of St Paul – AD 60
When Christianity came to Malta in the first century AD, it was no mere missionary who arrived – but an apostle himself. Or at least, that is how this story goes.
The Bible describes how St Paul is shipwrecked en route to standing trial in Rome. Some translations say he washed ashore at an island called Melite. This is oft assumed to be a conflation for Malta, rather than the town of Melite. Other translations of the Bible identify this place as Malta directly. On arriving, Paul is bitten by a viper, miraculously survives its venom, and is received by the Roman governor, Publius – who will later become Malta’s first bishop and, later still, its first saint.
Read more | 7 controversial saints in history
The apostle’s influence, apocryphal or not, can be seen on the landscape and is now a part of the islands’ national mythos. The place where his ship was wrecked is known as St Paul’s Island, where you’ll find a statue to the saint. The island itself sits within St Paul’s Bay. The cave in which Paul is said to have spent three months is known as St Paul’s Grotto, and counts Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis among its visitors.
When, on 11 January 1693, the church in Mdina (as Melite was known by this time) was destroyed in what remains Malta’s worst ever earthquake, the newly reconstructed one was named for St Paul. Fitting, as it is said to stand on the very spot where Publius received the apostle some 1,600 years earlier.
4
The Arab conquest – from AD 870
Arabic caliphates held power in Malta from the closing of the ninth century until the end of the 11th, wresting control from the Byzantine empire.
The arrival of the Arabs was to leave an indelible mark on the islands, bringing changes to cuisine, music and architecture. They introduced cotton and citrus fruits as crops, and brought irrigation techniques that are still in use today.
But perhaps the most lasting influence was on language. Present-day Maltese is a direct derivative of the Siculo-Arabic that was spoken across Muslim-ruled Sicily at that time, and it remains the only Semitic language written in a Latin alphabet, though it is now peppered with loan words from Italian, English and elsewhere. Likewise many place names (Mdina, Rabat, Marsa and Xagħra, to name a few) are derived from this tongue, as are a number of common family names.
Read more | Digital revolution: the evolution of Hindu-Arabic numerals
The endurance of this linguistic legacy may have its roots in the Norman conquest of Malta under Count Roger I of Sicily that began in 1091. Approximately 150 years later, in 1249, Arab historian Ibn Hadlun records that all Muslims were expelled from Malta – yet somehow their language survived. It has been suggested that many renounced their religion rather than leave, embracing Christianity, and in doing so kept their language alive.
5
The Great Siege of Malta – 1565
In 1530, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain Charles V gifted Malta to Knights Hospitaller, formally the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, a brotherhood of military monks formed to care for sick pilgrims in the Holy Land. All he asked for was a token annual tribute of a Maltese falcon – a real bird of prey, not the priceless and entirely fictitious MacGuffin made famous by the 1941 film of the same name.
The Hospitallers had come to Charles asking for a new home, after being forced out of their stronghold of Rhodes by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent’s expanding Ottoman empire. Having established themselves on Malta, the Hospitallers carried on largely as they had before: interfering with Suleiman’s shipping. It was little wonder that his army came knocking.
Read more | Divided they fell: how war, revolution and sectarianism led to the end of the Ottoman empire
An armada of around 200 ships carrying 40,000 Ottoman soldiers descended on Malta on 18 May 1565, the beginning of almost four months of offensives and counteroffensives that can be counted among the hardest-fought of the era. At one point, in a bid to encourage the local people to surrender, the Ottomans fixed the decapitated bodies of the dead to crucifixes and sent them floating across the harbour. The Hospitallers retorted by firing cannons loaded with decapitated Turkish heads back at them.
What broke the deadlock was the arrival of Spanish reinforcements from Sicily on 7 September. In a dreadful oversight, Sulieman ordered his men to face the new arrivals in open battle. Met by experienced and fresh troops, the Ottomans buckled, with thousands cut down as they retreated to their ships.
In was a turning point for the Hospitallers, now hailed as the saviours of Europe, a bulwark against the Ottoman menace. Fearing a future invasion, they began to build a new stronghold named after their grandmaster, Jean Parisot de Valette. It would become Valletta, the current Maltese capital.
6
The French Occupation – 1798-1800
Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Malta in June 1798 as a pit-stop on his way to Egypt, the French taking control of the islands within a day and after little resistance. Many Hospitallers at this time were of French heritage themselves and were simply unwilling to fight their countrymen.
The French occupation would last for two years, but Napoleon himself would only spend six days on Malta, leaving behind a garrison of 4,000 men. He marked the end of Hospitaller rule with a set of radical political and administrative reforms – including the dismantling of feudal structures and the abolition of slavery – but his mistake was to allow his men to loot churches and help themselves to Maltese treasures.
Public anger reached its tipping point at an auction of church property in September 1798. Within days, a 10,000-strong Maltese militia was at the gates of Valletta, trapping the French inside. With no way to breach the walls, they entreated Britain to come to their aid, and so Malta was blockaded once more, with the British finally gaining control of the islands in 1800.
Read more | Napoleon: the rise and fall of a dictator
This was the beginning of a long period of British rule in Malta. Though the 1802 Treaty of Amiens required the islands to be returned to the Hospitallers, Britain quietly ignored this stipulation – Malta’s strategic location was too valuable to lose in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars. The Knights of St John would never regain it: Malta would formally be confirmed as a British crown colony with the 1814 Treaty of Paris.
As for the church treasure, a great desal was taken by Napoleon himself, stashed on his flagship L’Orient – and was subsequently sunk by Admiral Horatio Nelson at the battle of the Nile.
7
Fortress Malta – 1940–1942
In 1942, King George VI awarded the George Cross – the highest British honour awarded for non-military gallantry – to Malta in its entirety, for withstanding a two-year siege during the Second World War.
Though it was neglected in the run up to the conflict, Malta’s eventual importance to Britain cannot be overstated. The ancestral home to the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet was, in Winston Churchill’s words, as “an unsinkable aircraft carrier” ideally placed to frustrate Axis ambitions in northern Africa and chip away at shipping convoys carrying vital supplies to Libya.
Read more | 8 of Churchill’s greatest speeches
Germany and Italy recognised this too. Between June 1940 and November 1942, the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica bombarded the archipelago relentlessly, with one sustained attack that lasted 154 days and nights seeing 6,700 tonnes of bombs land on the islands. By the summer of 1942, the situation was desperate: people were having to turn to curtains for clothes and tyres to resole their shoes, disease was spreading, and the risk of starvation was imminent. With fuel reserves dwindling, offensive operations had ground to a halt.
The British response was Operation Pedestal, a supply run of epic proportions. Fourteen merchant vessels ran the gauntlet of sniping submarines and aerial assaults, accompanied by three aircraft carriers, two battleships, seven light cruisers and 32 destroyers, among others.
Only five of the merchant ships made it to harbour, but the presence of the tanker SS Ohio among them – limping into port lashed between two destroyers – turned this into a strategic victory, its vital cargo allowing Malta to be used as launch point for attacks on Axis shipping once more.
Malta would go on to serve as the launch point of Operation Husky, the July 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. In a reversal of its role in 1565, it was no longer a bastion to protect Rome, but one from which to subdue it. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 0 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valletta | en | Wikipedia | [
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] | 2002-06-16T23:34:10+00:00 | en | /static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valletta | Capital of Malta
This article is about the Maltese capital. For other uses, see Valletta (disambiguation).
Capital city and local council in Port Region, Malta
Valletta ( , Maltese: il-Belt Valletta, Maltese pronunciation: [vɐlˈlɛt.tɐ]) is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157.[3] As Malta’s capital city, it is a commercial centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the southernmost capital of Europe,[4][note 1] and at just 0.61 square kilometres (0.24 sq mi), it is the European Union's smallest capital city.[5][6]
Valletta's 16th-century buildings were constructed by the Knights Hospitaller. The city was named after the Frenchman Jean Parisot de Valette, who succeeded in defending the island against an Ottoman invasion during the Great Siege of Malta. The city is Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture, though the Second World War left major scars on the city, particularly the destruction of the Royal Opera House. The city was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.[7] The city has 320 monuments, all within an area of 0.55 square kilometres (0.21 sq mi), making it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.[7] [8] Sometimes called an "open-air museum",[9] Valletta was chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2018. Valletta was also listed as the sunniest city in Europe in 2016.[10][11]
The city is noted for its fortifications, consisting of bastions, curtains and cavaliers, along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches.
History
[edit]
See also: Mount Sciberras and Sciberras Peninsula
The peninsula was previously called Xagħret Mewwija (Mu' awiya – Meuia; named during the Arab period[12])[13][14] or Ħal Newwija.[15] Mewwija refers to a sheltered place.[16] Some authors state that the extreme end of the peninsula was known as Xebb ir-Ras (Sheb point), of which name origins from the lighthouse on site.[17][18] A family which surely owned land became known as Sceberras, now a Maltese surname as Sciberras.[19] At one point the entire peninsula became known as Sceberras.
Recent scholarly studies have however shown that the Xeberras phrase is of Punic origin and means 'the headland' and 'the middle peninsula' as it actually is.[20]
Order of Saint John
[edit]
The building of a city on the Sciberras Peninsula had been proposed by the Order of Saint John as early as 1524.[21] Back then, the only building on the peninsula was a small watchtower[22] dedicated to Erasmus of Formia (Saint Elmo), which had been built in 1488.[23]
In 1552, the Aragonite watchtower was demolished and the larger Fort Saint Elmo was built in its place.[24]
In the Great Siege of 1565, Fort Saint Elmo fell to the Ottomans, but the Order eventually won the siege with the help of Sicilian reinforcements. The victorious Grand Master, Jean de Valette, immediately set out to build a new fortified city on the Sciberras Peninsula to fortify the Order's position in Malta and bind the Knights to the island. The city took his name and was called La Valletta.[25]
The Grand Master asked the European kings and princes for help, receiving a lot of assistance due to the increased fame of the Order after their victory in the Great Siege. Pope Pius V sent his military architect, Francesco Laparelli, to design the new city, while Philip II of Spain sent substantial monetary aid. The foundation stone of the city was laid by Grand Master de Valette on 28 March 1566. He placed the first stone in what later became Our Lady of Victories Church.[26]
In his book Dell'Istoria della Sacra Religione et Illustrissima Militia di San Giovanni Gierosolimitano (English: The History of the Sacred Religion and Illustrious Militia of St John of Jerusalem), written between 1594 and 1602, Giacomo Bosio writes that when the cornerstone of Valletta was placed, a group of Maltese elders said: "Iegi zimen en fel wardia col sceber raba iesue uquie" (Which in modern Maltese reads, "Jiġi żmien li fil-Wardija [l-Għolja Sciberras] kull xiber raba' jiswa uqija", and in English, "There will come a time when every piece of land on Sciberras Hill will be worth its weight in gold").[27]
De Valette died from a stroke on 21 August 1568 at age 74 and never saw the completion of his city. Originally interred in the church of Our Lady of the Victories, his remains now rest in St. John's Co-Cathedral among the tombs of other Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta.[26]
Francesco Laparelli was the city's principal designer and his plan departed from medieval Maltese architecture, which exhibited irregular winding streets and alleys. He designed the new city on a rectangular grid plan, and without any collacchio (an area restricted for important buildings). The streets were designed to be wide and straight, beginning centrally from the City Gate and ending at Fort Saint Elmo (which was rebuilt) overlooking the Mediterranean; certain bastions were built 47 metres (154 ft) high. His assistant was the Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar, who later oversaw the construction of the city himself after Laparelli's death in 1570.[26]
The Ufficio delle Case regulated the building of the city as a planning authority.[28]
The city of Valletta was mostly completed by the early 1570s, and it became the capital on 18 March 1571 when Grand Master Pierre de Monte moved from his seat at Fort St Angelo in Birgu to the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta.
Seven Auberges were built for the Order's Langues, and these were complete by the 1580s.[29][30] An eighth Auberge, Auberge de Bavière, was later added in the 18th century.[31]
In Antoine de Paule's reign, it was decided to build more fortifications to protect Valletta, and these were named the Floriana Lines after the architect who designed them, Pietro Paolo Floriani of Macerata.[32] During António Manoel de Vilhena's reign, a town began to form between the walls of Valletta and the Floriana Lines, and this evolved from a suburb of Valletta to Floriana, a town in its own right.[33]
In 1634, a gunpowder factory explosion killed 22 people in Valletta.[34] In 1749, Muslim slaves plotted to kill Grandmaster Pinto and take over Valletta, but the revolt was suppressed before it even started due to their plans leaking out to the Order.[35] Later on in his reign, Pinto embellished the city with Baroque architecture, and many important buildings such as Auberge de Castille were remodeled or completely rebuilt in the new architectural style.[36]
In 1775, during the reign of Ximenes, an unsuccessful revolt known as the Rising of the Priests occurred in which Fort Saint Elmo and Saint James Cavalier were captured by rebels, but the revolt was eventually suppressed.[37]
French occupation and British rule
[edit]
In 1798, the French invaded the island and expelled the Order.[38] After the Maltese rebelled, French troops continued to occupy Valletta and the surrounding harbour area, until they capitulated to the British in September 1800. In the early 19th century, the British Civil Commissioner, Henry Pigot, agreed to demolish the majority of the city's fortifications.[39] The demolition was again proposed in the 1870s and 1880s, but it was never carried out and the fortifications have survived largely intact.[21]
Eventually building projects in Valletta resumed under British rule. These projects included widening gates, demolishing and rebuilding structures, widening newer houses over the years, and installing civic projects. The Malta Railway, which linked Valletta to Mdina, was officially opened in 1883.[40] It was closed down in 1931 after buses became a popular means of transport.
In 1939, Valletta was abandoned as the headquarters of the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet due to its proximity to Italy and the city became a flash point during the subsequent two-year long Siege of Malta.[41] German and Italian air raids throughout the Second World War caused much destruction in Valletta and the rest of the harbor area. The Royal Opera House, constructed at the city entrance in the 19th century, was one of the buildings lost to the raids.[24]
Valletta harbour c. 1850, photo by Calvert Jones
King's Gate c. 1884–1905
Royal Opera House in 1911
Bomb damage in Valletta during the Second World War
Contemporary
[edit]
In 1980, the 24th Chess Olympiad took place in Valletta.[42]
The entire city of Valletta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980, along with Megalithic Temples of Malta and the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni.[7][43] On 11 November 2015, Valletta hosted the Valletta Summit on Migration in which European and African leaders discussed the European migrant crisis.[44] After that, on 27 November 2015, the city also hosted part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015.[45]
Valletta was the European Capital of Culture in 2018.[46]
Detail of the Parliament House (2015)
Mediterranean Conference Centre, former Sacra Infermeria (2016)
Renovated Tritons' Fountain (2018)
Auberge d'Italie, renovated in 2016 to host the new MUŻA (Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti)
Renovated covered market Is-Suq tal-Belt, 2018
Government
[edit]
Local government
[edit]
The Valletta Local Council was established by the Local Councils Act of 1993, along with the other local councils of Malta.[47] The first election was held on 20 November 1993. Other elections were held in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2013,[48] 2017.[49] The present local council was elected in 2019.[50] The local council is housed in a building in South Street.
The following people have served as Mayors of Valletta:[51]
Hector Bruno (1993–1999) (PN)
Paul Borg Olivier (1999–2008) (PN)
Alexei Dingli (2008–2019) (PN) [52]
Christian Micallef (2019) (PN) [53]
Alfred Zammit (2019–) (PL) [54]
National government
[edit]
Valletta is the capital city of Malta,[55] and is the country's administrative and commercial hub.[56] The Parliament of Malta has been housed at the Parliament House near the city's entrance since 2015: it was previously housed at the Grandmaster's Palace in the city centre.[57] The latter palace still houses the Office of the President of Malta,[58] while the Auberge de Castille houses the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta. The courthouse and many government departments are also located in Valletta.[59]
Geography
[edit]
The Valletta peninsula has two natural harbours, Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour.[43] The Grand Harbour is Malta's major port, with unloading quays at nearby Marsa. A cruise-liner terminal is located along the old seawall of the Valletta Waterfront that Portuguese Grandmaster Manuel Pinto da Fonseca built.[60]
Climate
[edit]
Main article: Climate of Malta
Valletta features a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) with very mild, wet winters and warm to hot, slightly long, dry summers, with an average annual temperature above 23 °C (73 °F) during the day and 16 °C (61 °F). Valletta experiences a lack of precipitation during the summer months and most of the precipitation happens during the winter months. Winter temperatures are moderated by the surrounding sea, as a result, the city has very mild winters and a long seasonal lag. The official climate recording station in Malta is at Luqa Airport, which is a few miles inland from Valletta. Average high temperatures range from around 16 °C (61 °F) in January to about 32 °C (90 °F) in August, while average low temperatures range from around 10 °C (50 °F) in January to 23 °C (73 °F) in August.
Cityscape
[edit]
The architecture of Valletta's streets and piazzas ranges from mid-16th century Baroque to Modernism. The city is the island's principal cultural center and has a unique collection of churches, palaces and museums and act as one of the city's main visitor attractions. When Benjamin Disraeli, future British Prime Minister, visited the city in 1830, he described it as "a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen," and remarked that "Valletta equals in its noble architecture, if it does not excel, any capital in Europe," and in other letters called it "comparable to Venice and Cádiz" and "full of palaces worthy of Palladio."[63][64]
Buildings of historic importance include St John's Co-Cathedral, formerly the Conventual Church of the Knights of Malta. It has the only signed work and largest painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.[65] The Auberge de Castille et Leon, formerly the official seat of the Knights of Malta of the Langue of Castille, Léon and Portugal, is now the office of the Prime Minister of Malta.[59] The Grandmaster's Palace, built between 1571 and 1574 and formerly the seat of the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, used to house the Maltese Parliament, now situated in a purpose-built structure at the entrance to the city, and now houses the offices of the President of Malta.[66]
Admiralty House is a Baroque palace dating to the late 1570s. It was the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet during the British era from the 1820s onwards. From 1974 until 2016, it was the site of the National Museum of Fine Arts.
The Manoel Theatre (Maltese: Teatru Manoel) was constructed in just ten months in 1731, by order of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, and is one of the oldest working theatres in Europe. The Mediterranean Conference Centre was formerly the Sacra Infermeria. Built in 1574, it was one of Europe's most renowned hospitals during the Renaissance. The fortifications of the port, built by the Knights as a magnificent series of bastions, demi-bastions, cavaliers and curtains, approximately 100 metres (330 ft) high, all contribute to the unique architectural quality of the city.
Neighbourhoods
[edit]
Valletta contains a number of unofficial neighbourhoods, including:[67]
Strada Rjali – the main thoroughfare, Triq ir-Repubblika
l-Arċipierku – an area close to the Sacra Infermeria. Its name possibly derives from archipelago since it contains a number of lanes which break up the area into many "islands" of houses, or from archi-borgo since the area is located just outside Fort Saint Elmo.[68]
il-Baviera – an area around the English Curtain, bounded by Old Bakery, Archbishop, Marsamxett and St. Sebastian Streets. It is named after Auberge de Bavière.[68]
il-Biċċerija – an area close to il-Baviera, named after the slaughterhouse which was formerly located there.[68]
il-Kamrata – an area close to the Sacra Infermeria. It is named after the Camerata, a spiritual retreat which was demolished in the 19th century and replaced by social housing.[68]
Deux Balles (Maltese: Duwi Balli) – an area close to il-Baviera. The name probably originates from the French occupation.[68]
il-Fossa – an area close to the Jews' Sally Port and Fort Saint Elmo. It is regarded as the worst maintained area of Valletta.[69]
Manderaggio (Maltese: il-Mandraġġ) – an area behind Manderaggio Curtain, bounded by St. Mark, St. Lucia, St. Patrick and Marsamxett Streets. This was meant to be a small harbour (mandracchio) but it was never completed, and a slum area developed instead. The slums were demolished in the 1950s and were rebuilt as housing estates.[68]
Economy
[edit]
Eurostat estimates the labour force in 2015 for the greater Valletta area at around 91,000 people. This corresponds to a share of just under 50 percent of Malta. As in Malta as a whole, tourism is an important economic sector. The most important tourist zone is the area surrounding the Grand Harbour. For the cruise industry, after several years of planning, work began in 2002 to build the Valletta Waterfront Project, a cruise terminal, in the Grand Harbour.[70] There is also a publishing house in Valletta, Allied Newspapers Ltd., a media company. This company publishes the two market-leading newspapers, Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta.
Education
[edit]
The Valletta Campus of the University of Malta is situated in the Old University Building. It serves as an extension of the Msida Campus, especially offering international masters programmes.[71]
A church school, "St. Albert the Great", is also situated in Valletta. The Headmaster is Alternattiva Demokratika politician Mario Mallia.[72][73]
Culture
[edit]
Valletta was designated European Capital of Culture for 2018.[74] The year was inaugurated with an event called Erba' Pjazez (Four Squares), with shows focused in 4 plazas in the city – Triton Square, St. George's Square, St. John's Square, and Castille Square – along with other shows in other points.[75] This was followed by the unveiling of a public art installation, Kif Jgħid il-Malti (Maltese Sayings), which featured a number of Maltese language proverb figured in gypsum, in order to engage linguistic heritage.[76][77]
Saint James Cavalier
[edit]
Saint James Cavalier, originally a raised gun platform, was converted into a Centre of Creativity in the year 2000 as part of Malta's Millennium Project. It now houses a small theatre, a cinema, music rooms and art galleries. Various exhibitions are regularly held there. It has welcomed over a million visitors since opening.[78]
Music
[edit]
The Valletta International Baroque Festival is held every year in January. Jazz music in Malta was introduced in the Strait Street area, frequented by Allied sailors during both World Wars.[79] Malta's Jazz Festival took place here. Strait Street is also known as The Gut. This area is undergoing a programme of regeneration. The city's dual band clubs are the "King's Own Band Club" (Maltese: L-Għaqda Mużikali King's Own) and "La Valette National Philharmonic Society" (Maltese: Is-Soċjetà Filarmonika Nazzjonali La Valette).[citation needed]
Carnival
[edit]
Valletta is the scene of the Maltese Carnival, held in February each year, leading up to Lent.[80] There were no carnival trucks in 2020 or 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but trucks returned in 2022.[citation needed]
In 1823 the Valletta carnival was the scene of a human crush tragedy in which at least 110 boys perished.[81]
Feasts
[edit]
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on 16 July
Saint Paul's feast is celebrated on 10 February
Saint Dominic's feast is celebrated in Valletta on 4 August or before
The feast of Saint Augustine is celebrated on the third Sunday after Easter
The city's residents also conduct an annual procession in honour of St. Rita
In literature and the arts
[edit]
The poetical illustrations "Valetta, Capital of Malta". (painted by T. C. Dibden, engraved by J. Tingle)[82] and "Strada St. Ursola,—Malta". (painted by Samuel Prout, engraved by J, Carter)[83] by Letitia Elizabeth Landon were both published in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837. A further poem Jesuits in Procession—Valetta, Malta. illustrates a painting of the procession in the Strada St Giovanni painted by Samuel Prout and engraved by E. Challis is in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1838.[84]
Twin towns – sister cities
[edit]
Valletta is twinned with:[85]
Palermo, Italy
Pisa, Italy
Cortona, Italy, since August 26, 2022
Rhodes, Greece
Byblos, Lebanon
Piran, Slovenia
Transport
[edit]
Malta International Airport is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the city in the town of Luqa.
Malta's public transport system, which uses buses, operates mostly on routes to or from Valletta, with their central terminus just outside the city gate. Traffic within the city itself is restricted, with some principal roads being completely pedestrian areas. In 2006, a park and ride system was implemented in order to increase the availability of parking spaces in the city. People can leave their vehicles in a nearby Floriana car park and transfer to a van for the rest of the trip.
In 2007, a congestion pricing scheme was implemented to reduce long-term parking and traffic while promoting business in the city.[86][87] An ANPR-based automated system takes photos of vehicles as they enter and exit the charging zone and vehicle owners are billed according to the duration of their stay.[86]
Valletta is served by a fleet of electric taxis which transport riders from 10 points in Valletta to any destination in the city.[88]
As of 2021, an underground Malta Metro is being planned, with a projected total cost of €6.2 billion,[89] centred on the Valletta urban area.
Notable people
[edit]
Main page: Category:People from Valletta
Sports
[edit]
Valletta F.C. Association Football team and Futsal team
Valletta Lions RFC Rugby Football Union team
Valletta's Marsamxett Harbour a "Regatta" (Rowing) Team, which takes part in the annual traditional Regatta on Victory Day (8 September).
Valletta United W.P.C., a Water Polo Club hailing from Marsamxett side
Valletta V.C., a Volleyball club.
Marsamxett Boċċi, a ''Boċċi'' Club from Marsamxett, Valletta.
Valletta St. Paul's Boċċi, a ''Boċċi'' Club from L-Arċipierku side, Valletta.
Further reading
[edit]
Bianco, Lino (2009). "Valletta: A city in history" (PDF). Melita Theologica. 60 (2). University of Malta: Department of Architecture and Urban Design – Faculty for the Built Environment: 1–20. ISSN 1012-9588. OCLC 1587122. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2018.
References
[edit]
Notes
[edit] | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 46 | https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/capital-of-malta/ | en | Capital of Malta | [
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"GeeksforGeeks"
] | 2023-09-22T04:05:49 | A Computer Science portal for geeks. It contains well written, well thought and well explained computer science and programming articles, quizzes and practice/competitive programming/company interview Questions. | en | GeeksforGeeks | https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/capital-of-malta/ | Malta is a beautiful, small, and rich European country located in the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and the North African Coast with its three islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino island. It is a lightly populated country with a population of around 533,286 in 2022 (as per the latest United States data) and its currency is the Euro. Malta is one of the favorite tourist destinations and film production places due to its warm climate and eye-catching landscape. It is believed that it is the oldest country with lots of old temples, like the Megalithic temple of Malta.
The capital of Malta is Valletta, which is a small walled city, established around the 1500s by the Knights of St.John, a Roman Catholic order.
Now, let’s deeply explore “Where is Valletta Malta on a map”
Valletta is a beautiful fortified capital of Malta which is located on Mount Sceberras, which runs like a tongue dividing the bay into two harbors, Marsamxett harbor to the west and Grand Harbor to the east. On 18 March 1571, Valletta was chosen as the capital of Malta, a fortified city comprising bastions, curtains, and cavaliers with an area of 0.61 square kilometers, making it the smallest capital city of the European Union with a population of around 5730 (2016). The city was named after St Jean Parisot de la Valletta (Grand Master of the order of Saint John). Valletta is known for its 320 monuments and making it a tourist attraction spot, adding to its glory in 1980 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city provides various high-level education courses to its students and the university of Malta is also situated here. People here on Valletta’s Island usually speak Maltese and English as their communication languages.
History of Valletta – Malta
The origin of Valletta city starts in 1524 when the Order of Saint John proposed to build a city on the Scriberras peninsula. Before that, there was only a small watchtower dedicated to the Erasmus of Formia (Saint Elmo) on the Scriberras (a family that owned land on the peninsula and later the people of Malta started using scriber as their last name) around 1488. Later, in 1552, Fort Saint Elmo was built in the place of the Aragonite watchtower. In 1565, Fort Saint put his weapons in front of the Ottomans and the Order of Saint came to protect the siege of Malta, the Grandmaster de Valletta started building a fortified city with the help of European kings and Princes and laid the first stone of foundation, which was later named as Our lady of Victories Church but his dream of making Valletta does not reach its endpoint as he died due to stroke. After the death of de Valletta, his dream was carried forward by his assistant, Girolamo Caser, and he designed the architecture of this beautiful city. In 1798, the French took over Valletta and in 1800 the British captured it by defeating the French. The city faced many ups and downs and finally, on 21 September 1964 Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom and become a free nation.
Geography
Valletta is a peninsular city and is situated between two natural harbors, the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett making it a country best for people who love both seasons, summers and winters. As none of the weather is much harsh and provides people with an amazing climate to live in.
Valletta – Climate
Valletta is the sunniest city in Europe with mild winters and warm to hot summers. Its annual temperature is 23 degrees Celsius during the day and 16 degrees Celsius at night. Tourists can enjoy the cool breeze at Baraka garden with some cocktails and mocktails.
Valletta – Transport
When it comes to Valletta, it is completely realistic to explore many places in a short period due to its controlled traffic and lanes. Malta International Airport is 8 KM from Valletta in Luqa city. During British rule, trains were started in Valletta but it was officially closed in 1931 and buses became the only mode of transportation with their centers outside the city, principal roads are completely kept pedestrian, and also in 2006, a system of park and ride was implemented, according to which people park their private vehicle in a parking lawn made by government and use an electric van to move to rest of the city. Valletta has proper traffic rules, parking areas, and pedestrian lanes.
Valletta – Economy
Valletta is not an industrial city but it is a center for commercial and administrative purposes. Valletta Malta tourism is the primary source of income in the city. Also, the city is classified to be an advanced economy and considered a high-economy country by the World Bank. It is also a member of the European Union and since 1 January 2008 has formally adopted Euro as its currency.
Valletta – Food and Drink
The city is best known for its rich taste of Italian food, which is good for enhancing your taste buds. The local street food on Strait Street is a must-try for tourists. If you are an Italian food lover, then Valetta is the place to go, as here, you are served generation-old recipes by Maltese-Italian chefs, one of the best food is peri-peri pasta accompanied with chilled beer. Valetta is known for its old wines. One can also taste traditional Maltese pastries with coffee or tea at the Caffe Codina, a famous cafe on Saint John’s Street.
Valletta – Culture
Valletta is considered the cultural capital of Europe, being the smallest city it has still kept its history alive. The city is every writer’s dream due to its amazing and breathtaking nature, architecture, history, etc. The city brings most of the cultures of Europe under one roof and gives all the travelers a fresh breath of air. Its buzzing nightlife, street entertainment, classical opera, and many other things are every tourist’s muse.
Valletta – Famous Places
Arts & Culture of Malta is very famous and talking about Valletta, it is a hub of the prominent architecture of the city. One of the most important historical monuments of Valletta is St John Co-cathedral church, which was built by great Maltese architect Garolama Cassar between 1573-1578. Now, it is a conventional church of the Hospitaller order. The church is known for its beautiful painting by Mattie premia (a famous Maltese artist) and interior. The masterpiece in the church is The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist by the Caravaggio in the Oratory. There are 8 chapels in the church and the important ones to visit are the Chapel of the Langue of Aragon and the chapel of the Langue of Italy. There are many more monuments to visit, like the Palace of the Grand Master, the National Archaeology Museum, and the Royal Opera House, built in 2013, making great use of limestone.
Baraka Gardens
It is situated on the highest point of Valetta and is full of fountains, flowery rows, and a statue of the famous figure Wilson Churchill. There are various viewpoints in the park giving a perfect view of the Grand Harbor. There is a Saluting Battery, where members of the Malta Heritage Society in traditional uniform, perform a Gum Salute every day at noon to express respect for the Maltese military. The two beautiful gardens, upper and lower Baraka Gardens, give you a break from the pebble street and you can enjoy the natural beauty and click on some beautiful pictures for your gallery.
Grandmaster’s Palace and Armony
It is a beautiful monumental place at the center of the palace square. One part is reserved for presidential use and another is open for visitors as a museum. One can see a grand painting by the Grand Master Jean de Valletta, founder of Valetta City. The monument is decorated with gilded moldings, artwork, and beautiful paintings.
National Museum of Archeology
The museum is a living example of Baroque architecture with eye-catching paintings and wooden beam ceilings at the Grand Salon. The museum is known for its prehistoric collection, including pottery, ornaments, altars, statues, and paintings. There is a room of “sleeping beauty“, where a lady is sleeping on a couch, representing an expression from centuries ago.
Casa Roca Picola
If tourists want to visit the true Maltese culture, then one must go to this place, which is the home of an aristocratic Maltese family. The place contains two dining rooms, a bedroom, a salon, and a family chapel. The rooms are beautifully decorated with ancient Maltese traditions and there is a restaurant serving traditional Silicon cuisine that is open for breakfast and lunch.
Manoel Theater
It is one of the oldest theaters in Europe. This little theatre is known for its rich heritage and perfect look from all angles. It is an oval-shaped museum where one can enjoy music concerts and operas. It is decorated with gilded box seats and velvet chairs. If you want to enjoy the music of Valetta, then experience an evening performance in this traditional Manoel Theater.
Muza
It is a fine art museum representing the artwork of Malta from the 12 to 20th centuries. The renowned work of a famous Maltese artist, Mattia Preti, is presented here, which is a Baptism of Christ painting. Tourists can also see other important artwork by Italian artists like Guido Reni.
If one wants to travel Europe then Valetta deserves a chance to visit as it is full of natural beauty with traditional monuments and from the angle of safety, it is one of the safest countries in Europe being friendly and helpful citizens. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 31 | https://archive.org/details/historyofmaltadu00hard | en | 1815 : Hardman, William, of Valetta : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive | https://archive.org/services/img/historyofmaltadu00hard | https://archive.org/services/img/historyofmaltadu00hard | [
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9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 28 | https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-best-things-to-do-in-malta | en | The 15 Best Things to Do in Malta, Mediterranean’s Most Underrated Destination | https://afar.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9122b24/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2016+0+504/resize/1440x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk3-prod-afar-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F9f%2F88ca920a4713a8a2ea7c317b29ab%2Fimg-0471.jpeg | https://afar.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9122b24/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2016+0+504/resize/1440x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk3-prod-afar-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F9f%2F88ca920a4713a8a2ea7c317b29ab%2Fimg-0471.jpeg | [
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"Jessie Beck",
"Sara Lieberman",
"www.afar.com",
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] | 2023-09-17T14:34:52.784000+00:00 | From rock climbing on Gozo to exploring the old walled capital of Mdina, here are the best things to do in the country of Malta. | en | /apple-touch-icon.png | AFAR Media | https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-best-things-to-do-in-malta | Malta may be one of the smallest countries in the world, but it certainly doesn’t lack in things to do. The three-island archipelago is located a little over 100 mile south of Sicily in the Mediterranean and includes the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino. For such a small area, though, there are a surprising number of historic sites—ranging from megalithic temples said to date back to the 4th millennium B.C. to medieval fortresses and walled cities—and are a major draw for visitors. But activities in Malta are not limited to visiting relics of the past. The Mediterranean nation has natural wonders to explore (both above and below water), festivals to attend, and nightlife to partake in.
From rock climbing and swimming in the Mediterranean to wandering the ancient ruins of various centuries, here are some of the best things to do in Malta.
For getting to know Malta’s history and ancient past
1. Spend a day exploring the city of Valletta and its landmarks
Where: Valletta
Given Malta’s strategic location and succession of rulers—from the Romans, Normans, and Sicilians to the Spanish, Knights of St. John, French, and British—it’s somewhat surprising to find Valletta so well-preserved. The capital city dates back to the 16th century and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980. When it was recognized as the European Capital of Culture in 2018, several historic landmarks, such as the city gate at the entrance to Valletta, underwent extensive restoration. When visiting save a day for wandering the city to see such landmarks as:
Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: At nearly 138 feet high, the dome of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel looms large on the city skyline. Although the church itself dates back to 1570, it was badly damaged during World War II and only reopened in its current form in 1981 after 23 years of rebuilding.
St. John’s Co-Cathedral: The church is named a co-cathedral because the bishop of Malta also sits at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina. One of the world’s must-visit churches, it features a glittering gold interior that represents the pinnacle of high baroque architecture, plus eight chapels dedicated to the eight branches of the Knights of Malta. History buffs will want to explore the crypt, while art lovers will appreciate the ceiling frescoes by Mattia Preti. Tickets include entrance to the attached museum.
2. Visit the National Museum of Archaeology
Where: Valletta
Housed in the baroque Auberge de Provence, the National Museum of Archaeology features a collection dating as far back as 5200 B.C., during the Neolithic period. Through such objects as delicate stone tools and Phoenician amulets, it provides a solid introduction to Malta’s prehistoric history and adds context to many of the historical sites around the island. It’s a perfect starting point for a tour of Valletta, and the small museum is easily be explored in an hour.
3. Upper Barrakka Gardens
Where: Valletta
One of Valletta’s most scenic spots, the Upper Barrakka Gardens has memorable views of the Grand Harbour, the fortified cities of Senglea and Birgu across the harbor, and the shipyards below. Every day at noon, members of the Malta Heritage Society dress in British military uniforms and fire a ceremonial gun [cannon] salute. Visitors can stroll by beautiful fountains, and there is plenty of manicured green space for picnics. Take an elevator which connects the gardens to the Valletta waterfront, or perhaps ride the elevator at dusk to watch the sun setting over the city’s rooftops and the Mediterranean.
History buffs won’t want to miss the Lascaris War Rooms, a collection of tunnels and chambers 150 feet beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens, that served as the secret headquarters for Allied operations during World War II. Commanders stationed here oversaw some of the most ambitious campaigns in the Mediterranean, including the 1943 invasion of Sicily. After the war, the War Rooms were used by the Mediterranean fleet of the Royal Navy.
4. Go back in time in the medieval town of Mdina
Where: Mdina
Plan to spend at least an afternoon wandering the streets of the walled city of Mdina (also known as the Silent City), which was founded in the 8th century A.D. and served as the nation’s capital until medieval times. These days fewer than 100 people live in Mdina, though the walled city remains a popular tourist attraction. After your visit, make a stop at Coogi’s Restaurant & Tea Garden for lunch or a quick drink while enjoying views of the surrounding farms on the other side of the city’s walls.
Game of Thrones fans will be interested to know that Mdina was one of many filming locations for the series.
5. Tour St. Paul’s Catacombs
Where: Rabat
Located on the outskirts of Mdina in Rabat, St. Paul’s Catacombs are an homage to Paul the apostle. Paul and 274 others were shipwrecked just off Malta around 60 A.D. on their way to Rome. Legend has it that the survivors took refuge in a grotto, above which a church and monument were later built in the apostle’s honor. The Catacombs, which represent the earliest evidence of Christianity in Malta, are a labyrinthine set of underground cemeteries. Covering an area of over 21,000 square feet, the catacombs twist and turn with dozens of hypogea (chambers) once used for burials.
6. Explore the Cittadella
Where: Victoria, Gozo
The site of the Cittadella on the island of Gozo is thought to have been inhabited since Neolithic time and more certainly by the Bronze Age. The land was used by the Romans for a settlement. The Cittadella is a fortified citadel, which overlooks Gozo’s current capital of Victoria.
A walk through the striking limestone structure is a must when visiting Gozo. While wandering the grounds, notice the holy shrines under the Norman-style arches and the doors adorned with a coat of arms. Up on the ramparts, you’ll find a 360-degree view of Gozo’s hills, valleys, and villages, with the Mediterranean in the distance. There are also various on-site churches and museums to visit, such as the cave-like Gunpowder Magazine, where gunpowder was stored in the late 17th and 18th centuries.
Other nearby historic sites worth a stop in Gozo include the ornate St. George’s Basilica, which tops the hill at the heart of Victoria and the baroque Cathedral of the Assumption, enclosed within the walls of the Cittadella.
7. The Ggantija Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Where: Gozo
The Ggantija Temples, named after the Maltese word for “giant,” are the oldest and most impressive of the megalithic temples in the Maltese islands. Built during the Neolithic period from coralline limestone, the ruins are more than 5,500 years old, predating Stonehenge—and even the pyramids of Egypt. This UNESCO World Heritage site was recently restored; it is visitor friendly with walkways and a new center featuring displays of prehistoric artifacts from across Gozo.
For experiencing Malta’s more current culture, food, and nightlife
8. Shop for gifts and snacks on and near Merchants Street
Where: Valletta
Stalls at the busy Merchants Street Market, which is open every morning of the week, sell traditional Maltese crafts alongside bargain clothing, jewelry, and other gifts. Right off Merchants Street is the Is-Suq Tal-Belt Valletta Food Market, an indoor collection of food stalls ideal for sampling Maltese food. Swing by Lot 61 Coffee Roasters across the street from the food market for a cup of some of the best brew in the city.
9. Watch live music at Bridge Bar or Cafe Society
Where: Valletta
Valletta by day may be all about sightseeing and jostling with crowds of day-trippers from docked cruise ships, but nighttime in the capital city is an entirely different experience. On warm nights in particular, the nightlife spills out from the city’s bars and restaurants onto the streets. On these evenings, join the locals lounging on city steps and enjoy a drink and live music at establishments like Bridge Bar or Cafe Society.
10. Attend a festival
Where: Nationwide
It’s easy to time a visit to Malta with a festival, thanks to a diverse calendar of events. For a more traditional cultural experience, time your trip for “festa season”—a series of extended weekends that runs from the end of May to September—when towns and villages throughout Malta celebrate the feast of their respective patron saints with papier-mâché statues, Maltese delicacies, and fireworks.
However, some of the more standout events worth planning a trip around include Birgu Fest and Notte Bianca, both annual festivals that take place in October. Birgu Fest is a festival in which the entire old city of Vittoriosa, also known as Birgu, turns off all of its lights and illuminates the city’s ancient walls and cobblestone streets by candlelight. Notte Bianca, also a nighttime festival, takes place in Valletta but is more focused on music and partying than the romance of candlelight. If you happen to visit in February, grab a costume and head to Nadur, Gozo, for its macabre Carnival celebrations.
For getting out to see Malta’s natural beauty
11. Take a boat tour to the Blue Grotto or Blue Lagoon
Where: Qrendi (Malta) or Comino
No trip to Malta would be complete without an excursion on the Mediterranean, and one of the most enjoyable ways to experience it is with a boat tour. If you’re short on time, take a taxi or drive to the coastal town of Qrendi, where you can hop on a quick 30-minute boat tour to the Blue Grotto, an oceanside cave.
If you have at least a day to spare, it’s worthwhile to sign up for a longer boat tour to see the Blue Lagoon, located on the uninhabited island of Comino, which is the archipelago’s smallest. There are both day and half-day trips to the Blue Lagoon and Comino departing from either Valletta or Gozo.
12. Walk along the Xwejni Salt Pans on Gozo
Where: Qbajjar Bay, Gozo
On the northern coast of Gozo, visitors can get a fascinating introduction to one of the island’s most important traditions: sea salt production. Just past Qbajjar Bay is a nearly two-mile stretch of 350-year-old salt pans, which remain a vital source of income for Gozitans to this day. In the summer, locals scrape up salt crystals, and store them in nearby caves for later use. Several Gozitan businesses package the salt in gift jars, which are available for purchase in many of the island’s souvenir stores.
13. Take a scenic drive on Gozo
Where: Gozo
Gozo is mostly an agrarian island, so you won’t find any big cities here. Instead, focus on exploring the outdoors, and in particular the seaside cliffs and rock formations, scattered about the island. The most famous is the Azure Window, a rock archway that collapsed in 2017. Even so, visitors still flock to the location to see its remnants. Equally stunning, though less well-known, are Wied il-Għasri a beautiful sea canyon you can hike to and swim in and Wied Il-Mielaħ a (still-standing) natural rock arch perched above the sea, both of which are on the north coast of Gozo.
14. Go for a swim in the Mediterranean
Where: Various
You won’t find many white, sandy beaches on Malta or its two smaller islands, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any great areas for swimming and beach days—quite the opposite. Grab a beach blanket or towel and spread out on the rocks at Paradise Bay, Wied Iż-Żurrieq, or St. Peter’s Pool in Malta. If you’re on Gozo, head to Xlendi.
If you go to St. Peter’s Pool, end your day with a seafood meal in Marsaxlokk at casual eatery Skuna or the slightly more upscale restaurant Tartarun. On Sundays, the town has its weekly fish market. Though often touted as a great tourist attraction in Malta, it’s okay to skip unless you’re buying fish to cook later.
15. Rock climb its coastal cliffs
Where: Gozo | ||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 90 | https://www.privatebank.citibank.com/ | en | Citi Private Bank | [
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] | null | [] | null | Citi Private Bank is dedicated to serving wealthy individuals and families through outstanding private banking services, helping clients preserve & grow wealth. | en | /etc.clientlibs/citibank-cpb/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/favicon/favicon.ico | https://www.privatebank.citibank.com/ | As a Formula One double World Champion, two-time winner of the Le Mans 24-hour race, and victor in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Daytona, Fernando Alonso might appear to have achieved pretty much everything there is to achieve in the realm of elite motorsport.
Despite this, though, the 41-year-old Spanish legend feels he is far from done with motor racing. So, what keeps powering him onward?
For the past 30 years, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has worked tirelessly to put an end to the disease that has now claimed at least 38 million lives over some decades. (The true figure is likely higher owing to persistent under-recording.) Inspired partly by the bravery of Ryan White, a young boy who died of AIDS after a contaminated blood transfusion, Elton decided to commit himself to the struggle against this cruel blight on humanity.
It was the couple’s first glimpse of the White Continent. But as their ship drew closer to the Antarctic shoreline, Martin and Carmel Naughton’s wonderment became mixed with sadness. The telltale signs of melting coastal glaciers were plain to see. And the graphic scene they were witnessing was no mere seasonal effect. The ship’s captain brought out a map to show them just how far the ice sheet had retreated in the previous decade alone.
I think that experience had a profound effect on my parents, says Neil Naughton.
I recall that when they returned from that trip, my father sat us down at work and told us the frightening developments that he’d seen first-hand. He said that things were changing much faster than most people understood, and that our company had a responsibility to do whatever we could.
Reetu Gupta hadn’t slept at all. Covid-19 – recently declared a pandemic – was creating intense uncertainty the world over. Occupancy at her family’s chain of hotels across Canada, of which she was the CEO, was in freefall. However, it wasn’t the unprecedented business turmoil that was keeping her awake, as she explained in an early-morning phone call with her younger brother. All that Reetu could think about was how the pandemic was going to affect others, recalls Suraj Gupta.
She kept saying how there were already so many people suffering in the world, even before the health crisis hit. With things deteriorating so fast, she said we had to think of ways to help. I wasn’t at all surprised by her reaction; trying to assist others and make the world better is just her mentality.
When COVID-19 struck in their native Philippines, Andrew Tan and his son Kevin mobilized the resources of their conglomerate, Alliance Global, to provide life-saving assistance to their fellow citizens amid one of the world’s longest and strictest lockdowns. These included switching their iconic spirits production facilities to make alcohol for disinfectants, feeding and transporting healthcare workers in Manila, and assisting in the creation of viral testing centers across the archipelago nation. | |||||
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9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 5 | https://marinadivalletta.com/malta-valletta/ | en | Marina Di Valletta | [
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] | null | [] | 2017-07-17T09:43:15+00:00 | en | Marina Di Valletta | https://marinadivalletta.com/malta-valletta/ | Attraction
Place of Interest
St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral
St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, is an Anglican pro-cathedral of the Diocese in Europe situated in Independence Square, Valletta, Malta. The cathedral’s steeple, rising over 60 metres is a landmark on its own being notably visible in the Marsamxett Harbour. The church building is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. Constructed with Maltese limestone in a neo-classical style. The cathedral has columns with capitals of the Corinthian order while the capitals of the six columns of the portico are of the Ionic order.
West Street, Valletta | +356 2122 5714
Attraction
Place of Interest
Casa Rocca Piccola
Casa Rocca Piccola is a 16th-century palace in Malta, and home of the noble de Piro family. Situated in Valletta, Casa Rocca Piccola was built in 1580 an era in which the Knights of St John, having successfully fought off the invading Turks in 1565, decided to build a prestigious city to rival other European capitals such as Paris and Venice. Casa Rocca Piccola was one of two houses built in Valletta by Admiral Don Pietro la Rocca.
74, Republic Street, Valletta |2122 1499
Attraction
Place of Interest
Manoel Theatre
The Manoel Theatre is named after Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller, Fra António Manoel de Vilhena, who ordered its construction in 1731. The theatre is reputed to be Europe’s third-oldest working theatre (older than the San Carlo in Naples), and the oldest theatre still in operation in the Commonwealth of Nations. The Manoel, is the country’s national theatre and the home of Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. The theatre is a small, 623 seat venue, with an oval-shaped auditorium, three tiers of boxes constructed entirely of wood, decorated with gold leaf, and a pale blue trompe-d’oeil ceiling that resembles a round cupola.
Old Theatre Street, Valletta |+356 2124 6389
Attraction
Place of Interest
Fort St. Elmo – National War Museum
Hosted by Fort St Elmo, the National War Museum houses a superb collection of items which takes us back to prehistoric times. Two halls are dedicated to Malta’s important role in WW I, the Inter-War Period and Malta’s historical role in the Second World War. Displayed in these halls one can find perhaps the three most important icons of this museum: the Gloster Sea Gladiator N5520 FAITH, Roosevelt’s Jeep ‘Husky’ and Malta award for gallantry, the George Cross.
Fort Saint Elmo is a star fort in Valletta, standing on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula that divides Marsamxett Harbour from Grand Harbour, and commands the entrances to both harbours along with Fort Tigné and Fort Ricasoli. It is best known for its role in the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. Fort St. Elmo has occasionally been used as a film set, one of the most notable films being that of Alan Parker’s Midnight Express.
Fort St Elmo, Valletta | Tel: +356 21 233088
Attraction
Place of Interest
National Museum of Fine Arts
The National Museum of Fine Arts is located at the lower end of South Street (Valletta) within an area including other fine historical palaces dating from the time of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. The building was originally one of the earliest to be built in Valletta and served as residence to successive knights of Order of St John.
The palace was officially inaugurated as the National Museum of Fine Arts and houses The largest collection of works by the renowned Southern Italian artist Mattia Preti on display in any public museum, the best selection of Baroque art masterpieces on the island and the only watercolour by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) featuring Malta’s Grand Harbour and unique Malta views and landscapes.
South Street, Valletta | Tel: +356 21 225 769
Attraction
Place of Interest
Auberge de Castille
The Auberge de Castille is an auberge in Valletta, originally built in the 1570s to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Castile, León and Portugal. The present building dates back to the 1740s, when it was completely rebuilt during the magistracy of Manuel Pinto da Fonseca. The new auberge was built in the Baroque style, and it has been called “probably the finest building in Malta”. It now houses the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta. The auberge is located at Castille Place, close to Saint James Cavalier, the Malta Stock Exchange and the Upper Barrakka Gardens. It is situated at the highest point of Valletta and overlooks Floriana and the Grand Harbour area.
Attraction
Place of Interest
Malta Stock Exchange
The Malta Stock Exchange (Maltese: Borża ta’ Malta), originally known as the Casino della Borsa, is situated in the former Garrison Chapel building in Castille Square, Valletta. This iconic building was built in 1857 on the designs of T. M. Ellis, and was used as a multi-denominational place of worship until 1950. The former church was then used for entertainment purposes, as a post office and as a naval school, before it was taken over and extensively renovated by the Exchange.
Garrison Chapel, Castille Place, Valletta | (+356) 21 244 051
Attraction
Restaurants
Sciacca Grill
Named after the Sicilian village that inspired its creation, Sciacca Grill is a unique Steak & Grill restaurant located in the heart of Valletta. Apart from its fine meats, it proudly boasts an unusual selection of over 200 whiskeys. Sciacca Grill does not believe in a fixed menu. A wide variety of fresh prime cuts of meat are on display daily, together with a number of specials of the day available.
South Street, Valletta | +356 2123 7222
Attraction
Restaurants
Trabuxu Wine Bar
Nestled below street level in a 400-year-old stone vaulted cellar, Trabuxu Wine Bar has been serving its patrons for over 15 years and is Valletta’s premier wine bar. A landmark to locals, and visitors to this heritage listed city, Trabuxu Wine Bar is cozy and intimate in winter and boisterous and outgoing in summer with guests spilling up and into the stoned stepped street above to enjoy the evening’s warmth. Serious wine and cheese aficionados will appreciate the menu which consists of hand selected cheeses from reputable suppliers. A delicate selection of cured meats is available and all orders are accompanied by fresh Maltese bread, water crackers and a selection of chutneys and jams.
2 Strait Street Valletta | Tel: (+356) 2122 3036
Attraction
Restaurants
Guzé Bistro
Guzé located in a 16th century building in the heart of Valletta has been home to many over the years, including Francesco Buonamici, a chief engineer for the Knights of Malta that lived here from 1634 until 1659. The restaurant opened in 2011 after a lengthy refurbishment retaining all of its original features. Guzé ’s menu and style of food focus on seasonal local produce.
22, Old Bakery Street, Valletta, VLT 1454 | +356 2123 9686
Attraction
Restaurants
Fumia Restaurant
Conveniently situated just a stone’s throw away from our Marina and set right on the sea’s edge in Pieta Creek, Fumia was previously the Custom’s boathouse. Now converted into a fine dining Sicilian restaurant, Fumia specialises in fresh fish caught daily, along with mouthwatering side dishes and in house prepared sumptuous deserts. A vast range of Sicilian and local wines compliment the menu.
The panoramic wall to wall glass panes create the feeling of dining literally ‘on the water’s edge’, just a few inches away from the calm Pieta sea.
Triq Sa Maison, Tal-Pietà | +356 2131 7053 | Closed on Mondays
Attraction
Restaurants
Capo Crudo
Proudly sitting beneath the Capital city’s protective walls, perched a few meters away from the wonderful Mediterranean Sea. Only the freshest ingredients will do, sea catch will only be served if it survives the chef’s rigorous first glance, whilst the healthiest cuts of top grade beef will be given the privilege of dry-ageing in a specially-designed glass-walled chamber. The wine list has been hand-picked with expertise and constantly evolves according to patrons’ desires.
Triq Il-Lanċa, Valletta | +356 7955 5221
Attraction
Place of Interest
The Malta Experience
The Malta Experience is an audio-visual show that tells the dramatic story of the islands’ 7000 year history. Educational, informative and entertaining, the show runs through the turbulent history of a small island nation that has overcome almost unimaginable odds to survive and prosper.
The show chronicles Malta’s unique history in just 45 minutes, enriching your understanding of the islands, its people and the places you’ll see on your visit.
Available in 17 Languages.
St. Elmo Bastions, Mediterranean Street, Valletta | +356 2552 4000
Attraction
Place of Interest
Sacra Infermeria
One of the most imposing buildings in Valletta is the former “Sacra Infermeria” of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, now popularly known as the Mediterranean Conference Centre, which is located adjacent to Fort St Elmo and overlooking the Grand Harbour.
The ‘Sacra Infermeria’ Hall within the Mediterranean Conference Centre is an extraordinary and magnificent space. This hall was once the Long Ward of the Holy Infirmary of the Order of St. John and is one of the longest halls in Europe. When constructed, in the 16th Century it was recognised as an architectural feat.
Hospital Street ,Valletta Malta | Tel: +356 21 243 840/3 | Booking Office: +356 255 95 750
Attraction
Place of Interest
Lower Barakka Gardens
The Lower Barakka Gardens is a garden in Valletta, Malta, and it is twinned with the Upper Barrakka Gardens in the same city. It offers a view of the Grand Harbour and the breakwater. It includes the Monument to Sir Alexander Ball, which is a prominent feature in the form of a neoclassical temple located at the centre of the garden. In addition, the terrace area features, a number of commemorative plaques dedicated to, amongst others, the Hungarian revolution of 1956, the Prague spring, Giuseppe Garibaldi and the 50th anniversary of the European Union.
Attraction
Place of Interest
Upper Barakka Gardens
The Upper Barrakka Gardens are a public garden in Valletta offering a stunning panoramic view of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. Located on the upper tier of St. Peter & Paul Bastion, which was built in the 1560s, the bastion’s lower tier contains the Saluting Battery.
The gardens were originally used to offer recreation to the knights of the Italian langue of the Order of Saint John, but were opened to the public following the end of the French occupation of Malta in 1800.
The gardens are linked to Valletta’s ditch and the nearby Lascaris Wharf by the Barrakka Lift.
Attraction
Place of Interest
Valletta City Gate & Parliament Buildings
The present gate, which is the fifth one to have stood on the site, was built between 2011 and 2014 to designs of the renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.
The first gate which stood on the site was Porta San Giorgio, which was built in 1569 to designs of either Francesco Laparelli or Girolamo Cassar. The gate was renamed Porta Reale in around 1586, before being rebuilt in 1633, probably to designs of Tommaso Dingli. It was briefly renamed Porte Nationale during the French occupation of Malta in 1798. . In 1853, this was once again replaced by a larger gate, which was also known as Kingsgate.
The last fortified gate was demolished in 1964, being replaced by a Futurist gate designed by Alziro Bergonzo. This gate was then demolished in 2011, and it was replaced by Piano’s gate which was completed in 2014.
Attraction
Restaurants
The Harbour Club
The Grand Harbour is renowned to be one of the most stunning harbours around the world and was the inspiration for The Harbour Club.. A carefully converted warehouse that was built by the 64th Grand Master of the Order of Malta in 1712, gives diners a unique dining experience.
Indoors, one may enjoy a cosy interior, decorated elegantly with a recycled deck of an American ship. On the terrace, the stunning view of the Grand Harbour as you enjoy a glass of wine and one of our exquisite dishes, will remain memorable.
4/5, Quarry Wharf, Valletta | +356 21 22 23 32 | +356 79 22 23 32 | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 27 | https://thecoleridgehotel.com/brief_history_of_valletta/ | en | History of Valletta | [
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"Natasha Borg"
] | 2020-02-20T15:15:37+00:00 | The history of Valletta is strongly linked with the Knights of St John who laid its foundation stone in 1566. Valletta’s history is also linked to French occupation and British rule. | en | The Coleridge | https://thecoleridgehotel.com/brief_history_of_valletta/ | The history of Valletta, Malta’s capital is inextricably linked with the Knights of St John who laid its foundation stone in 1566, creating an elegant Baroque city from an arid, empty peninsula. This city was to serve not only as a fortress, protecting it from potential invasion, but also as an enclave for the Knights. here they would reside, administer, perform their duties as a religious, military and Hospitaller order and, also, enjoy recreational activities.
After the Great Siege of 1565, Pope Pius V sent the Knights his foremost military engineer, Francesco Laparelli, to design the city both as a fortress to defend Christendom and to create a cultural masterpiece. The bare peninsula of Mount Sceberras was transformed into a fine example of modern city planning and a military ingenuity.
At the turn of the 17th century, Valletta had grown into a sizeable city for the standards of those days, taking over from Mdina, the former capital, which had lost much of its allure after the Great Siege.
Napoleon brought Malta into French occupation in 1798 during the same period as the French Revolution. Bonaparte also had an impact on the history of Valletta, and on the history of Malta. They reformed Malta’s institutions: abolishing the Roman Catholic Church, nobility and slavery and vowed to bring equality among the citizens. After two years the Maltese wanted to take back ownership of their islands and reinstate the church, and they voluntarily joined the British Empire.
Soon after the British came to Malta, a cholera plague broke out in 1813, and after careful investigation, it was learnt that this was caused because drinking water was contaminated by sewage. The Valletta sewers therefore underwent a thorough overhaul and a full survey was carried out.
These came in useful when the Second World War broke out, and the underground infrastructure was used as war shelters, together with newly dug out tunnels and shelters that were needed to ensure civilian safety and to be used as strategic War Rooms. Some of these are now converted into museums, but more of that in a later post…
Malta, and Valletta, played a strategic role during WWII. Valletta was badly battered by the bombing of Nazi fighter planes and many historical buildings were damaged or destroyed. The most prominent example of this is the Royal Opera House, of which the ruins only remained. After decades of deliberation over whether to rebuild the Royal Opera House, the ruins were finally tidied up and are now converted into an open air theatre.
The rebuilding of damaged areas began as soon as the war ended, and the British implemented a rigid and rapid programme of works to ensure that housing was provided, and new buildings were erected in the style of the time.
British influence continued to shape Valletta’s history throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, until 1964, when Malta became independent once again.
Our Next Post… the architecture of Valletta!
Meanwhile, why not follow us on Instagram ! | |||||
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9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 10 | https://www.bayareadesignandlandscape.com/maltas-capital-city-valletta | en | Malta’s Capital City Valletta | [
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"Mardel Fraivillig"
] | 2016-08-03T12:15:00 | We are an award-winning landscape design and installation company with over 30 years of experience. We have custom-built and designed over 2000 spectacular gardens, pools, and outdoor living spaces. We work for some of the most discerning clients and luxurious properties in Houston and the surrounding areas. | en | https://www.bayareadesignandlandscape.com/maltas-capital-city-valletta | Valletta, a UNESCO world heritage site, is nothing short of an open air museum. This capital city is the brainchild of Grandmaster Jean de la Valette, who wanted a fortified city to protect the island from Turkish invasion. The architect Francesco Laparelli, who was Michelangelo’s assistant, was sent to Malta by the Pope to design this fortified city atop Mount Sciberras– a barren peninsula between two natural harbors. Fort St. Elmo and Fort Ricasoli protect the entrance to the harbor with bastion walls. Fort St. Angelo and the bastion walls of Birgu and Senglea shield its flanks.
Valletta is one the first cities in Europe to be developed entirely by plan and on a rectangular parallel grid, allowing the sea breezes to cool the summer heat.
Towards the end of 1568, a Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar took charge of designing and building many of the buildings in the city.
The beautiful baroque style St. John co-cathedral designed by Girolamo Cassar 1573-1578. This cathedral also has one of the largest Caravaggio paintings in the world.
The Auberge de Castille was designed by Girolamo Cassar in 1570,due to lack of funding it was not completed until 1745 under Grandmaster Pinto. It now houses the offices of the Maltese Prime Minster.
This is the fifth entrance of Valletta since 1566 designed by the internationally recognized Italian architect Renzo Piano who also designed the Whitney Museum in New York City.
Typical streets in Valletta, houses adorned with wooden balconies called “gallarija”. Yellow limestone gleaming in the summer sun.
Sacra Infermeria is now the Mediterranean conference center. Built by the Knights of Malta in 1574, this was one of the first hospitals in Europe. This building was also designed by Girolamo Cassar.
Valletta is full of history, art and culture. This is just a small sample of what you can see in this city, no wonder it has been designated as the European Capital of Culture 2018! | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 12 | https://bjtonline.com/business-jet-news/the-magic-of-malta | en | The Magic of Malta | [
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] | null | [] | 2017-01-06T15:18:53-05:00 | The country’s capital, Valletta, is a prime home base for exploring a fascinating mix of cuisines, historical sites, and nightlife. | en | https://bjtonline.com/misc/favicon.ico | Business Jet Traveler | https://bjtonline.com/business-jet-news/the-magic-of-malta | A marching band is performing outside Malta’s Grand Master’s Palace. The mostly white-haired gentlemen wear what appear to be military uniforms. Their horns and drums echo off the 500-year-old limestone walls of downtown Valletta, the country’s capital, and fill our third-floor Airbnb apartment with song.
My husband Greg and I watch from a traditional Maltese balcony. These colorful barnacles clinging to most of the city’s buildings look like a cross between a bay window and a phone booth. The story goes that they’re a throwback to Arab rule, when women had to be protected from prying eyes below.
The sun sets and the band finishes. Its admirers collect their grocery bags before heading for home down stone alleyways. But for us, fresh from an early evening flight from London, the night has just begun. We unpack long enough to find our jackets—those Mediterranean winds are strong—and go out to explore.
Two hours later, we feel as if we’ve covered the whole city. Valletta is home to only about 6,500 of the country’s 450,000 residents. Geographically, Malta is small. So small that on many world maps the dot that represents the capital covers the whole island, which lies about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Italy in the Mediterranean.
We’ve walked past the teens texting and flirting on the steps of the recently revamped Royal Opera House. Past the shuttered doors protecting the 7,000-year-old tools and jewelry in the city’s National Museum of Archeology. Past the Casa Rocca Piccola, a 16th century palace that now serves as the home of a Maltese knight.
Back in our apartment, the church bells tell us it’s time for bed. We have one more glass of wine on the balcony. Below us the city is silent.
The next morning, the same church bells that signified nighttime now let everyone know the sun is up. From our room, we can hear and see the city greet the day. Wooden balcony windows creak open. Laundry flaps on squeaky clotheslines. Someone rolls a cart of bread down the cobbled street.
Valletta is not a city for sleeping late.
Downstairs, the local population has been joined by a flood of cruising day-trippers. Judging by the accents, most have sailed in from the U.K. Before coming into its own, Malta was governed most recently by Britain. Though it has been independent for more than a generation, its capital city’s streets are still dotted with red phone booths and pubs serving brown ales and bitters.
Before the Brits, Malta had been ruled by the Romans, the French, North Africans, and the Normans, to name a few. Its prime Mediterranean location—just south of Sicily, east of Tunis, north of Tripoli, and west of Crete—enticed many conquerors over the millennia.
In Valletta, you can taste the invasions.
We pass a Sicilian pizzeria and an unmarked window with a spinning stick of what looks and smells like shawarma. We consider a chalkboard sign advertising variations on fish and chips before settling into a table perched charmingly on the stepped sidewalk.
The restaurant is called Gugar and its menu offers several versions of ftira, a Maltese bread that can be stuffed like a gyro, topped like a pizza, or served open-faced like a bagel. Greg orders his with ricotta, walnuts, and feta. Mine overflows with eggs and poppyseeds.
As we eat, it strikes us how orderly Malta is compared with some of its Mediterranean neighbors. The bus schedule is accurate (a sharp contrast to the ticket vendor in Milan who explained that “the train comes every 15 minutes—unless it doesn’t”). The greeters outside restaurants don’t shove menus in your face. The gentlemen at the cafes simply nod at the island’s fairer visitors before returning to their conversations in Maltese, which, to ignorant ears, sounds like a nonsensical blend of Arabic and Italian.
The battles that influenced this country’s cuisine and language also shaped its capital. Literally. Valletta is a town designed for war. Since its founding nearly 500 years ago, ramparts have been built, ditches dug, and stockpiles made in case of invasion and siege.
The story of the country’s long fight against almost every one of its neighbors is told at the National War Museum. We weave through halls of prehistoric weapons, medieval armor, and the wingless wreckage of war-scarred aircraft.
Across town, at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, the walls that once protected this city now serve as lookout points. Leaning over a metal balcony, we can see the island’s last dghajjes sailing across the sapphire water below.
Thousands of these traditional Maltese water taxis used to cruise the Grand Harbour but now only 20 or so remain. They’re reminiscent of gondolas, but most have engines. The boats, dwarfed by cruise ships and luxury yachts, ferry tourists and locals across the bay. The drivers wave to local fishermen out to catch their dinner.
Beyond the harbor is another day of exploring.
A few miles south and a few feet underground is the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum. Nearly 7,000 bodies rest in this subterranean gravesite, which was carved 6,000 years ago into the island’s bedrock. Farther south, on the other side of the airport, are megalithic temples whose construction started before the great-great-grandparents of Stonehenge’s builders were born. Just east of that is the Blue Grotto, a 100-foot stone arch carved into the island’s side by centuries of hardworking waves.
If the church bells wake us in time, we might get to tour the grotto by boat. The sea is usually calmer in the early morning. But now the bells toll for happy hour.
Like so much of Valletta, the city’s nightlife was shaped by war.
The cruise ships are already on to their next port of call. We have the sidewalks to ourselves as we traipse to Strait Street, the former playground of World War II soldiers.
Malta was a stronghold for the Allies in their fight against Italy. At the end of the war day, the soldiers stationed here headed to Strait Street for drinks, music, and female company. The languages mixed; the music played. Teenage drag queens sang for sailors; savvy Maltese ladies wooed them long enough to get a new frock before disappearing down a cobbled side street.
In its Maltese Catholic shell—after all, this was the last country in the European Union to legalize divorce—the mix of prostitution, debauchery, and jazz created a playful naughtiness that lives on today.
At Tico Tico, a replica of the Maltese balconies that once kept women out of view is now a display case for their undergarments. Outside, the brightly colored tables lining the narrow street are filling up with locals, olives, and wine.
Across the alley, it’s a classier affair at the cavernous StrEat Whisky & Bistro. Underneath the limestone archways, well-heeled patrons sip cocktails made from StrEat’s 200-strong whisky collection. We try a 15-year-old single malt that tastes of flowers and cream and then an oaky and spicy blend from India. Then we agree it’s time for food.
It’s a short walk to La Mere, where a waiter slips us into a wooden two-top illuminated by a purple pendant lamp dangling from the rafters. We’re led through a menu of Indian, Arabic, and Mediterranean cuisine: curries, masalas, and tagines alongside local specialties like fried rabbit and Maltese sausage. We soak up the whisky and the bottle of wine we ordered with local peppered cheese, nut-stuffed Lebanese pastries, and garlic-soaked lamb.
After dinner, we consider returning to Strait Street. But there’s much to explore tomorrow, and the church bells say it’s once again time for bed. | ||||
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] | null | [] | null | null | 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 recongnized 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 and ravelins 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. | |||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 7 | https://historytimelines.co/timeline/valletta-malta | en | History Timeline | [] | [] | [] | [
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] | null | [] | null | A History Timeline About Valletta, Malta. Valletta, the capital city of Malta, has a rich and storied history that dates back to the 16th cent... | en | History Timelines | https://historytimelines.co/timeline/valletta-malta | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 32 | https://www.britannica.com/place/Malta | en | Malta | History, Language, Map, People, & Points of Interest | [
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] | 1999-07-26T00:00:00+00:00 | Malta, island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea with close historical and cultural connections to both Europe and North Africa. Malta is about 58 miles (93 km) south of Sicily and 180 miles (290 km) from either Libya or Tunisia. The island achieved independence from British rule in 1964. | en | /favicon.png | Encyclopedia Britannica | https://www.britannica.com/place/Malta | Malta
Top Questions
How many islands make up Malta?
Malta comprises five islands—Malta (the largest), Gozo, Comino, and the uninhabited islets of Kemmunett (Comminotto) and Filfla.
What kind of climate does Malta have?
Malta typically has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers, warm and sporadically wet autumns, and short cool winters with adequate rainfall. The annual mean temperature is in the mid-60s Fahrenheit (about 19 degrees Celsius), and monthly averages range from the mid-50s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (about 12 to 29 degrees Celsius).
What languages are spoken in Malta?
Maltese and English are the official languages of Malta. Maltese resulted from the fusion of North African Arabic and a Sicilian dialect of Italian and is the only Semitic language officially written in Latin script. English is a medium of instruction in schools. Italian is understood by a sizable portion of the population.
Does Malta have an official religion?
The official religion of Malta is Roman Catholicism, but there is full freedom of religious belief. More than nine-tenths of Maltese are Roman Catholic; however, only about three-fifths of these practice their faith. Small numbers of Maltese are adherents of other Christian denominations or of Islam.
Malta, island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea. A small but strategically important group of islands, the archipelago has through its long and turbulent history played a vital role in the struggles of a succession of powers for domination of the Mediterranean and in the interplay between emerging Europe and the older cultures of Africa and the Middle East. As a result, Maltese society has been molded by centuries of foreign rule by various powers, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Swabians, Aragonese, Hospitallers, French, and British.
Audio File: National anthem of Malta
Head Of Government:
Prime Minister: Robert Abela
Population:
(2024 est.) 550,100
Currency Exchange Rate:
1 USD equals 0.937 euro
Head Of State:
President: Myriam Spiteri Debono
The island of Malta specifically played a vital strategic role in World War II as a base for the Allied Powers. It was heavily bombarded by German and Italian aircraft, and by the end of the war Malta was devastated. In 1942 the island of Malta was presented with the George Cross, a British award for great gallantry, in recognition of the wartime bravery of the Maltese people. After the war, the movement for self-governance became stronger. The country of Malta became independent from Britain and joined the Commonwealth in 1964 and was declared a republic on December 13, 1974. It was admitted to the European Union (EU) in 2004. A European atmosphere predominates in Malta as a result of close association with the Continent, particularly with southern Europe. The Maltese are renowned for their warmth, hospitality, and generosity to strangers, a trait that was noted in the Acts of the Apostles, with respect to the experience of St. Paul, the Apostle, who was said to have been shipwrecked off Malta in 60 ce.
Recent News
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Roman Catholicism is a major influence on Maltese culture. Various traditions have evolved around religious celebrations, notably those honouring the patron saints of towns and villages. The eight-pointed, or Maltese, cross, adopted by the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem in 1126, is commonly linked with Malta’s identity and is printed on the country’s euro coin. Valletta is the capital city.
Land
The country comprises five islands—Malta (the largest), Gozo, Comino, and the uninhabited islets of Kemmunett (Comminotto) and Filfla—lying some 58 miles (93 km) south of Sicily, 180 miles (290 km) north of Libya, and about 180 miles (290 km) east of Tunisia, at the eastern end of the constricted portion of the Mediterranean Sea separating Italy from the African coast.
Relief
Britannica Quiz
Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz
The islands of Malta are dominated by limestone formations, and much of their coastlines consist of steep or vertical limestone cliffs indented by bays, inlets, and coves. They lie on the submerged Malta-Hyblean Platform, a wide undersea shelf bridge that connects the Ragusa Platform of southern Sicily with the Tripolitana Platform of southern Libya.
The main physical characteristic of the island of Malta is a well-defined escarpment that bisects it along the Victoria Lines Fault running along the whole breadth of the island from Point ir-Raħeb near Fomm ir-Riħ Bay to the coast northeast of Għargħur at Madliena Fort. The highest areas are coralline limestone uplands that constitute a triangular plateau; Ta’ Żuta, which rises to 830 feet (253 metres) in the southwest, is the highest point. The uplands are separated from the surrounding areas by blue clay slopes, while an undercliff area is found where the coralline plateau has fallen and forms a subordinate surface between the sea and the original shore. The total shoreline of Malta is about 136 miles (219 km).
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In northern Malta the escarpment is occasionally abrupt and broken by deep embayments. To the south, however, the plateau gradually descends from about 600 to 830 feet (180 to 250 metres) into undulating areas of globigerina (derived from marine protozoa) limestone less than 300 feet (90 metres) in elevation. The western area is characterized by deeply incised valleys and undercliff areas, while to the east there are several valley systems that descend to the central plains.
The west coast of Malta presents a high, bold, and generally harbourless face. On the east, however, a tongue of high ground known as Mount Sceberras, on which the capital city, Valletta, is built, separates Marsamxett Harbour and Grand Harbour. Because of tectonic activity, Malta has been tilted in a northerly direction, producing cliffs of up to about 800 feet (250 metres) high on the south and southwestern coasts, while slopes descend to low cliffs and rocky shores on the northern and eastern coasts.
The landscape of the island of Gozo is characterized by broken upper coralline mesas, with the highest point being Ta’ Dbiegi Hill (636 feet [194 metres]). Gozo has a gentle easterly dip, so the lower coralline limestone, which forms high cliffs on the west coast, declines to below sea level but reappears on the east coast at Qala Point. Semicircular bays have formed on coastal cliffs where sinkholes have been invaded by the sea. The rounded bays at Xlendi and Dwejra on the west coast of Gozo originated as underground caverns with roofs that have collapsed.
Drainage
The island of Malta possesses favourable conditions for the percolation and underground storage of water. The impermeable blue clays provide two distinct water tables between the limestone formations—the perched and the mean sea-level aquifer. The principal source for the public supply of water has for several centuries been the main sea-level water table. The absence of permanent streams or lakes and a considerable runoff into the sea, however, have made water supply a problem, which has been addressed with an intensive reverse-osmosis desalination program. About half of Malta’s daily water needs are supplied by desalination plants throughout the islands.
Soils
Mainly young or immature and thin, Maltese soils generally lack humus, and a high carbonate content gives them alkaline properties. Human settlement and construction developments have altered the distribution and composition of soils. The Fertile Soil (Preservation) Act of 1973 requires that, when soils are removed from construction sites, they be taken to agricultural areas, and level stretches in quarries are often covered with carted soil. | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 67 | https://www.wikiwand.com/en/French_occupation_of_Malta | en | French occupation of Malta | [
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] | null | [] | null | The French occupation of Malta lasted from 1798 to 1800. It was established when the Order of Saint John surrendered to Napoleon Bonaparte following the French landing in June 1798. In Malta, the French established a constitutional tradition in Maltese history, granted free education for all, and theoretically established freedom of the press, although only the pro-French newspaper Journal de Malte was actually published during the occupation. | en | Wikiwand | https://www.wikiwand.com/en/French_occupation_of_Malta | The French occupation of Malta lasted from 1798 to 1800. It was established when the Order of Saint John surrendered to Napoleon Bonaparte following the French landing in June 1798. In Malta, the French established a constitutional tradition in Maltese history (as part of the French Republic), granted free education for all,[2] and theoretically established freedom of the press, although only the pro-French newspaper Journal de Malte was actually published during the occupation.[3]
Quick Facts MaltaMalte (French), Status ...
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9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 93 | https://www.cvent.com/venues/valletta/boutique-hotel/ax-the-saint-john/venue-14472ffb-c4a7-4718-bedb-9406f7fd4e74 | en | AX The Saint John - Valletta, MT Meeting Venues and Event Space | [] | [] | [] | [
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] | null | [] | null | A boutique hotel in Valletta that combines luxury, style and technology. If youâre looking for an urban space in the heart of Maltaâs capital city, then AX The Saint John is the right option for you. | en | https://www.cvent.com/venues/valletta/boutique-hotel/ax-the-saint-john/venue-14472ffb-c4a7-4718-bedb-9406f7fd4e74 | Cancellation Policy
CANCELLATION - The Client may cancel all or part of the Total Bedroom Block and Meeting and Function space within the following agreed terms and conditions: - Cancellation and/or no-shows received 14 days prior to arrival will be charged in full BB basis. - If the Client cancels 15% of the accommodation reserved between the 89th day and the 60th day prior to the groupâs arrival no charges are incurred by the Client. Accommodation cancelled in excess of 15% shall be subject to a further cancellation charge equivalent to 40% of the accommodation cancelled. - If the Client cancels 10% of the accommodation reserved between the 59th day and the 30th day prior to the groupâs arrival no charges are incurred by the Client. Accommodation cancelled in excess of 10% shall be subject to a further cancellation charge equivalent to 60% of the accommodation cancelled. - If the Client cancels 5% of the accommodation reserved between the 29th day and the 15th day before the groupâs arrival no charges are incurred by the client. Accommodation cancelled in excess of 5% shall be subject to a further cancellation charge equivalent to 80% of the cancelled accommodation. - No additions or alterations can be made without approval of the Hotel after Final Rooming List has been forwarded. In the event that the Hotel will not accept to replace a booking which has been cancelled the Hotel shall forfeit the right to claim cancellation fees in respect of that booking. CANCELLATION OF THE CONTRACT BY FORCE MAJEURE, ETC.: If the Hotel is prevented from carrying out its obligation, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control such as: government intervention, strike, labour disputes, accidents, act of God, local disasters or war. The Hotelâs liability towards the Client shall be no greater than the deposit paid by the Client to the Hotel.
Additional Information
Welcome to AX The Saint John â a boutique Valletta Malta hotel where urban living is redefined. Once a former merchantâs residence and shop, the accommodation was reformulated as the successful and hospitable setting that it is today but never losing its rich history. Rooms at AX The Saint John combine luxury, technology and style â ideal for the smart and independent traveller. Next door to AX The Saint John lies the popular establishment of Cheeky Monkey Gastropub. Travellers staying at the boutique hotel can enjoy their scrumptious breakfast here. The gastropub is also open for lunch and dinner offering tasty burgers, healthy options and more. Whether youâre looking for a luxurious stay in the heart of the city, a location to wine and dine or a comfortable meeting space for your corporate business â AX The Saint John is the place to be. | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 29 | https://sthotelsmalta.com/the-history-of-valletta-malta/ | en | The History of Valletta, Malta | [
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] | 2021-03-30T08:00:49+00:00 | Valletta Malta is a popular touristic place due to it's history and being the capital city of Malta. It's in close proximity of Sliema. | en | ST Hotels | https://sthotelsmalta.com/the-history-of-valletta-malta/ | Valletta is the fortified capital city of Malta, and a World Heritage site. When one speaks of Valletta Malta, the first thought that comes to mind is of a place firmly embedded in rich military history as well as history connected to the Knights of St. John.
This is reflected in the treasure trove of architectural splendor that is Valletta, Malta.
It contains a vast array of majestic fortifications, stunning baroque buildings, lavish palaces, magnificent churches, grand theaters and striking gardens.
Main Attractions in Valletta Malta
Here we will be looking at the main attractions derived from the history of Valletta, Malta.
The Knights of St. John in Valletta, Malta
This capital city came into existence thanks to the Knights of St John, under Grand master Jean Parisot de la Valette who had been given Malta by the Holy Roman Emperor at the time, Charles V.
Malta was the very first place the Order could call home after numerous years of wandering the Mediterranean in the name of Christianity.
That is, after the Great Siege of 1565, the Knights began their Valletta project in Malta, intending to build a so-called ‘city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’.
This is because, La Valette quickly realized that if the Order was going to retain its grasp on Malta, it had to build adequate defenses.
Therefore, he drew up a plan for a late Renaissance Valletta, Malta, consisting of a grid system within fortified and bastioned city walls, on what was a mostly vacant lot.
In fact, this was one of the first European cities to be constructed on a new site. Valletta Malta was built on what used to be known as Mount Sciberras.
This is a portion of land in between the island’s two natural harbors, known as the Marsamxett and Valletta harbors.
Both Pope Pius V showed interest in the project, so he sent his foremost engineer, Francesco Laparelli.
His idea was to build the city, both as a fortress in order to defend Christendom and as an architectural jewel.
Work started in March 1566. First on, the bastions and, soon after, on the more important buildings.
The new city was to be called Valletta in honor of La Valette.
What’s interesting is that the city came to resemble an Italian religious community, as well as aspects of Ottoman and North African influences that the knights had seen on their journeys.
This new city, with its impenetrable bastions and deep moats was a point of great strategic importance.
The British impact on Valletta, Malta
The British Period, beginning from 1800 was a very momentous era in Maltese history.
The British Empire ruled over Malta for over 150 years overall, so it is hardly surprising that a large proportion of Maltese culture has been British overtones.
As a result, the British legacy still lives on in many facets of daily life in Malta today.
After helping the Maltese do away with French rule in Malta, the British became the ruling force of the Islands.
Malta became an important part of the British Empire due to its strategic position in the region, and because it was the first step in Britain’s expansion to the East.
It is no secret that Malta played a vital role in the Mediterranean theater of war.
The role of the Maltese Islands during the First World War was to act as a ‘Nurse of the Mediterranean’. That is, it was a base for the recovery of those who were injured.
The bravery of the Maltese people during the war was acknowledged by King George V who awarded the Malta his George Cross for valor.
The 164 years which the British spent in Malta have had the most impact on Valletta Malta since the city was originally built.
Walking through the capital, Valletta, you’ll come across shops and cafes with British names that date back to last century.
The main boulevards and churches look unmistakably Italian but the corners tend to consist of red English phone boxes or mail boxes.
Malta British influences in Architecture in Valletta, Malta
The British used architecture to assert their power, and control over the Maltese Islands. This is particularly prominent when it comes to the architecture in the city of Valletta Malta.
St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta
This Anglican Cathedral is located in the Independence Square in Valletta Malta.
This was commissioned by Queen Adelaide during a visit to Malta in the 19th Century, and was built between 1839 and 1844.
Prior to this, Anglican services were held in a room in the Grand Master’s Palace, as there was no other place for the Anglicans to worship on the island.
Victoria Gate, Valletta, Malta
Victoria Gate is a city gate named after Queen Victoria in Valletta, Malta. It was built by the British in 1885, and replaced the old “Porta del Monte” (named after one of the Grand Masters).
This replacement occurred due to the fact that Marina street was one of the busiest streets at the time, and there was a growing need for a bigger gate. Although this is not the main city gate, it is the main gate from the Grand Harbor.
Royal Opera House, Valletta Malta
The Royal Opera House was one of the most iconic buildings in Valletta Malta during its time.
It was built during the British Era on the site of the Auberge d’Angleterre in Strada Reale between 1862 and 1866.
Activity was vibrant at the Royal Opera House as it offered a wonderful taste of popular opera to local audiences until 1942. This is the year in which it received a direct hit from a bomb during a World War II air raid and crumbled.
Unfortunately, only the building’s foundations, and a few photos remain of Malta’s once gorgeous Royal Opera House, which graced the entrance of Valletta between until that faithful day in 1942.
This raises questions as to why this magnificent building was never restored to its former glory. Its rebuilding was shrouded in controversy, because some people wanted to have it rebuilt exactly as it was before, while others wanted to build it in a modern style.
The ruins were, instead, redesigned by Italian architect Renzo Piano, who brought it back to life as an open air performance venue. It reopened in 2013 under the name Pjazza Teatru Rjal.
Other popular Historical places to visit in Valletta, Malta
We shall now discuss the numerous places which one should visit in Valletta, Malta.Our Lady of Victories Church, Valletta, Malta
The first church, and building built in Valletta, Malta was the Our Lady of Victories church (formerly known as the Saint Anthony the Abbot Church), a testament of their faith and victory over the Turks in the Great Siege that had occurred previously.
Interestingly, it was built on the spot where a religious ceremony was held to introduce the laying of the foundation stone of the new city of Valletta Malta on 28th March 1566
St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta
A stay in Malta’s capital is not complete without a visit to St John’s Co-Cathedral Malta. This is a Roman Catholic co-cathedral dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.
It is considered one of the finest examples of high Baroque architecture in Europe, as well as one of the world’s great cathedrals.
This is called a Co-cathedral because it shares the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta along with the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Mdina. This was a project commissioned in 1572 by Grand Master Jean de la Cassiere to serve as the church for the Order of the Knights of St John.
The façade is hedged by two towers, the one on the right containing three clocks – showing the time, day of the week and date. Under the clocks is a balcony containing three coat of arms.
One is of Grand Master La Cassiere, who paid for the building, one is of Bishop Torres, who opened the Cathedral and the third is the coat of arms of religion.
The Cathedral consists of nine eloquently decorated chapels on either side; eight were constructed for each of the langues of the Knights of St John, and the ninth is dedicated to their patron saint, Our Lady of Philermos.
One shouldn’t be fooled by its simple, austere looking baroque facade. St. John’s Cathedral has a lot to offer.
The co-Cathedral holds impressive Baroque frescos, lifelike statues, embellished marble floors, and stunning painted vaulted ceilings adorned by the well-known Italian Baroque artist, Mattia Preti. The floor is also covered with memorials for the dead knights with colorful inlaid marble.
Apart from this, the Co-Cathedral oratory also holds one of the most internationally recognized paintings known as ‘The Beheading of St John the Baptist’. It is also the only one which contains his signature.
Hastings garden, Valletta, Malta
Hastings is a stunning garden which often goes overlooked. Located on top of the bastions, this embellished garden offers spectacular views.
The fact that this particular garden is often overlooked means there are advantages to those who go there. Less people means there is always a free bench to sit on. The views are stunning.
One can find many views from this particular garden that are to-die-for. On one side, you can admire the newly restored Triton Fountain, located just outside the City Gate of Valletta, Malta. On the other side, you get a lovely view of Floriana, Manoel Island, Msida, Sliema, and Marsamxett Harbour.
Inside the garden is a monument erected by the Hastings’ family in honor of Francis, Marquis of Hastings who was a governor of Malta.
Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, Valletta, Malta
If you’re looking for an area with the most impressive panoramic views on the island, this is the place to beat.
Created in 1661, these gardens were actually the private gardens of the Knights of the langue of Italy, whose auberges lie very close by. It was only in 1824 that the gardens were opened to the public.
The gardens themselves home a collection of statues and monuments which are a testament to a number of events in Maltese history.
The most noteworthy being a bronze piece by famous Maltese sculptor, Antonio Sciortino. This is known as ‘Les Gavroches’, and it depicts three children rushing forward.
This statue is a personification of the the extreme hardships the Maltese population had to face at the turn of the 20th century.
Grand master’s Palace, Valletta, Malta
One of the earliest, and most breathtaking structures built is the Grandmaster’s Palace. This is a masterpiece which is located in the centre of Valletta, Malta.
Although the original Palazzo was designed by Gelormu Cassar, a number of Grandmasters each made it their own as they deemed fit as it was used as their official residence.
In fact, this palace always hosted the government in Malta. Starting from the Knights, all the way to the current president (as his office), as well as the House of Representatives.
It also houses a number of spectacular works of art, such as frescoes, tapestries, as well as an Armoury.
Auberge de Castille Valletta, Malta
The Auberge de Castille is located at the highest spot of Valletta Malta, facing a wonderful view of Floriana and the Grand Harbor.
Originally, the auberges were intended as the residences of knights who did not have a home of their own in Malta.
Auberge de Castille was the official seat of the Knights of the Langue of Castille, Léon and Portugal.
Throughout the ages, this particular auberge served as a home for the french, and British armed forces. Today, the auberge hosts the Office of the Maltese Prime Minister. The auberge was initially built in a more Mannerist and austere style. This was considered as one of the most innovative designs of the respected architect Girolamo Cassar in 1574.
The appearance of the Auberge today dates back to the 1740s, when Manuel Pinto da Fonseca was in the Grand Master’s position.
At this time, it received a design make-over, in favor of a more Baroque style with its amazingly decorated facades.
Book Our Hotel With One Stop Away From Valletta, Malta
As previously discussed, Valletta Malta has been shaped, and molded by over 450 years of history, spanning a variety of foreign rulers.
ST Hotels is in Sliema, Malta – and is one stop away from Valletta Malta. Book a room at BluBay Apartments Malta to have a truly pleasant experience, together with a friendly service. | |||||
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] | null | [] | 2001-11-08T23:00:00+00:00 | Malta and the Knights Hospitaller of St John Any discussion of the 1798 taking of Malta, the subsequent siege and liberation must begin bearing in mind | en | /wp-content/themes/napoleon/icons/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png | napoleon.org | https://www.napoleon.org/en/history-of-the-two-empires/articles/the-taking-and-the-siege-of-malta/ | Malta and the Knights Hospitaller of St John
Any discussion of the 1798 taking of Malta, the subsequent siege and liberation must begin bearing in mind the two fundamental events of the ten years immediately preceding the annexation of Malta to France. First, on 30 July 1791, the powers that were declared the denationalisation of every French citizen affiliated to a chivalric order established outside France. Now Malta since the early Middle Ages had been the home of the Knight of Malta, a chivalric order of which by 1789 two thirds were French… and exceedingly wealthy. Second, on 19 September 1792, the Legislative body met to put the wealthy domains (or ‘Commanderies’ as they were called) of these men at the disposal of the nation. At one fell swoop the Order of Malta lost half of its revenue. This caused a definitive rupture between Malta and France.
France gone, other Nations become interested
Nor were other nations slow in coming forward to the aid of this small island so well situated with regard to trade with the Levant, plumb in the centre of the Mediterranean. Britain with its naval base on Minorca offered its ‘protection’. The Tsar Paul I offered final assistance to the Order, raising money from Polish ‘Commanderies’ and founded the Grand Priory of Russia (1797). Austria too with its position in the Adriatic and its privileged relationship with Naples had designs upon the Mediterranean – perhaps even the Grand-Master Hompesch was pro-Austrian.
The Directory decides to take Malta
It was in this context that on 26 May 1797 Napoleon suggested to the Directory the conquest of Malta. The island, it appeared to him, was an important pawn in the projected Mediterranean strategy, whose final aim was to use Egypt as a stepping stone to reach and destroy British interest in India.
The Invasion
On 9 June, the gigantic Egyptian invasion fleet (numbering about 50,000 men), commanded by Admiral Brueys, in effect set siege on Malta. As a result of the passivity of the inhabitants and the few troops available to Grand-Master Hompesch (332 knights, 3,600 men in the harbour and about 13,000 militia men from the countryside around), the siege was not to be more than more than a few cannonades. On the morning of the 10th, French forces attacked simultaneously at four different spots. Desaix, after securing Marsaxlokk Bay, was to cross the Cottonera lines and if possible take on of the principal gates of Valetta by assault. Vaubois, the future governor of the island during the two year siege, was to land with his men on the coast stretching between Sliema and Qawra Point, to move in land and take Mdina and the surrounding villages. D’Hilliers was instructed to take St Paul’s and Mellieha Bays and to advance to Mdina and the Madliena Heights. Finally Reynier was to occupy the poorly-defended island of Gozo. By the afternoon all apart from the Grand and Marsamxett Harbours and Fort St Lucian were in French hands. On 12th, the Hompech capitulated.
Modernity for feudal Malta
In the six days which followed the surrender and the departure of Bonaparte for Egypt, a civil code was laid down for Malta. Slavery was abolished and all Turkish slaves were freed. All feudal rights and privileges were abolished. A new administration was created with a Government Commission, twelve municipalities were formed. Alongside these twelve judges were nominated. Public finance administration was arranged. Public education was organised along principles laid down by Bonaparte himself, providing for primary and secondary education. Fifteen primary schools were founded and the university was replaced by an ‘Ecole centrale’ in which there were eight chairs, all very scientific in outlook: notably, arithmetic and stereometry, algebra and stereotomy, geometry and astronomy, mechanics and physics, navigation, chemistry. Furthermore sixty children, aged 9-14, from Malta’s richest families were to be sent to Paris to be educated in ‘colleges’ in France.
The siege of two years
But after Bonaparte’s departure Vaubois was left in charge, and things began to go wrong for the French. Acceptance of the French on Malta was by no means unanimous. There were guerrilla attacks by the locals. Then three weeks after Bonaparte’s departure there was the insurrection of 2 September 1798. Encouraged by British victory at the battle of the Nile, the mob broke up a sale of gold and silver items, tapestries and sacred objects designed to raised money for the French authorities. The Maltese officials who were to run the sale retired to Valetta. On the afternoon of the same day, Masson the commander of Mdina was involved in an exchange of insults with a mob in Rabat. He was murdered on the spot and his corpse was thrown out of a window. At dawn on the following day Mdina was captured by insurgents. French reinforcements for Rabat numbering 250 men were routed. The gunpowder magazine in Cottonera were seized, Gozo was overrun. By 4 September the French forces in Malta and nearly 40,000 city dwellers were corralled behind the long walls protecting the Grand and Marsamxett Harbours., the rest of the country was in the hands of the Maltese rebels. Requests to help rid Malta of the French were sent to Ferdinand the King of the Two Sicilies and to Nelson. Nelson proved to be more forthcoming by sending a Portuguese squadron of four ships of the line and two frigates under the command of Marquis Pinto-Guedes de Nizza Reale. The blockade had begun. In October 1798 Nizza Reale was replaced by captain Alexander Ball and he was to keep it up for the following two years. The only break in this apparent stalemate was when the French on the small island of Gozo surrendered with full military honours on 28 October. Similarly two ships managed to break the blockade. All in all Vaubois’s resistance to the siege was tenacious and noble. By a combination of expelling locals, extracting forced loans from wealthy Maltese and rationing supplies and ammunition, Vaubois managed to withstand two years on rations for only seven months. It was only on 5 September, 1800, with the last crumb of bread gone, that he reluctantly capitulated to the British navy.
Aftermath
Despite attempts to return Malta to the knights, the island was to remain under British control forming – along with Minorca – central points for the British navy in the Mediterranean, and providing launch bases for the expeditions against Egypt (1801) and the Ionian islands (1809-1814). It was also used as a trade counter for goods from the Orient, providing a source of contraband against the continental system. Malta was to remain British as result of the treaty of Paris, 30 May 1814. But in the minds of the Maltese people the resistance to the occupying French was to remain as one of the most glorious pages in their long and eventful history.
Bibliography | ||||
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] | 2023-03-20T12:47:02+00:00 | Once traded for a falcon and collectively awarded the George Cross, the history of Malta is full of fascinating stories | en | HistoryExtra | https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/malta-history-key-moments/ | It has witnessed wars and strife, vanishing cultures, and the possible shipwrecking of a saint. It was traded for a bird of prey, became a pilgrimage hotspot on the sea route to the Holy Land, and witnessed the creation of one of the first planned cities in Europe. It served as a sanctuary for the exiled Mehmed VI after the dissolution of the Ottoman empire and was lauded as the ‘Nurse of the Mediterranean’ for its part in treating soldiers injured at Gallipoli during the First World War.
Malta’s past is chequered and complex. Here are seven key moments that have shaped the islands, and the world around them.
1
The disappearance of the temple builders – 2500 BC
Temple culture bloomed in Malta around 3600 BC. More than a millennium before the construction of the great pyramid of Giza or the raising of the trilithons of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, the ‘temple people’ built the first of a string of megalithic marvels that can be counted among the oldest free-standing structures in the world.
Today, six of these complexes spread across Malta and Gozo – Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Ta' Ħaġrat, Skorba and Tarxien – are counted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Their purpose remains clouded, though collectively they point to the people of the period having a ritualistic culture, with one tantalising clue being the prevalence of statuettes colloquially described as ‘fat ladies’, which may have served as idols of fertility.
Of more obvious purpose is the seventh UNESCO World Heritage site from this period, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum – not a temple, but a tomb. Hewn out of the soft limestone rock, this underground necropolis held the remains of an estimated 7,000 people when it was excavated in the 20th century.
But in 2500 BC, the temple builders died out and disappeared, leaving these grand structures as their testament. Historians have struggled to determine why this people suddenly vanished from Malta: drought, famine, epidemic and outside aggression have all been put forward as potential reasons for their abrupt end, with no conclusive evidence pointing towards any.
2
Rome ousts Carthage – 218 BC
Developing from a Phoenician colony, the city-state and then empire of Carthage ruled over Malta for almost 250 years before losing it to their greatest rival: the Romans.
Malta escaped unscathed during the First Punic War (264-241 BC) – as these clashes between and Rome and Carthage would become known. The islands were raided and occupied during the first months of the Second Punic War (218–201 BC); the Roman historian Livy records that the local garrison surrendered without a fight.
By the time Rome had finally annihilated its hated foe at the end of the Third Punic War (149–146 BC), Malta had been a Roman territory for more than 70 years.
Read more | How Hannibal beat the Alps but couldn't beat Rome
The change in overlordship ushered in a new age of prosperity that lasted until the Roman empire’s fracture into east and west in the fourth century AD. The Romans designated Malta a municipium, or free town, incorporating it within the province of Sicilia but otherwise leaving the islands to their own devices, and in time they became a major producer of olive oil.
Maleth, the old Phoenician colony that pre-dated the Carthaginians, became Melite after a period of rapid expansion (and reinforcement, in the form of thick walls and defensive ditches). It is here you can find the Domvs Romana, or Roman House, and its almost entirely intact mosaics.
3
The shipwreck of St Paul – AD 60
When Christianity came to Malta in the first century AD, it was no mere missionary who arrived – but an apostle himself. Or at least, that is how this story goes.
The Bible describes how St Paul is shipwrecked en route to standing trial in Rome. Some translations say he washed ashore at an island called Melite. This is oft assumed to be a conflation for Malta, rather than the town of Melite. Other translations of the Bible identify this place as Malta directly. On arriving, Paul is bitten by a viper, miraculously survives its venom, and is received by the Roman governor, Publius – who will later become Malta’s first bishop and, later still, its first saint.
Read more | 7 controversial saints in history
The apostle’s influence, apocryphal or not, can be seen on the landscape and is now a part of the islands’ national mythos. The place where his ship was wrecked is known as St Paul’s Island, where you’ll find a statue to the saint. The island itself sits within St Paul’s Bay. The cave in which Paul is said to have spent three months is known as St Paul’s Grotto, and counts Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis among its visitors.
When, on 11 January 1693, the church in Mdina (as Melite was known by this time) was destroyed in what remains Malta’s worst ever earthquake, the newly reconstructed one was named for St Paul. Fitting, as it is said to stand on the very spot where Publius received the apostle some 1,600 years earlier.
4
The Arab conquest – from AD 870
Arabic caliphates held power in Malta from the closing of the ninth century until the end of the 11th, wresting control from the Byzantine empire.
The arrival of the Arabs was to leave an indelible mark on the islands, bringing changes to cuisine, music and architecture. They introduced cotton and citrus fruits as crops, and brought irrigation techniques that are still in use today.
But perhaps the most lasting influence was on language. Present-day Maltese is a direct derivative of the Siculo-Arabic that was spoken across Muslim-ruled Sicily at that time, and it remains the only Semitic language written in a Latin alphabet, though it is now peppered with loan words from Italian, English and elsewhere. Likewise many place names (Mdina, Rabat, Marsa and Xagħra, to name a few) are derived from this tongue, as are a number of common family names.
Read more | Digital revolution: the evolution of Hindu-Arabic numerals
The endurance of this linguistic legacy may have its roots in the Norman conquest of Malta under Count Roger I of Sicily that began in 1091. Approximately 150 years later, in 1249, Arab historian Ibn Hadlun records that all Muslims were expelled from Malta – yet somehow their language survived. It has been suggested that many renounced their religion rather than leave, embracing Christianity, and in doing so kept their language alive.
5
The Great Siege of Malta – 1565
In 1530, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain Charles V gifted Malta to Knights Hospitaller, formally the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, a brotherhood of military monks formed to care for sick pilgrims in the Holy Land. All he asked for was a token annual tribute of a Maltese falcon – a real bird of prey, not the priceless and entirely fictitious MacGuffin made famous by the 1941 film of the same name.
The Hospitallers had come to Charles asking for a new home, after being forced out of their stronghold of Rhodes by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent’s expanding Ottoman empire. Having established themselves on Malta, the Hospitallers carried on largely as they had before: interfering with Suleiman’s shipping. It was little wonder that his army came knocking.
Read more | Divided they fell: how war, revolution and sectarianism led to the end of the Ottoman empire
An armada of around 200 ships carrying 40,000 Ottoman soldiers descended on Malta on 18 May 1565, the beginning of almost four months of offensives and counteroffensives that can be counted among the hardest-fought of the era. At one point, in a bid to encourage the local people to surrender, the Ottomans fixed the decapitated bodies of the dead to crucifixes and sent them floating across the harbour. The Hospitallers retorted by firing cannons loaded with decapitated Turkish heads back at them.
What broke the deadlock was the arrival of Spanish reinforcements from Sicily on 7 September. In a dreadful oversight, Sulieman ordered his men to face the new arrivals in open battle. Met by experienced and fresh troops, the Ottomans buckled, with thousands cut down as they retreated to their ships.
In was a turning point for the Hospitallers, now hailed as the saviours of Europe, a bulwark against the Ottoman menace. Fearing a future invasion, they began to build a new stronghold named after their grandmaster, Jean Parisot de Valette. It would become Valletta, the current Maltese capital.
6
The French Occupation – 1798-1800
Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Malta in June 1798 as a pit-stop on his way to Egypt, the French taking control of the islands within a day and after little resistance. Many Hospitallers at this time were of French heritage themselves and were simply unwilling to fight their countrymen.
The French occupation would last for two years, but Napoleon himself would only spend six days on Malta, leaving behind a garrison of 4,000 men. He marked the end of Hospitaller rule with a set of radical political and administrative reforms – including the dismantling of feudal structures and the abolition of slavery – but his mistake was to allow his men to loot churches and help themselves to Maltese treasures.
Public anger reached its tipping point at an auction of church property in September 1798. Within days, a 10,000-strong Maltese militia was at the gates of Valletta, trapping the French inside. With no way to breach the walls, they entreated Britain to come to their aid, and so Malta was blockaded once more, with the British finally gaining control of the islands in 1800.
Read more | Napoleon: the rise and fall of a dictator
This was the beginning of a long period of British rule in Malta. Though the 1802 Treaty of Amiens required the islands to be returned to the Hospitallers, Britain quietly ignored this stipulation – Malta’s strategic location was too valuable to lose in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars. The Knights of St John would never regain it: Malta would formally be confirmed as a British crown colony with the 1814 Treaty of Paris.
As for the church treasure, a great desal was taken by Napoleon himself, stashed on his flagship L’Orient – and was subsequently sunk by Admiral Horatio Nelson at the battle of the Nile.
7
Fortress Malta – 1940–1942
In 1942, King George VI awarded the George Cross – the highest British honour awarded for non-military gallantry – to Malta in its entirety, for withstanding a two-year siege during the Second World War.
Though it was neglected in the run up to the conflict, Malta’s eventual importance to Britain cannot be overstated. The ancestral home to the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet was, in Winston Churchill’s words, as “an unsinkable aircraft carrier” ideally placed to frustrate Axis ambitions in northern Africa and chip away at shipping convoys carrying vital supplies to Libya.
Read more | 8 of Churchill’s greatest speeches
Germany and Italy recognised this too. Between June 1940 and November 1942, the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica bombarded the archipelago relentlessly, with one sustained attack that lasted 154 days and nights seeing 6,700 tonnes of bombs land on the islands. By the summer of 1942, the situation was desperate: people were having to turn to curtains for clothes and tyres to resole their shoes, disease was spreading, and the risk of starvation was imminent. With fuel reserves dwindling, offensive operations had ground to a halt.
The British response was Operation Pedestal, a supply run of epic proportions. Fourteen merchant vessels ran the gauntlet of sniping submarines and aerial assaults, accompanied by three aircraft carriers, two battleships, seven light cruisers and 32 destroyers, among others.
Only five of the merchant ships made it to harbour, but the presence of the tanker SS Ohio among them – limping into port lashed between two destroyers – turned this into a strategic victory, its vital cargo allowing Malta to be used as launch point for attacks on Axis shipping once more.
Malta would go on to serve as the launch point of Operation Husky, the July 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. In a reversal of its role in 1565, it was no longer a bastion to protect Rome, but one from which to subdue it. | |||||
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] | 2023-03-27T09:26:50-04:00 | Malta isn’t on most travelers’ radar, but it should be. This small island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, located south of Italy and north of Africa, is rich in history that dates back to prehistoric times and has been ruled by various civilizations over the | en | Sophisticated Travel | https://www.sophisticatedtravel.com/malta-valletta-and-the-knights-of-malta/ | Malta isn’t on most travelers’ radar, but it should be. This small island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, located south of Italy and north of Africa, is rich in history that dates back to prehistoric times and has been ruled by various civilizations over the centuries, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and the British.
Knights of the Templar & Knights of Malta
During our visit, we were especially intrigued to learn about the Knights of the Templar, also known as the Poor Knights of Christ. They were a medieval Christian military order that was founded in the 12th century. The order was initially formed to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, but over time it grew in power and wealth, becoming one of the most influential and secretive organizations of the Middle Ages.
The Templars, as they were commonly referred to, were known for their distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross, which became a symbol of the order. They were also recognized for their great wealth and power, which they acquired through donations from European nobility and their own business ventures.
One of the most interesting chapters of the Templars’ history is their time in Malta. In the early 14th century, the order was given the island of Malta by the King of Sicily, as a reward for their services during the Crusades. The Templars quickly set about fortifying the island and building a new capital city, Birgu, which became their base of operations in the Mediterranean.
The Templars’ time in Malta was a period of great prosperity for the island. They brought new technologies and techniques for farming, fishing, and shipbuilding, which greatly improved the island’s economy. They also constructed many impressive fortifications, including the famous Fort St. Angelo, which still stands today as a testament to their architectural skills.
However, the Templars’ time in Malta was not without conflict. The island was strategically important, and it was constantly under threat from pirates and invading armies. The Templars fought bravely to defend Malta, and they were able to repel several attacks, but eventually, they were forced to surrender to the invading army of the Aragonese King, Martin the Younger in 1311.
Despite their defeat, the Templars’ legacy in Malta lives on. Many of the truly amazing buildings and fortifications that they constructed still stand today, and they are popular tourist attractions. The island is also home to several museums and historic sites dedicated to the Templars, including the Birgu Heritage Centre.
The Knights Templar brought prosperity and development, and their fortifications and architectural achievements are still visible today. Although their order was disbanded by Pope Clement V in 1312, their legacy lives on and their story continues to fascinate people around the world.
Saint John’s Co_Cathedral
We were awestruck by the Saint John’s Co-Cathedral. It is considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Europe. It was built in the 16th century by the Knights Hospitaller, a medieval Christian military order also known as the Knights of Malta. Malta was a stopping point for many of the ships traveling with pilgrims to the Holy Lands and those who were part of the Crusades. The Knights Hospitaller were not the same as Knights Templar. While the Knights Templar were warriors and battled in the Crusades, the Hospitallers took care of the wounded, sick, and needy. The co-cathedral is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, and its ornate interior is a testament to the wealth and power of the Knights Hospitaller.
One of the most striking features of the church is its ornate vaulted ceiling, which is adorned with gold leaf and intricate stone carvings. The most famous work of art in the co-cathedral is the “Beheading of St. John the Baptist” painting by Caravaggio, which is located in the oratory. The cathedral also has several chapels, including the Chapel of the French Langue, which contains works by other famous artists of the period such as Mattia Preti and Stefano Erardi.
The sacristy of the co-cathedral is also worth mentioning, it is considered as one of the finest examples of Baroque art in Malta. It is adorned with frescoes and paintings by Calabrian artist, Stefano Erardi, who was a member of the Order and responsible for many of the chapels in the Cathedral. The entire marble floor is a series of tombs housing 400 Knights and Officers of the order.
The Wooden Balconies of Valletta
As you walk the streets of Valletta, you can’t help but notice the colorfully painted balconies standing out against the sandstone buildings. Their origins are debated. Some speculate they are part of the Arab culture that allowed women to view the street but remain hidden from view. Other note that the Knights ordered that homes have adornments. Many of the older balconies have elaborate ornate supporting pillars.
Best time to visit
July through August is the peak tourist season in Malta, and it can be very hot and humid during those peak summer months. Late fall and early spring have more comfortable temperatures for exploring the country and city of Vallarta, and fewer tourists.
Because of its southern geographical location, Malta has about 2 hours of additional daylight during winter months than London or Warsaw, Poland, which allows visitors to enjoy the evenings outdoors.
The water temperatures are pretty chilling. August has the warmest average water temperature running around 79 degrees Fahrenheit.
Places to visit
One of the most interesting historical sites to visit in Malta is the Megalithic Temples of Malta, which are some of the oldest freestanding structures in the world. These temples were built between 3600 and 2500 BC, and are believed to have been used for religious or ceremonial purposes. The most famous of these temples is the Temple of Hagar Qim, which features impressive stone carvings and is located on a hilltop with stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Another must-see historical site is the ancient city of Mdina, also known as the “silent city.” This fortified city was the capital of Malta during the Arab and Norman periods, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors can explore the narrow streets, ancient churches, and impressive palaces that still stand in the city today.
Valletta is the capital of Malta and also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century and is known for its impressive architecture, including St. John’s Co-Cathedral, which is adorned with stunning baroque frescoes. The city also has many museums, such as the National Museum of Fine Arts, and the Malta Experience, which provides an interactive history of Malta’s past.
For those interested in military history, the Malta at War Museum is a must-see. The museum covers the island’s history during World War II and features interactive exhibits, artifacts, and personal accounts from Malta’s residents during the war.
For more recent history, the Malta Aviation Museum provides a unique perspective on the island’s role in World War II. The museum features a collection of aircraft, such as Spitfire fighters, and interactive exhibits that detail Malta’s role in the war.
For adults looking for a more relaxed experience, Malta offers many options for relaxation and recreation. The Blue Lagoon, located on the island of Comino, is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. The crystal clear water and stunning scenery make it the perfect place to unwind.
Another popular spot for relaxation is the Marsaxlokk fishing village, located on the southern coast of Malta. Visitors can stroll along the picturesque waterfront, sample fresh seafood at one of the local restaurants, or browse the markets for traditional Maltese crafts and souvenirs.
For the more active, Malta offers many options for outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and diving. The island’s rugged terrain and clear waters provide the perfect setting for these activities. The Blue Grotto, located on the south coast of Malta, is a popular spot for diving and snorkeling and is home to a wide variety of marine life. And for those looking for relaxation and recreation, Malta’s beaches and outdoor activities provide the perfect opportunity to unwind and enjoy the Mediterranean sun. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 11 | https://wanderingjana.com/2020/01/14/update64-wandering-valletta-malta/ | en | Malta: Wandering Valletta | [
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"Wandering Jana"
] | 2020-01-14T00:00:00 | Explorations of the smallest capital city in Europe, belonging to one of the smallest countries. | en | Wandering Jana | https://wanderingjana.com/2020/01/14/update64-wandering-valletta-malta/ | Explorations of the smallest capital city in Europe, belonging to one of the smallest countries.
Go sky diving. Drive a race car. Take a cruise. Normal bucket list items.
Me: visit every micro-nation in Europe; Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein, and Malta. Four down, two to go. Weird, I know. (As of 2023, 5 down, 1 to go.)
I’ve wanted to visit Malta for years, basically ever since I learned about this tiny nation. It’s just so tiny.
Malta has a fascinating history, a history that I will be exploring with the next few posts. A bit backwards actually. I saw Malta’s Neolithic temples last but the capital city of Valletta first.
Malta was at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, having been settled back in the Neolithic, then by the seafaring Phoenicians, then conquered by the Romans. The Maltese language stems from the time the islands were ruled by the Arabs. Maltese is the only Semitic language today that uses the Latin alphabet.
Eventually the Knights of Malta showed up in 1530 after being kicked out of Rhodes by the Ottomans, after being kicked out of Jerusalem first. Of course back then, they were still known as the Knights Hospitaller, or the Knights of St. John. They first settled in Birgu and then moved their capitol to Valletta in 1571. (They were later kicked out of Valletta by Napoleon and kept out by the British. They are currently in Rome.)
Valletta was named after Jean de Vallette, the Grand Master who defeated an Ottoman invasion of Malta. The peninsula where Valletta now sits contained only a lighthouse when the knights showed up. They built Fort St. Elmo, and then, they built their capitol city.
Valletta is the smallest capitol city in the European Union, only 0.8 km sq. It’s a tiny tangle of streets, very easy to transverse on foot but surprisingly hilly. Most of the buildings are all made of the local sandstone, but the wooden windows and covered balconies are painted in bright colors. I couldn’t stop taking photos of those Maltese balconies. Different styles can be found in the different towns throughout the island but they sure like them wooden and covered.
Back on track. The biggest attraction in Valletta is St. John’s Co-Cathedral. While originally built in the late 16th century with the rest of Valletta, the inside was redone in the Baroque style in the 17th. And boy, it’s fantastic.
Another great stop for Maltese history is the Grand Master’s Palace. While Malta was under the rule of the Knights of Malta, the Grandmaster was in charge. He fulfilled the role of the monarch of the day and had state rooms in a palace in the center of Valletta. Today, theses rooms are used for the same functions by the President of Malta. When the rooms aren’t being used for official functions, you can visit them as well. The palace has a fantastic audioguide that guides you through the history of the palace.
Valletta, Malta, was just spectacular. I wish I had more than just one day there. I needed more street wandering time, more balcony staring time. I know, I’m weird. However, I did cover a ton of ground in just one day. I visited St. John’s Co-Cathedral, St. Francis of Assisi, the city gate area, Our Lady of Victory, the Upper Barracca Gardens (where the harbor views were), the Grandmaster’s Palace, Manoel Theatre and the National Museum of Archaeology, in one day. Plus, a ton of wandering and ferry rides to and from Sliema. You can seriously cover a ton of ground in the tiny country of Malta.
Check out my next update where I explore the “Silent City.” | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 44 | https://maltaprivateguide.com/half-day-valletta-and-mdina/ | en | Half day Valletta and Mdina | [
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"admin"
] | 2015-02-23T10:57:48+00:00 | Half day Valletta and Mdina Explore Malta's historic splendors of Malta in two walled cities. The former capital of Mdina, in the middle of the island, is a | en | Malta Private Guide | https://maltaprivateguide.com/half-day-valletta-and-mdina/ | Tour Duration: 4hrs or customised
Half day Valletta and Mdina
Explore Malta’s historic splendors of Malta in two walled cities. The former capital, Mdina, in the middle of the island, is a medieval town whose heritage dates to the ancient Phoenicians. In Valletta, see landmarks such as the Upper Barracca Gardens, St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Magisterial Palace.
We will start by travelling back in time and discover the secrets of Mdina, the ancient capital city of Malta. Mdina, rests in a very majestic way, on one of the highest plateaus on the island overlooking breath taking views. Mdina has had many names including Maleth (Pheonician), Melite (Roman), Medina (Arabic), Citta Notabile (Spanish) and Citta Vecchia (Knights Period). Today it is also called the ‘Silent City’ because of its literally quiet and narrow streets that give off a quaint, yet very homely atmosphere.
We will continue to Valletta, the present Capital city of Malta. Valletta, Malta’s capital and Europe’s Capital City of Culture for 2018, is nothing but short of an open-air museum. It is a living experience of Baroque architecture, a monument donated by the Knights of St John nearly five centuries ago. Throughout the years, Valletta has welcomed emperors, heads of state, artists and poets and is now the permanent seat of the Maltese government.
Dotted with quaint cafés and wine bars, this UNESCO city is today one of Malta’s main tourist attractions, hosting among others, Palaces, Auberges, Churches, cathedrals, imposing bastions and a treasure of priceless paintings. It also provides a stunning snapshot of Malta’s Grand Harbour, often described as the most beautiful in the Mediterranean.
Our suggested itinerary includes a visit to
Mdina
Mdina Main Gate
External visit of Palazzo Vilhena and Standard Tower, Palace of Justice
Villgenion Street with its noble palace such as Palazzo Inguanez, Palazzo Testaferrata Bonici, Palazzo Santa Sophia and Palazzo Falson
The Cathedral Square including the Metropolitan Cathedral itself, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Old Priest Seminary
Bastion Square
Valletta
The Upper Baracca Gardens
Entrance of Valletta including the Renzo Piano project (Ruins of Opera House and Parliament building)
Republic Street
Merchant Street
External visit of the Auberges and Palaces of the Knights
Internal visit of St John’s co-Cathedral and Caravaggio masterpieces (closed on Saturday afternoons and all day on Sunday’s). | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 4 | https://www.bayareadesignandlandscape.com/maltas-capital-city-valletta | en | Malta’s Capital City Valletta | [
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"Mardel Fraivillig"
] | 2016-08-03T12:15:00 | We are an award-winning landscape design and installation company with over 30 years of experience. We have custom-built and designed over 2000 spectacular gardens, pools, and outdoor living spaces. We work for some of the most discerning clients and luxurious properties in Houston and the surrounding areas. | en | https://www.bayareadesignandlandscape.com/maltas-capital-city-valletta | Valletta, a UNESCO world heritage site, is nothing short of an open air museum. This capital city is the brainchild of Grandmaster Jean de la Valette, who wanted a fortified city to protect the island from Turkish invasion. The architect Francesco Laparelli, who was Michelangelo’s assistant, was sent to Malta by the Pope to design this fortified city atop Mount Sciberras– a barren peninsula between two natural harbors. Fort St. Elmo and Fort Ricasoli protect the entrance to the harbor with bastion walls. Fort St. Angelo and the bastion walls of Birgu and Senglea shield its flanks.
Valletta is one the first cities in Europe to be developed entirely by plan and on a rectangular parallel grid, allowing the sea breezes to cool the summer heat.
Towards the end of 1568, a Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar took charge of designing and building many of the buildings in the city.
The beautiful baroque style St. John co-cathedral designed by Girolamo Cassar 1573-1578. This cathedral also has one of the largest Caravaggio paintings in the world.
The Auberge de Castille was designed by Girolamo Cassar in 1570,due to lack of funding it was not completed until 1745 under Grandmaster Pinto. It now houses the offices of the Maltese Prime Minster.
This is the fifth entrance of Valletta since 1566 designed by the internationally recognized Italian architect Renzo Piano who also designed the Whitney Museum in New York City.
Typical streets in Valletta, houses adorned with wooden balconies called “gallarija”. Yellow limestone gleaming in the summer sun.
Sacra Infermeria is now the Mediterranean conference center. Built by the Knights of Malta in 1574, this was one of the first hospitals in Europe. This building was also designed by Girolamo Cassar.
Valletta is full of history, art and culture. This is just a small sample of what you can see in this city, no wonder it has been designated as the European Capital of Culture 2018! | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 49 | https://angelamobilemakeup.com/asseenbyme/things-to-do-in-valletta/ | en | Things to do in the city of Valletta in Malta | [
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] | 2020-10-05T09:00:00-07:00 | Valletta, the capital city of Malta, was constructed by Knights and built on a hilltop, filled with 16th-century baroque palaces, gardens, and churches. Here are the top things to do in the city of Valletta. | en | As Seen By Me - Blog | https://angelamobilemakeup.com/asseenbyme/things-to-do-in-valletta/ | Valletta the capital city of Malta is filled with 16th-century baroque palaces, gardens, and churches which were constructed by the Knights Hospitaller. Built on a hilltop, the streets can be reasonably steep and many still contain the original stone steps, built to help the Knights in their heavy armor ascend the hill. While you’ll certainly get a workout exploring the city, the views from almost everywhere are breathtaking. Below I’ve included the top things to do in Valletta, but if you’re also wondering where on the island you should stay, take a look at this post.
EXPLORE THE COLORFUL STREETS OF VALLETTA
The way the sun’s warm glow reflects off of Malta’s cream-colored stone buildings is truly beautiful. Walking the streets of Valletta you’ll find that just when you thought you spotted the most beautiful colored door or Bougainvillea-covered building, there’s another just a few steps ahead even more beautiful. Be sure to spend some time walking down the small residential streets admiring the brightly colored exteriors.
learn about malta's history
Malta has a long history since it was first inhabited in 5900 BC and later colonized by the Phoenicians, Romans, and the French. Malta was also sparsely populated for a few centuries until being repopulated by the Arabs in the 11th century. This is reflected in the Maltese language which sounds and looks very similar to Arabic. Valletta is where you’ll find most of Malta’s museums so if you’re looking to delve a little deeper into its history, here are a few options.
The Malta Experience is an audio-visual show that tells the dramatic story of the islands’ 7000-year history. Educational, informative, and entertaining, the show runs through the turbulent history of a small island nation that has overcome almost unimaginable odds to survive and prosper. You can read reviews and more here.
Casa Rocca Piccola is a 16th-century palace and home of the noble Maltese family de Piro. You can read reviews here.
Fort St Elmo was originally intended as a war machine, the fort was built in a strategic location to face and hold back the menacing Ottoman attacks. This dominating position now offers unobstructed panoramic views of the harbors and the surrounding towns and villages. The fort also hosts the National War Museum which houses a superb collection of artifacts that go back to prehistoric times. Below are photos from my visit, you can also read reviews here.
Malta 5D is a new generation theater where you feel the emotions of the movie. In a short time, you will explore the Maltese history and culture, magnified with 3D film, moving seats, water spray, air blasts, and leg ticklers. reviews here.
NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM
FORST ST ELMO
The fort was built by the Knights in 1552 in just four months to guard the harbors on either side of the Sceberras Peninsula and bore the brunt of Turkish arms during 1565’s Great Siege. After restoration, the fort reopened in 2015, and now contains the National War Museum, which covers Malta’s wartime history including the Great Siege and the country’s ordeal during WWII. The museum showcases audiovisual displays, bringing history to life and illustrating aspects of war such as the struggle to get supplies through to the islands under German bombardment.
things to see and do
Upper Barrakka Gardens & The Saluting Battery: The Barrakka Gardens is a small public garden that offers a panoramic view of the Grand Harbour and its surrounding fortified towns. It also holds what is perhaps the oldest saluting battery still in operation anywhere in the world. For almost 500 years, its guns protected the harbor against naval assault. The passage of time is marked twice daily with gunfire at 12 noon and 4pm. You can secure your view from directly behind the canons with an entrance fee of €3 which includes a guided tour and audio guide. The tour and audio guide sounds worth it for the price however I think the best views are from above the canons at the Upper Barrakka Gardens which does not require an entrance fee. Saluting Battery reviews here and Upper Barrakka Gardens reviews here.
St. John’s Co-Cathedral is a Roman Catholic co-cathedral that retained its title as conventual church of the order until the Knights left Malta with the French occupation in 1798. During my time in Malta, I heard from many people that this is one cathedral you can’t miss during your time in Valletta, read reviews here
Siege Bell War Memorial is perched above the Grand Harbour its bell is a simple monument symbolizing the people who fought and died for Malta during the Second World War. It was built in 1992 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of when Malta received the George Cross for the display of bravery and valor shown during the attacks on the island from 1940-42. The bell is located right beside the Lower Barakka Gardens and offers picturesque views of the Grand Harbour and is perfect for photos.
Grand Masters Palace was one of the first buildings to be built in Valletta in 1571. The Grandmaster Palazzo has always hosted the government in Malta, first the Knights, then under the British, it served as the Governor’s Palace, and now it hosts the President’s office as well as the House of Representatives. read reviews here
Old Theatre Street is where the Grand Master Palace and National Museum connect with an arched walkway/bridge, it’s beautiful. You can view it best from Merchants St. between Archbishop St. and St. Lucia’s St.
where to eat and drink
You must try a traditional dish at Nenu The Artisan Baker, one of Valletta’s most recognizable restaurants. Ftira is a special Maltese bread typically used for ‘sandwiches’ but at Nenu they make a flatbread version with a variety of toppings called Ftajjar. I went with the “Ta’ Nenu” which is topped with sundried tomatoes, black olives, grated peppered Maltese cheeselet, onions, Maltese sausages, capers, thyme, and sesame seeds. The staff is friendly so if you’re Vegetarian they’ll happily leave off the sausage.
If you prefer meat or your palette is a bit more adventurous, their menu offers options such as oven-braised pork belly, fried rabbit, rabbit ravioli, calf’s liver, and horse meat stew. If you’re taken aback by those options, stick with the Ftajjar it’s tasty, just be sure to leave room in your belly since the waitress will bring out traditional pieces of bread, like ‘Hobza Maltija’ a rustic bead along with sauces for dipping, before your dish arrives.
After dinner, I struck up a conversation with one of the employees who offered me a seat at the bar and poured me a cup of traditional Maltese coffee that was simmering on the stove over low heat. It typically includes ingredients like chicory, ground cloves, anise seed, and orange zest and is certainly an acquired taste. After a sip or two, he invited me to the kitchen and shared a brief history of the restaurant along with their ovens that are over 100 years old and have been at this location since before World War II. While they tried their best to restore both ovens only one of them functions and it’s this oven that they use to bake all of their traditional Ftajjar, the other sits beside it as a reminder of the restaurant’s history.
AUTHENTIC MALTESE FOOD
NENU THE ARTISAN BAKER
website | review
NIGHTLIFE
THE BRIDGE BAR
facebook | reviews
Situated a few steps from a bridge and with cushion lined stairs; the vibe is both cozy and intimate. Order a drink, grab a seat on one of the stairs, and enjoy a live jazz band every Friday night.
more malta posts
to help you plan your trip
Where to stay in Malta + How to get around
A complete guide to visiting Malta! The differences between each city, where to book your accommodations, and how to easily get around the island.
READ MORE HERE
How to spend an afternoon in Mdina – The “Silent City” of Malta
Mdina is a fortified city in the Northern Region of Malta and is best known as the filming location for the hit series Game of Thrones. Nicknamed "The Silent City" Mdina is confined within walls and has a population of just under 300.
READ MORE HERE
The best way to visit the Blue Lagoon and Gozo
The Blue Lagoon is located off the island of Comino and has some of the most magical turquoise waters and rugged cliffs you've ever seen. This guide explains the best way to visit while avoiding the crowds of tourists.
READ MORE HERE
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9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 25 | https://andreasmoser.blog/2011/12/04/valletta-capital-of-malta/ | en | Valletta, capital of Malta | [
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] | 2011-12-04T00:00:00 | Yesterday, I visited Valletta, Malta's capital city. Valletta is the smallest capital city of any EU member state, measuring just 600m by 1000m and with a population of around 6,000. My arrival in Valletta coincided with a Scout music band marching along Triq ir-Repubblika (Republic Street) which already put me in a good mood… | en | https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/5e6dad14d23b264eea3ad10b1e5617b11d55076b0198e077ca311a9d37b03e4b?s=32 | The Happy Hermit | https://andreasmoser.blog/2011/12/04/valletta-capital-of-malta/ | Yesterday, I visited Valletta, Malta’s capital city. Valletta is the smallest capital city of any EU member state, measuring just 600m by 1000m and with a population of around 6,000.
My arrival in Valletta coincided with a Scout music band marching along Triq ir-Repubblika (Republic Street) which already put me in a good mood because I love the sound of bagpipes.
Valletta was only built in 1566 to protect Malta against a Turkish invasion (this was after the Great Siege of 1565). It was the first planned city in Europe with a grid system of streets (see map above). The long straight streets allow the cooling sea breeze to circulate, serving like an air conditioning system for the whole city.
It’s easy to walk through the whole city in a few hours. You will come across everything from grandiose sights
to shops (and a cinema) that throw you back in time by 50 years:
Even the residential buildings are beautiful, with their countless bay windows and balconies.
Despite its small size, there are several parks to have a rest underneath trees and next to water fountains, primarily the Lower and Upper Barrakka Gardens and Hastings Gardens.
Overall, I found Valletta a relaxed and slow city which is maybe best summed up by the following picture:
I stayed in Valletta for the evening after sunset and I will share these photos in a separate post “Valletta at Night“. | ||||
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] | null | The history of Malta is colorful to say the least. As an island in the middle of the Mediterranean, it is strategically placed as a bridge between two major continents. This is a short timeline of historical events of the Maltese islands. | en | /favicon.ico | Choice Holidays | http://www.choiceholidays.eu/blog/history/malta.aspx | A brief History of Malta in 2 minutes (major historical events)
Maltese holidays are bound to be enhanced the country's history which is rich and varied, with a handful of recorded sieges and colonialism. Today we’ll be going over almost a millennium worth of history in a matter of minutes. But before we being, we'd like to share with your this 6 minute video of the history of Malta by the eclectic LindyBeige.
If you're looking for a more detailed timeline of Malta history, keep scrolling past the video!
The Maltese islands have a lot going for them: sandy beaches, near-constant sunlight, and global cuisine you can get to in a matter of seconds are just a few of the highlights of visiting the island - however, it’s not all party nights and afternoons sleeping in!
Malta has one of the most varied histories of the world, and with over 8000 years of it which we can clearly identify, culture vultures visiting the island will need to extend their stay just so they can get the full picture of what it was like living on the most coveted island in the Mediterranean.
The strategic geographical position and rich farmland made Malta a jewel for everyone looking to trade in the Mediterranean: the island had easy access to both mainland Europe and lower Africa, as well as the Middle East, and whoever conquered the island would have their choice of trading ports for the taking.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, of course.
Sieges and forceful takeovers are as part of Maltese history as Freedom Day and fighting for independence, and if you’re visiting the island, then you should definitely know a part of the story of how Malta came to be, without having to spend most of your holiday reading up.
Here’s our brief history of Malta in under 2 minutes.
Date Unknown - Island Formation
Malta forms part of an underwater ridge that connects North Africa and Sicily, but before it was an island, Malta was completely submerged underneath the water. It was only after the Strait of Gibraltar closed that the sea level lowered enough to reveal the islands, which were then still connected to both North Africa and Sicily, and remained that way for a long time.
Don’t believe this?
Maltese archaeologists have found the remains of animals that were indigenous to Europe and North Africa, such as elephants and hippopotami, particularly in Ghar Dalam.
870 BC - The Phoenicians Arrive
The Phoenicians arrived in Malta from Lebanon. They called it ‘Maleth’, safe haven, and used the island primarily as a trading post on their way to other countries.
It’s been suggested that the Phoenicians populating Malta were from Tyre, the famous dye-producing capital of the Levant whose fortune is built on the purple dye excreted by Murex snails found in the Mediterranean.
Although very little visibile influence is left, the effects of the Phoenicians on Malta are noticeable even today - place names, numbers, and the Maltese language are all very close to the Arabic language, and to this day, Maltese remains the only Semitic-based language in Europe… which is also written in a Roman script!
600 BC - Carthage
Carthage takes over the island.
Malta’s role in the Mediterranean is now exclusively as a trading post that links Africa to Sicily. Hellenistic features crop up, however there’s no evidence to suggest that Malta was ever a Greek colony.
255 BC - The Start of Roman Rule
Romans take the island from the Phoenician soldiers, and by 218 BC, Malta has its own senate and people’s assembly.
The Romans build an administrative base in Mdina, under the name ‘Melite’; like with ‘Maleth’, the island soon becomes known as ‘Melite’. Some Roman-era villas remain to highlight the prosperity of Roman rule in Malta, and the islands grew rich.
The Roman Catholic religion was introduced. Despite that, Punic-Hellenistic religions and influences remained until 1 B.C..
1436
The first known documentation of Malta having a distinct language dates back to 1436 - when the language was known as lingua maltensi. Before this time, in the 800s, the Maltese spoke Arabic Maltese due to the colonialism from the Aghlabid Arabs.
The language progressively evolved into its own mother tongue.
1530 - The Rule of the Knights
The knights came to Malta and eventually colonised it in 1530 leading to major changes to the Maltese islands. For starters, the Knights made Italian the official language of Malta.
The Knights Hospitaller made Malta their new home after they were driven out of Rhodes. The island was gifted to them by Charles V, who feared that the Ottoman Empire would invade Rome from the South and wanted to safeguard against it.
For the Knights Hospitaller, this was the chance to have a permanent home, and they took it very seriously.
Banks, hospitals, and public spaces were meticulously planned and built, works of art and beautiful architecture was commissioned and designed.
Malta’s location in the middle of the sea, however, meant that for them to protect the island, they needed to become able seamen - which they did! They attacked Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent’s ships and wrecked his vessels until he ordered an attack on Malta.
The marine cities were fortified and the Maltese islands were made into a militant force.
1565 - The Great Siege
40,000 Turkish troops descended on the 9,000 strong Maltese islands.
For 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days, Turkish troops tried and failed to bring about the ruination of the Maltese islands. When they left, it was in shame, and the Siege of Malta was celebrated and renowned throughout 16th Century Europe, garnering mention by Voltaire.
Today, it’s considered one of the nails-in-the-coffin of the Ottoman Empire’s slow defeat.
Many great books have been written about this seige, with one of the best stories being The Sword and the Scimitar by David Ball and
The Knights throw heart and soul into rebuilding the broken cities.
Soon after the siege, Jean Parisot de Valette; the Grand Master at the time, began the works on Valletta. Unfortunately, he died in 1568, only 2 years before the city was completed.
1798 - The French Take Over
Napoleon Bonaparte wants Malta for himself; after he sends troops to scale the hills of Valletta, Grandmaster Hompesche capitulates and signs over the Maltese Islands to the French.
Napoleon only stays for six days, long enough to abolish slavery, increase the reach of education in Malta to everyone, create 12 new municipalities for Malta, and set up a public finance administration.
He leaves, and the French take over. They do not prove popular with the Maltese people, as they’re more interested in ransacking churches and closing convents than taking care of the islands. They only rule the islands for 2 years.
1800s
After the French ruined terms with the Maltese after ransacking their churches, the Maltese wrote to the English and asked for help.
Lord Horatio Nelson blockaded the French until they surrended the island to the English. In 1800, the Maltese Islands became a protectorate of the British Islands, who mostly saw it as a military and naval fortress.
In 1813, the Maltese islands were struck by a devastating plague, which killed off a third of the Maltese population in a matter of months. The plague spread from the Lazaretto Quarantine Harbour on Manoel Island, took to Valletta, and then to the rest of the Maltese Islands, bar Senglea, who avoided the plague completely.
In 1883, the Malta Railway is set up; it closes only fifty years later.
In 1885, the first postage stamps are printed.
1900s
While Malta doesn’t serve in World War I, the island becomes a floating hospital, and gains the name ‘the Nurse of the Mediterranean’ due to the number of wounded soldiers taken to the island for recuperation.
In 1919, the Sette Giugno riots break out, and lead to increased autonomy for the Maltese islands. This is where the schism between the Maltese and the United Kingdom begin, widening steadily in the coming years.
In World War II, Malta is heavily bombed. It retaliates, causing astronomical amounts of damage to Italian air crafts, although it sustained more losses than the Italians. Malta’s actions during the war gets it a medal from King George - the George Cross, for bravery in the face of the enemies - which is now on the Maltese flag.
A new constitution in 1947 restores self-rule in Malta.
In 1953, the Queen neglects to invite a Maltese delegate to the Coronation; this only hastens the end of British rule in Malta. Furthermore, Malta’s decreasing importance after the war means that the British government no longer want to maintain the military dockyards, and following the dismissal of Maltese workers, the plans are set in motion for independence.
Malta campaigns, and wins, independence in 1964.
In 1974, Malta becomes a Republic, and the last British troops leave Malta completely in 1979. Malta is now a complete state in its own right - with its own language, history, and national antem. For the first time in millenia, Malta is not colonised or belonging to someone else.
2004 - Malta joins the EU
After years of independence, Malta took to a referendum to debate whether joining the EU would be a profitable decision. After numerous debates, Malta joined the European Union in 2004 and adopted the euro, short after; in 2008.
In 2018, Valletta was declared the Capital City of Culture in Europe.
We’re sure you now understand why Malta is known to be a history hub. No matter how many times you’ve been to Malta, the history is overflowing and the places left to visit are insurmountable! | ||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 33 | https://missvacation.net/2016/12/07/valletta-the-quiet-capital-of-malta/ | en | Valletta – the quiet capital of Malta | [
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] | null | [] | 2016-12-07T00:00:00 | Valletta – probably the quietest capital I have ever been to! Malta, not sure how many people are aware of this little country right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and … | en | Miss Vacation | https://missvacation.net/2016/12/07/valletta-the-quiet-capital-of-malta/ | Valletta – probably the quietest capital I have ever been to! Malta, not sure how many people are aware of this little country right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Africa…..right beneath Sicily, Italy. The country made up of three islands – Malta, Gozo, and Comino. We stayed 6 nights in an apartment right in Valletta, Barrakka Suites for $610. Hotels in Malta, generally, are quite affordable! Most of the tourists stay at the resort area Sliema (right across from the harbor of Valletta) and St. Julian’s. The island is accessible by either rental car or its public transportation system – bus. I highly recommend getting the 7 days unlimited bus card for only €21 for the most flexibility and download its app – tallinja to get you from point A to point B (although with some exception which I will tell you later). I chose to stay at Valletta because I like quiet and old charming cities/towns/villages!
Early in the morning, we went out to hunt for a grocery store for drinks and breakfast items…..urg we were too early, most of the shops were closed! We ended up having breakfast at Piadina Café, two croissants, a Fanta, and a can of iced-tea for €5.50.
After breakfast, we walked to the Upper Barrakka Gardens, actually across from our apartment (we could even see it from our window) for our first view of Valletta and Malta’s Grand Harbor. Malta’s architectures are very uniform – baroque style, yellow colored, and colorful balconies.
Valletta, although is the capital, is relatively small in size; you can walk from one end to another within 15 minutes. Also, it’s impossible to get lost in Valletta as the layout is a perfect grid! But the small capital is extremely steep, like a bowl where the center is the lowest point and then it goes uphill both sides……talking about stairs….I chose our apartment which located right near the city’s main entrance gate so Jason doesn’t need to carry two luggage on hundreds of stairs 🙂
Next, we walked to St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the most famous church in Malta (admission €10). The exterior was partially covered by construction work grrr.
But the main entrance is on the other side of the building where there were few vendors there selling stuff.
Ladies, remember to bring a shawl to cover up your shoulders as they really enforce that rule but if you forget, they also provide them in the entrance 🙂 I would have never guessed that the outside looked just like other buildings but have such a lavish interior. As soon as we walked in, the bright shiny gold covered walls and ceiling blinded my eyes!!! This is the only place in Malta where we encountered massive tour groups!
The paintings on the vaulted ceiling illustrated the life of John the Baptist.
With a little bit of patience, photos without people still can be possible 🙂 The Cathedral has nine chapels, here are some of the photos:
Showing you the size of the church compared to people:
The co-cathedral’s most notable is not its gold-covered walls or ceiling but its marble floor which are tombstones of Malta’s important knights! Another interesting fact, high-heels are prohibited on the marble floor so please leave your high-heels home and bring your flats instead; perfect for me haha 🙂
Photos (no flash) are allowed inside except in the Oratory and Museum which hosted Caravaggio’s most famous painting, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. I am not a museum fine-art type of person but amazed by his mastery of using darks and lights!
I sneaked my camera out at one of the balconies for a street view from the 2nd floor, now the main street was filled with tourists.
After the cathedral, we walked around Valletta, one street to another to explore the charming old city. This shop is rated as #1 gelato, I must try it out!
Delicious but not my #1 in my list 😉
I like how they build those stairs, every wide so the height is very short which made walking up and down the capital much easier on our knees!
We headed back to the Upper Barrakka Gardens just before noon for the twice daily Saluting Battery. You can view it for free at the gardens but better to pay the €3 admission fee for a closer experience….aww I should’ve bought earplugs!
Across the harbor are the three sister cities (which we’ll be visiting later in the week).
While we were waiting for it to start…we walked around for photos, the blue sky and white clouds were super pretty!
The upstair balcony are the viewing for free….paying versus non-paying LOL!
Almost starting……he’s getting ready!
By now, see how crowded the gardens get?
Where should I stand? I choose the side and waiting and waiting…..without any warning, the guy pulled the string before I clicked on my shutter :O
And we were welcomed to have a photo with him 😀
Since we were staying in Valletta, we had more opportunities to come back for more viewings for free at the gardens, I’ll capture it next time!
It was well passed noon, time for lunch! Valletta doesn’t have much choice in terms of cuisines, mostly are Italian. On our walk to the Capistrano Restaurant, more street photos!
We were the only customers in there…hum…..is that a good sign?
Free on the house…..the pumpkin cream was tasty!
I ordered the spaghetti with dried squid…..OMG the dried squid was super salty!!!
Jason ordered the fisherman’s pot, much wiser choice although not filling!
After the cheap and fresh seafood in Portugal, of course Jason was disappointed! Not as good as the Portuguese seafood rice stew 🙁 The lunch cost €39.25 ouch back to the Western European standard!
After that, we continued on our search for grocery store….we found out that there is no “supermarket” in Valletta (urg it’s the capital?) but some convenient stores and markets like this one! We bought some peaches and cherries, of course, not as cheap as Portugal.
Hum what is this structure for?
St. James Cavalier Center outside:
We went back to our apartment to store our drinks and fruits as well as getting some rest. Before 4 pm, we went back to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for the 4 pm Saluting Battery. Jason said just before the gun is fired, the guy pulled out his watch to look at the time and then he’ll put it in back into his pocket. Once he does that, start clicking on the shutter!
Success hahahaha!!!
After the Saluting Battery, we walked to the Lower Barrakka Gardens to check out the views from there. It was a walk from one end to another end of Valletta!
The Lower Barrakka Gardens:
The view in the late afternoon wasn’t great as the houses were in shadow so best to be there early in the morning!
Weird hanging flowers…
Across from the garden is the Siege Bell War Memorial:
And back to the streets inside for more photos of Valletta!
The Maltese balconies! They reminded me of the Spanish architectures we seen in Cusco, Peru.
Red telephone booth…..yep Malta has big influences from the UK!
We stumbled into another church….in the highly religious Malta, there is no shortage of beautiful churches regardless the size of the village or town! All other churches are free to go in 🙂
And you just couldn’t tell or judge the interior by it’s exterior 😉
The steepness of Valletta’s streets:
Without realizing, we walked across Valletta to the other side facing Sliema!
You can get there by ferry or bus!
We turned back into Valletta 🙂
All green balconies :O
Madonna tal-Karmnu – Our Lady of Mount Carmel:
Almost oval shaped dome interesting….
I made a reservation at one of the restaurants at the waterfront area but getting down there by walking was a pain! Jason thought getting down there would lead us out to the waterfront but no!!! We wasted our time and had to walk back up.
We ended up giving up the idea of going to the waterfront and just have our dinner within the city wall! We went to Guze Bistro, a top rated restaurant. The restaurant looked like inside a cellar! It was very dark, I guess you can say romantic lol but bad for photos!
Noticed the table was made up of a sewing machine? I remembered having one of those sewing machine when I was little!
I ordered a seafood soup and it was very heavy shrimp flavored, I like it!
Spagehetti again, like I said, majority of the restaurants are Italian cuisine! But the homemade pasta was good, just wish for more quantity!
Jason ordered a fish……….I guess not too filling?
The dinner cost us €56.00 included a 10% tips….yea unfortunately, Malta being heavily British-influenced….tipping. Not to mention, it took them forever to hand us the check GRRR that we missed the blue hour 🙁 As soon as I paid with my credit card, we ran to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for blue hour night photos….not that I have a tripod….so I tried to stable on the handrail hehe. Malta’s Grand Harbor at night overlooking the Three Sister Cities!
Ahhhh Valletta, you are as pretty at night as day!
We had quite a relaxed day, been back to the Upper Barrakka Gardens three times in a day LOL! My first impression of Malta….very quiet and peaceful, great to explore on our own pace 🙂 | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 90 | https://www.africanmediamalta.com/post/2020/01/10/the-british-occupation | en | The British Occupation in Malta | [
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"Mathilde Tempesta"
] | 2020-01-10T00:00:00 | After more than 150 years of presence in Malta, it is obvious that the British have left many marks on the island. The first? The english language is one of the two official languages of the country (with the Maltese of course). And yes, here, almost everyone is bilingual! But that is not all: just walk in the capital Valletta and see the different cafes with english names, or the British letter and phone boxes to realize the presence of the British. Maltese also drive on the left, like in the | en | https://static.parastorage.com/client/pfavico.ico | Africa Media Malta | https://www.africanmediamalta.com/post/2020/01/10/the-british-occupation | After more than 150 years of presence in Malta, it is obvious that the British have left many marks on the island.
The first? The english language is one of the two official languages of the country (with the Maltese of course). And yes, here, almost everyone is bilingual! But that is not all: just walk in the capital Valletta and see the different cafes with english names, or the British letter and phone boxes to realize the presence of the British. Maltese also drive on the left, like in the United Kingdoms.
But why have the British occupied Malta? Remember our last post about the French Occupation. In 1800, the Maltese requested assistance from the British Empire in order to get rid of the French. Once done, the British troops had to return the territory to the Order of Saint John according to the Treaty of Amiens. This was overturned by the Treaty of Paris signed in 1814, so Malta became officially under British control until its independence in September 21, 1964.
The occupation
The archipelago had a strategic position for the British, particularly during the First and Second World War. It was used as a resources suppliers, as well as a hospital. In fact, wounded soldiers were sent for cure to Malta, which was named the “Nurse of the Mediterranean”.
King George V awarded to the Maltese his George Cross, as a recognition for their courage during WWII. In fact the archipelago underwent massive bombings from Germans and Italians, in their fight against the British.
On September 21, 1964, Malta gained its independence. But only in 1974 has it proclaimed the Republic. The British forces remained until 1979, with the closure of their last military base.
Malta, now an EU country also belongs to the Commonwealth. It has kept a visible legacy from the British era, the links between the two countries remain strong. | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 89 | https://holiday-malta.com/the_three_cities | en | The Three Cities | [
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] | null | [] | null | en | null | Cospicua is the largest of the three cities and was previously known as Bormla or Cottonera. It was renamed by the Knights of St. John because of the brave and conspicuous role played by its residents during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.
Most of Cospicua’s shoreline has been developed as a Marina, with a good selection of Bars and Restaurants in the locailty.
Its fortifications, protecting both the city and its neighbours Vittoriosa and Senglea, begun being built in 1638 but not completed for another 70 years. In 1722, Grand Master Marc Antonio Zondadari declared Bormla a city and in view of its strong bastions named it Città Cospicua. In 1776, the Order of St. John started to construct a dockyard, which was to play a vital role in the development of this city. During British rule in Malta, the Royal Navy made extensive use of the dockyard, particularly during the First World War and during the years preceding the Second World War. Bormla, along with the rest of the area around the Grand Harbour, was heavily bombed during second World War.
Senglea, previously known and still commonly referred as Isla, is the smallest of the three cities. The old city is situated on a peninsula protruding into the Grand Harbour, facing the capital city of Valletta.
This locality is lovely and tranquil, being one of the oldest cities on the island which dates back to the 16th century, with many buildings and bastions built by the Knights of St. John making it one of the heaviest fortified areas on the Island. It is enclosed by spectacular bastions, with commanding views guarding the Grand Harbour.
There are a number of ferry services between Valletta and the Three Cities. | |||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 1 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valletta | en | Wikipedia | [
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"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"
] | 2002-06-16T23:34:10+00:00 | en | /static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valletta | Capital of Malta
This article is about the Maltese capital. For other uses, see Valletta (disambiguation).
Capital city and local council in Port Region, Malta
Valletta ( , Maltese: il-Belt Valletta, Maltese pronunciation: [vɐlˈlɛt.tɐ]) is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157.[3] As Malta’s capital city, it is a commercial centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the southernmost capital of Europe,[4][note 1] and at just 0.61 square kilometres (0.24 sq mi), it is the European Union's smallest capital city.[5][6]
Valletta's 16th-century buildings were constructed by the Knights Hospitaller. The city was named after the Frenchman Jean Parisot de Valette, who succeeded in defending the island against an Ottoman invasion during the Great Siege of Malta. The city is Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture, though the Second World War left major scars on the city, particularly the destruction of the Royal Opera House. The city was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.[7] The city has 320 monuments, all within an area of 0.55 square kilometres (0.21 sq mi), making it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.[7] [8] Sometimes called an "open-air museum",[9] Valletta was chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2018. Valletta was also listed as the sunniest city in Europe in 2016.[10][11]
The city is noted for its fortifications, consisting of bastions, curtains and cavaliers, along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches.
History
[edit]
See also: Mount Sciberras and Sciberras Peninsula
The peninsula was previously called Xagħret Mewwija (Mu' awiya – Meuia; named during the Arab period[12])[13][14] or Ħal Newwija.[15] Mewwija refers to a sheltered place.[16] Some authors state that the extreme end of the peninsula was known as Xebb ir-Ras (Sheb point), of which name origins from the lighthouse on site.[17][18] A family which surely owned land became known as Sceberras, now a Maltese surname as Sciberras.[19] At one point the entire peninsula became known as Sceberras.
Recent scholarly studies have however shown that the Xeberras phrase is of Punic origin and means 'the headland' and 'the middle peninsula' as it actually is.[20]
Order of Saint John
[edit]
The building of a city on the Sciberras Peninsula had been proposed by the Order of Saint John as early as 1524.[21] Back then, the only building on the peninsula was a small watchtower[22] dedicated to Erasmus of Formia (Saint Elmo), which had been built in 1488.[23]
In 1552, the Aragonite watchtower was demolished and the larger Fort Saint Elmo was built in its place.[24]
In the Great Siege of 1565, Fort Saint Elmo fell to the Ottomans, but the Order eventually won the siege with the help of Sicilian reinforcements. The victorious Grand Master, Jean de Valette, immediately set out to build a new fortified city on the Sciberras Peninsula to fortify the Order's position in Malta and bind the Knights to the island. The city took his name and was called La Valletta.[25]
The Grand Master asked the European kings and princes for help, receiving a lot of assistance due to the increased fame of the Order after their victory in the Great Siege. Pope Pius V sent his military architect, Francesco Laparelli, to design the new city, while Philip II of Spain sent substantial monetary aid. The foundation stone of the city was laid by Grand Master de Valette on 28 March 1566. He placed the first stone in what later became Our Lady of Victories Church.[26]
In his book Dell'Istoria della Sacra Religione et Illustrissima Militia di San Giovanni Gierosolimitano (English: The History of the Sacred Religion and Illustrious Militia of St John of Jerusalem), written between 1594 and 1602, Giacomo Bosio writes that when the cornerstone of Valletta was placed, a group of Maltese elders said: "Iegi zimen en fel wardia col sceber raba iesue uquie" (Which in modern Maltese reads, "Jiġi żmien li fil-Wardija [l-Għolja Sciberras] kull xiber raba' jiswa uqija", and in English, "There will come a time when every piece of land on Sciberras Hill will be worth its weight in gold").[27]
De Valette died from a stroke on 21 August 1568 at age 74 and never saw the completion of his city. Originally interred in the church of Our Lady of the Victories, his remains now rest in St. John's Co-Cathedral among the tombs of other Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta.[26]
Francesco Laparelli was the city's principal designer and his plan departed from medieval Maltese architecture, which exhibited irregular winding streets and alleys. He designed the new city on a rectangular grid plan, and without any collacchio (an area restricted for important buildings). The streets were designed to be wide and straight, beginning centrally from the City Gate and ending at Fort Saint Elmo (which was rebuilt) overlooking the Mediterranean; certain bastions were built 47 metres (154 ft) high. His assistant was the Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar, who later oversaw the construction of the city himself after Laparelli's death in 1570.[26]
The Ufficio delle Case regulated the building of the city as a planning authority.[28]
The city of Valletta was mostly completed by the early 1570s, and it became the capital on 18 March 1571 when Grand Master Pierre de Monte moved from his seat at Fort St Angelo in Birgu to the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta.
Seven Auberges were built for the Order's Langues, and these were complete by the 1580s.[29][30] An eighth Auberge, Auberge de Bavière, was later added in the 18th century.[31]
In Antoine de Paule's reign, it was decided to build more fortifications to protect Valletta, and these were named the Floriana Lines after the architect who designed them, Pietro Paolo Floriani of Macerata.[32] During António Manoel de Vilhena's reign, a town began to form between the walls of Valletta and the Floriana Lines, and this evolved from a suburb of Valletta to Floriana, a town in its own right.[33]
In 1634, a gunpowder factory explosion killed 22 people in Valletta.[34] In 1749, Muslim slaves plotted to kill Grandmaster Pinto and take over Valletta, but the revolt was suppressed before it even started due to their plans leaking out to the Order.[35] Later on in his reign, Pinto embellished the city with Baroque architecture, and many important buildings such as Auberge de Castille were remodeled or completely rebuilt in the new architectural style.[36]
In 1775, during the reign of Ximenes, an unsuccessful revolt known as the Rising of the Priests occurred in which Fort Saint Elmo and Saint James Cavalier were captured by rebels, but the revolt was eventually suppressed.[37]
French occupation and British rule
[edit]
In 1798, the French invaded the island and expelled the Order.[38] After the Maltese rebelled, French troops continued to occupy Valletta and the surrounding harbour area, until they capitulated to the British in September 1800. In the early 19th century, the British Civil Commissioner, Henry Pigot, agreed to demolish the majority of the city's fortifications.[39] The demolition was again proposed in the 1870s and 1880s, but it was never carried out and the fortifications have survived largely intact.[21]
Eventually building projects in Valletta resumed under British rule. These projects included widening gates, demolishing and rebuilding structures, widening newer houses over the years, and installing civic projects. The Malta Railway, which linked Valletta to Mdina, was officially opened in 1883.[40] It was closed down in 1931 after buses became a popular means of transport.
In 1939, Valletta was abandoned as the headquarters of the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet due to its proximity to Italy and the city became a flash point during the subsequent two-year long Siege of Malta.[41] German and Italian air raids throughout the Second World War caused much destruction in Valletta and the rest of the harbor area. The Royal Opera House, constructed at the city entrance in the 19th century, was one of the buildings lost to the raids.[24]
Valletta harbour c. 1850, photo by Calvert Jones
King's Gate c. 1884–1905
Royal Opera House in 1911
Bomb damage in Valletta during the Second World War
Contemporary
[edit]
In 1980, the 24th Chess Olympiad took place in Valletta.[42]
The entire city of Valletta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980, along with Megalithic Temples of Malta and the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni.[7][43] On 11 November 2015, Valletta hosted the Valletta Summit on Migration in which European and African leaders discussed the European migrant crisis.[44] After that, on 27 November 2015, the city also hosted part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015.[45]
Valletta was the European Capital of Culture in 2018.[46]
Detail of the Parliament House (2015)
Mediterranean Conference Centre, former Sacra Infermeria (2016)
Renovated Tritons' Fountain (2018)
Auberge d'Italie, renovated in 2016 to host the new MUŻA (Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti)
Renovated covered market Is-Suq tal-Belt, 2018
Government
[edit]
Local government
[edit]
The Valletta Local Council was established by the Local Councils Act of 1993, along with the other local councils of Malta.[47] The first election was held on 20 November 1993. Other elections were held in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2013,[48] 2017.[49] The present local council was elected in 2019.[50] The local council is housed in a building in South Street.
The following people have served as Mayors of Valletta:[51]
Hector Bruno (1993–1999) (PN)
Paul Borg Olivier (1999–2008) (PN)
Alexei Dingli (2008–2019) (PN) [52]
Christian Micallef (2019) (PN) [53]
Alfred Zammit (2019–) (PL) [54]
National government
[edit]
Valletta is the capital city of Malta,[55] and is the country's administrative and commercial hub.[56] The Parliament of Malta has been housed at the Parliament House near the city's entrance since 2015: it was previously housed at the Grandmaster's Palace in the city centre.[57] The latter palace still houses the Office of the President of Malta,[58] while the Auberge de Castille houses the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta. The courthouse and many government departments are also located in Valletta.[59]
Geography
[edit]
The Valletta peninsula has two natural harbours, Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour.[43] The Grand Harbour is Malta's major port, with unloading quays at nearby Marsa. A cruise-liner terminal is located along the old seawall of the Valletta Waterfront that Portuguese Grandmaster Manuel Pinto da Fonseca built.[60]
Climate
[edit]
Main article: Climate of Malta
Valletta features a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) with very mild, wet winters and warm to hot, slightly long, dry summers, with an average annual temperature above 23 °C (73 °F) during the day and 16 °C (61 °F). Valletta experiences a lack of precipitation during the summer months and most of the precipitation happens during the winter months. Winter temperatures are moderated by the surrounding sea, as a result, the city has very mild winters and a long seasonal lag. The official climate recording station in Malta is at Luqa Airport, which is a few miles inland from Valletta. Average high temperatures range from around 16 °C (61 °F) in January to about 32 °C (90 °F) in August, while average low temperatures range from around 10 °C (50 °F) in January to 23 °C (73 °F) in August.
Cityscape
[edit]
The architecture of Valletta's streets and piazzas ranges from mid-16th century Baroque to Modernism. The city is the island's principal cultural center and has a unique collection of churches, palaces and museums and act as one of the city's main visitor attractions. When Benjamin Disraeli, future British Prime Minister, visited the city in 1830, he described it as "a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen," and remarked that "Valletta equals in its noble architecture, if it does not excel, any capital in Europe," and in other letters called it "comparable to Venice and Cádiz" and "full of palaces worthy of Palladio."[63][64]
Buildings of historic importance include St John's Co-Cathedral, formerly the Conventual Church of the Knights of Malta. It has the only signed work and largest painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.[65] The Auberge de Castille et Leon, formerly the official seat of the Knights of Malta of the Langue of Castille, Léon and Portugal, is now the office of the Prime Minister of Malta.[59] The Grandmaster's Palace, built between 1571 and 1574 and formerly the seat of the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, used to house the Maltese Parliament, now situated in a purpose-built structure at the entrance to the city, and now houses the offices of the President of Malta.[66]
Admiralty House is a Baroque palace dating to the late 1570s. It was the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet during the British era from the 1820s onwards. From 1974 until 2016, it was the site of the National Museum of Fine Arts.
The Manoel Theatre (Maltese: Teatru Manoel) was constructed in just ten months in 1731, by order of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, and is one of the oldest working theatres in Europe. The Mediterranean Conference Centre was formerly the Sacra Infermeria. Built in 1574, it was one of Europe's most renowned hospitals during the Renaissance. The fortifications of the port, built by the Knights as a magnificent series of bastions, demi-bastions, cavaliers and curtains, approximately 100 metres (330 ft) high, all contribute to the unique architectural quality of the city.
Neighbourhoods
[edit]
Valletta contains a number of unofficial neighbourhoods, including:[67]
Strada Rjali – the main thoroughfare, Triq ir-Repubblika
l-Arċipierku – an area close to the Sacra Infermeria. Its name possibly derives from archipelago since it contains a number of lanes which break up the area into many "islands" of houses, or from archi-borgo since the area is located just outside Fort Saint Elmo.[68]
il-Baviera – an area around the English Curtain, bounded by Old Bakery, Archbishop, Marsamxett and St. Sebastian Streets. It is named after Auberge de Bavière.[68]
il-Biċċerija – an area close to il-Baviera, named after the slaughterhouse which was formerly located there.[68]
il-Kamrata – an area close to the Sacra Infermeria. It is named after the Camerata, a spiritual retreat which was demolished in the 19th century and replaced by social housing.[68]
Deux Balles (Maltese: Duwi Balli) – an area close to il-Baviera. The name probably originates from the French occupation.[68]
il-Fossa – an area close to the Jews' Sally Port and Fort Saint Elmo. It is regarded as the worst maintained area of Valletta.[69]
Manderaggio (Maltese: il-Mandraġġ) – an area behind Manderaggio Curtain, bounded by St. Mark, St. Lucia, St. Patrick and Marsamxett Streets. This was meant to be a small harbour (mandracchio) but it was never completed, and a slum area developed instead. The slums were demolished in the 1950s and were rebuilt as housing estates.[68]
Economy
[edit]
Eurostat estimates the labour force in 2015 for the greater Valletta area at around 91,000 people. This corresponds to a share of just under 50 percent of Malta. As in Malta as a whole, tourism is an important economic sector. The most important tourist zone is the area surrounding the Grand Harbour. For the cruise industry, after several years of planning, work began in 2002 to build the Valletta Waterfront Project, a cruise terminal, in the Grand Harbour.[70] There is also a publishing house in Valletta, Allied Newspapers Ltd., a media company. This company publishes the two market-leading newspapers, Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta.
Education
[edit]
The Valletta Campus of the University of Malta is situated in the Old University Building. It serves as an extension of the Msida Campus, especially offering international masters programmes.[71]
A church school, "St. Albert the Great", is also situated in Valletta. The Headmaster is Alternattiva Demokratika politician Mario Mallia.[72][73]
Culture
[edit]
Valletta was designated European Capital of Culture for 2018.[74] The year was inaugurated with an event called Erba' Pjazez (Four Squares), with shows focused in 4 plazas in the city – Triton Square, St. George's Square, St. John's Square, and Castille Square – along with other shows in other points.[75] This was followed by the unveiling of a public art installation, Kif Jgħid il-Malti (Maltese Sayings), which featured a number of Maltese language proverb figured in gypsum, in order to engage linguistic heritage.[76][77]
Saint James Cavalier
[edit]
Saint James Cavalier, originally a raised gun platform, was converted into a Centre of Creativity in the year 2000 as part of Malta's Millennium Project. It now houses a small theatre, a cinema, music rooms and art galleries. Various exhibitions are regularly held there. It has welcomed over a million visitors since opening.[78]
Music
[edit]
The Valletta International Baroque Festival is held every year in January. Jazz music in Malta was introduced in the Strait Street area, frequented by Allied sailors during both World Wars.[79] Malta's Jazz Festival took place here. Strait Street is also known as The Gut. This area is undergoing a programme of regeneration. The city's dual band clubs are the "King's Own Band Club" (Maltese: L-Għaqda Mużikali King's Own) and "La Valette National Philharmonic Society" (Maltese: Is-Soċjetà Filarmonika Nazzjonali La Valette).[citation needed]
Carnival
[edit]
Valletta is the scene of the Maltese Carnival, held in February each year, leading up to Lent.[80] There were no carnival trucks in 2020 or 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but trucks returned in 2022.[citation needed]
In 1823 the Valletta carnival was the scene of a human crush tragedy in which at least 110 boys perished.[81]
Feasts
[edit]
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on 16 July
Saint Paul's feast is celebrated on 10 February
Saint Dominic's feast is celebrated in Valletta on 4 August or before
The feast of Saint Augustine is celebrated on the third Sunday after Easter
The city's residents also conduct an annual procession in honour of St. Rita
In literature and the arts
[edit]
The poetical illustrations "Valetta, Capital of Malta". (painted by T. C. Dibden, engraved by J. Tingle)[82] and "Strada St. Ursola,—Malta". (painted by Samuel Prout, engraved by J, Carter)[83] by Letitia Elizabeth Landon were both published in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837. A further poem Jesuits in Procession—Valetta, Malta. illustrates a painting of the procession in the Strada St Giovanni painted by Samuel Prout and engraved by E. Challis is in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1838.[84]
Twin towns – sister cities
[edit]
Valletta is twinned with:[85]
Palermo, Italy
Pisa, Italy
Cortona, Italy, since August 26, 2022
Rhodes, Greece
Byblos, Lebanon
Piran, Slovenia
Transport
[edit]
Malta International Airport is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the city in the town of Luqa.
Malta's public transport system, which uses buses, operates mostly on routes to or from Valletta, with their central terminus just outside the city gate. Traffic within the city itself is restricted, with some principal roads being completely pedestrian areas. In 2006, a park and ride system was implemented in order to increase the availability of parking spaces in the city. People can leave their vehicles in a nearby Floriana car park and transfer to a van for the rest of the trip.
In 2007, a congestion pricing scheme was implemented to reduce long-term parking and traffic while promoting business in the city.[86][87] An ANPR-based automated system takes photos of vehicles as they enter and exit the charging zone and vehicle owners are billed according to the duration of their stay.[86]
Valletta is served by a fleet of electric taxis which transport riders from 10 points in Valletta to any destination in the city.[88]
As of 2021, an underground Malta Metro is being planned, with a projected total cost of €6.2 billion,[89] centred on the Valletta urban area.
Notable people
[edit]
Main page: Category:People from Valletta
Sports
[edit]
Valletta F.C. Association Football team and Futsal team
Valletta Lions RFC Rugby Football Union team
Valletta's Marsamxett Harbour a "Regatta" (Rowing) Team, which takes part in the annual traditional Regatta on Victory Day (8 September).
Valletta United W.P.C., a Water Polo Club hailing from Marsamxett side
Valletta V.C., a Volleyball club.
Marsamxett Boċċi, a ''Boċċi'' Club from Marsamxett, Valletta.
Valletta St. Paul's Boċċi, a ''Boċċi'' Club from L-Arċipierku side, Valletta.
Further reading
[edit]
Bianco, Lino (2009). "Valletta: A city in history" (PDF). Melita Theologica. 60 (2). University of Malta: Department of Architecture and Urban Design – Faculty for the Built Environment: 1–20. ISSN 1012-9588. OCLC 1587122. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2018.
References
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Notes
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9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 28 | https://www.theculturalexperience.com/news/heritage-malta-acquires-a-letter-written-by-napoleon-himself-ordering-the-invasion-of-malta/ | en | Heritage Malta Acquires A Letter Written by Napoleon Himself Ordering The Invasion Of Malta | [
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] | null | [] | null | A letter written by Napoleon Bonaparte which contains orders for one of his generals to invade Malta in 1798 has recently been acquired by Heritage Malta. | /apple-touch-icon-57x57.png | https://www.theculturalexperience.com/news/heritage-malta-acquires-a-letter-written-by-napoleon-himself-ordering-the-invasion-of-malta/ | A letter written by Napoleon Bonaparte which contains orders for one of his generals to invade Malta in 1798 has recently been acquired by Heritage Malta.
The three-page letter gives instructions to General Desaix to “assemble the armies, impound ships, arm them, and meet off Syracuse”. He was then to travel along the coast of Naples and through the straights by the lighthouse at Messina, then dropping anchor at Syracuse.
Desaix was instructed to bring Commander Ménard along for the journey and to use a fleet including a frigate, two brigs, two dispatch-boats, and two royal galleys.
They were to sail in close formation and were armed with “four pieces of 24 (referring to 24-pounder cannons), two mortars, two grills for red-hot bullets with two or three-hundred shots apiece”.
The letter is dated 19 April 1798 and is hand-signed by ‘Bonaparte’. Napoleon’s fleet departed from Toulon a month after the letter was sent, arriving in Malta on the 9th of June and launching an amphibious operation which enabled them to invade the island with minimal resistance.
Napoleon only spent a few days in Malta, residing at Palazzo Parisio in Valletta and then travelling to Egypt, leaving 4,000 men under the command of General Vabois.
The French occupation of Malta would last just over two years, with the Maltese rising against the French, who eventually surrendered to the British in September of 1800.
The letter was bought by Heritage Malta for €60,000 last July during an auction. It has recently arrived in Malta and will be exhibited at the National Archaeology Museum in Valletta during Public Service week.
Our Fortress Malta tour examines the indelible marks that the brief occupation by Napoleon, amongst other cultures and events, has left behind.
Pictured: The Grand Harbour on our Fortress Malta tour | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 51 | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2984282 | en | French occupation of Malta | [
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edit | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 8 | https://www.britannica.com/place/Malta | en | Malta | History, Language, Map, People, & Points of Interest | [
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] | 1999-07-26T00:00:00+00:00 | Malta, island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea with close historical and cultural connections to both Europe and North Africa. Malta is about 58 miles (93 km) south of Sicily and 180 miles (290 km) from either Libya or Tunisia. The island achieved independence from British rule in 1964. | en | /favicon.png | Encyclopedia Britannica | https://www.britannica.com/place/Malta | Malta
Top Questions
How many islands make up Malta?
Malta comprises five islands—Malta (the largest), Gozo, Comino, and the uninhabited islets of Kemmunett (Comminotto) and Filfla.
What kind of climate does Malta have?
Malta typically has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers, warm and sporadically wet autumns, and short cool winters with adequate rainfall. The annual mean temperature is in the mid-60s Fahrenheit (about 19 degrees Celsius), and monthly averages range from the mid-50s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (about 12 to 29 degrees Celsius).
What languages are spoken in Malta?
Maltese and English are the official languages of Malta. Maltese resulted from the fusion of North African Arabic and a Sicilian dialect of Italian and is the only Semitic language officially written in Latin script. English is a medium of instruction in schools. Italian is understood by a sizable portion of the population.
Does Malta have an official religion?
The official religion of Malta is Roman Catholicism, but there is full freedom of religious belief. More than nine-tenths of Maltese are Roman Catholic; however, only about three-fifths of these practice their faith. Small numbers of Maltese are adherents of other Christian denominations or of Islam.
Malta, island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea. A small but strategically important group of islands, the archipelago has through its long and turbulent history played a vital role in the struggles of a succession of powers for domination of the Mediterranean and in the interplay between emerging Europe and the older cultures of Africa and the Middle East. As a result, Maltese society has been molded by centuries of foreign rule by various powers, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Swabians, Aragonese, Hospitallers, French, and British.
Audio File: National anthem of Malta
Head Of Government:
Prime Minister: Robert Abela
Population:
(2024 est.) 550,100
Currency Exchange Rate:
1 USD equals 0.937 euro
Head Of State:
President: Myriam Spiteri Debono
The island of Malta specifically played a vital strategic role in World War II as a base for the Allied Powers. It was heavily bombarded by German and Italian aircraft, and by the end of the war Malta was devastated. In 1942 the island of Malta was presented with the George Cross, a British award for great gallantry, in recognition of the wartime bravery of the Maltese people. After the war, the movement for self-governance became stronger. The country of Malta became independent from Britain and joined the Commonwealth in 1964 and was declared a republic on December 13, 1974. It was admitted to the European Union (EU) in 2004. A European atmosphere predominates in Malta as a result of close association with the Continent, particularly with southern Europe. The Maltese are renowned for their warmth, hospitality, and generosity to strangers, a trait that was noted in the Acts of the Apostles, with respect to the experience of St. Paul, the Apostle, who was said to have been shipwrecked off Malta in 60 ce.
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Roman Catholicism is a major influence on Maltese culture. Various traditions have evolved around religious celebrations, notably those honouring the patron saints of towns and villages. The eight-pointed, or Maltese, cross, adopted by the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem in 1126, is commonly linked with Malta’s identity and is printed on the country’s euro coin. Valletta is the capital city.
Land
The country comprises five islands—Malta (the largest), Gozo, Comino, and the uninhabited islets of Kemmunett (Comminotto) and Filfla—lying some 58 miles (93 km) south of Sicily, 180 miles (290 km) north of Libya, and about 180 miles (290 km) east of Tunisia, at the eastern end of the constricted portion of the Mediterranean Sea separating Italy from the African coast.
Relief
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The islands of Malta are dominated by limestone formations, and much of their coastlines consist of steep or vertical limestone cliffs indented by bays, inlets, and coves. They lie on the submerged Malta-Hyblean Platform, a wide undersea shelf bridge that connects the Ragusa Platform of southern Sicily with the Tripolitana Platform of southern Libya.
The main physical characteristic of the island of Malta is a well-defined escarpment that bisects it along the Victoria Lines Fault running along the whole breadth of the island from Point ir-Raħeb near Fomm ir-Riħ Bay to the coast northeast of Għargħur at Madliena Fort. The highest areas are coralline limestone uplands that constitute a triangular plateau; Ta’ Żuta, which rises to 830 feet (253 metres) in the southwest, is the highest point. The uplands are separated from the surrounding areas by blue clay slopes, while an undercliff area is found where the coralline plateau has fallen and forms a subordinate surface between the sea and the original shore. The total shoreline of Malta is about 136 miles (219 km).
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In northern Malta the escarpment is occasionally abrupt and broken by deep embayments. To the south, however, the plateau gradually descends from about 600 to 830 feet (180 to 250 metres) into undulating areas of globigerina (derived from marine protozoa) limestone less than 300 feet (90 metres) in elevation. The western area is characterized by deeply incised valleys and undercliff areas, while to the east there are several valley systems that descend to the central plains.
The west coast of Malta presents a high, bold, and generally harbourless face. On the east, however, a tongue of high ground known as Mount Sceberras, on which the capital city, Valletta, is built, separates Marsamxett Harbour and Grand Harbour. Because of tectonic activity, Malta has been tilted in a northerly direction, producing cliffs of up to about 800 feet (250 metres) high on the south and southwestern coasts, while slopes descend to low cliffs and rocky shores on the northern and eastern coasts.
The landscape of the island of Gozo is characterized by broken upper coralline mesas, with the highest point being Ta’ Dbiegi Hill (636 feet [194 metres]). Gozo has a gentle easterly dip, so the lower coralline limestone, which forms high cliffs on the west coast, declines to below sea level but reappears on the east coast at Qala Point. Semicircular bays have formed on coastal cliffs where sinkholes have been invaded by the sea. The rounded bays at Xlendi and Dwejra on the west coast of Gozo originated as underground caverns with roofs that have collapsed.
Drainage
The island of Malta possesses favourable conditions for the percolation and underground storage of water. The impermeable blue clays provide two distinct water tables between the limestone formations—the perched and the mean sea-level aquifer. The principal source for the public supply of water has for several centuries been the main sea-level water table. The absence of permanent streams or lakes and a considerable runoff into the sea, however, have made water supply a problem, which has been addressed with an intensive reverse-osmosis desalination program. About half of Malta’s daily water needs are supplied by desalination plants throughout the islands.
Soils
Mainly young or immature and thin, Maltese soils generally lack humus, and a high carbonate content gives them alkaline properties. Human settlement and construction developments have altered the distribution and composition of soils. The Fertile Soil (Preservation) Act of 1973 requires that, when soils are removed from construction sites, they be taken to agricultural areas, and level stretches in quarries are often covered with carted soil. | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 12 | https://timesofmalta.com/article/maltas-invasion-by-the-french-in-1798-joseph-f-grima.958999 | en | Malta's invasion by the French in 1798 – Joseph F. Grima | [
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] | 2022-06-12T15:45:00+02:00 | How a flawed defence plan and traitorous knights facilitated Malta’s takeover | en | Times of Malta | https://timesofmalta.com/article/maltas-invasion-by-the-french-in-1798-joseph-f-grima.958999 | Wednesday, June 6, 1798: A fleet of warships and transports was sighted sailing to Malta. It was the French squadron and military contingent that had sailed from Civitavecchia but, failing to rendezvous with the rest of the French armada, had arrived off Malta prematurely. The commander of this contingent, General Louis Desaix, sent assurances to the Order that his fleet was on its way to Egypt but that he would like to take some provisions and water aboard. Permission was granted and the ships then sailed away from the island until the rest of the French armada arrived. The next day was the feast of Corpus Christi.
Saturday morning, June 9: A very large number of vessels – warships and transports – approached Malta from the direction of Gozo, flying the flag of France, under the supreme command of General Napoleon Bonaparte. Grand Master Ferdinand Hompesch hoped that this formidable fleet was on its way to Egypt, as Desaix had assured him three days previously. This hope took a concrete form when the French allowed the entry into Grand Harbour of two warships of the Order escorting two merchantmen laden with corn from Sicily.
Bonaparte then despatched a letter to the French Consul, Jean Andrè Caruson, so that he would, in his name, request the Order’s permission to allow the French fleet enter the harbours to take on water supplies, although he knew that the Knights couldn’t comply with his request.
Hompesch summoned the Order’s Council and it was almost unanimously agreed to refuse Bonaparte’s request. Caruson was sent back to Bonaparte, aboard the ship-of-the-line L’Orient, with a verbal answer on these lines: in accordance with the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713, in the case of war being waged between European countries, no more than four warships at a time by a belligerent state were allowed to enter the Maltese harbour.
This answer provided Bonaparte with a pretext/excuse to order the army to land and invade the Maltese islands. He dictated an ultimatum to Hompesch, under the signature of Caruson, that was despatched the following morning when the landings were already taking place. Bonaparte wrote that it was impossible for a fleet made up of “500 to 600 vessels” to take water supplies four at a time, especially after “favours shown to the British”.
Caruson also wrote that Napoleon was not allowing him to return “to a city which henceforth he feels obliged to treat as belonging to an enemy”.
The Order of St John always had plans of defence in case of an invasion. These details were the province of the Congregation of War (or War Council) which, in this case, had drawn up its plans. Unfortunately, some members of this congregation were pro-French (Toussard, de Fay and de Bardonenche); others lacked military acumen: the Bailiffs Frisari and Sousa both lacked military talent; while the Bailiff Neveu was a drunkard; leaving only Bailiff de la Tour du Pin and Commander de Thuisi as the sole dependable and trustworthy members in the War Council.
The dispositions for the defence of the islands were as follows: the four cities and Floriana bordering Grand Harbour were collectively garrisoned with 24 companies of 150 soldiers each, a part of the Regiment of Malta, the Compagnia della Bolla (a ceremonial corps made up of Valletta tradesmen), and complements of sailors and marines who served on the naval ships.
The garrison commanders were Knight-Commander Gurn at Fort St Elmo; Grand Marshal Bailiff Abel de Loras at Valletta; Knight de Gournau at Fort St Angelo; Knight-Commander de Gondrecourt at Vittoriosa; Knight-commander Annibale de Soubiras – the captain-general of the Galleys – at Cospicua; Bailiff de Suffren de St Tropez at Senglea; Bailiff Toussaint de la Tour du Pin, helped by Knight-Commander de Thiusi, at the encompassing Cottonera fortifications; and the Bailiff de Tillet at Fort Ricasoli.
The Light Infantry Regiment (Cacciatori Maltesi), commanded by Bailiff Neveu, had companies stationed at forts Tigné, Manoel and Ricasoli, together with other battalions. The Tigné commandant was Knight-Commander Reichberg, while bailiffs Gourgeau and La Tour Saint Quentin defended Fort Manoel.
Mdina was led by the Captain of the Rod (the so-called Ħakem) and the city jurats. Knight-Commander de Mesgrigny Ville Bertin commanded Gozo while Knight de Valin oversaw Comino.
The commanders of the coastal defences were: The Red Tower (St Agatha Tower) overlooking Mellieħa Bay – Knight St Simon; Mellieħa itself – Knight-Commander de Bizier; St Paul’s Bay – Knight de la Penouse; the adjacent bays of St Julian’s and St George – Knight de Preville; St Thomas Tower, the Tumbrell, Marsaxlokk and Fort St Lucian – Knight du Pin de la Gueriviere; Birżebbuġa – Knight-Commander de Rozan; the militia – Knight Prince Camille de Rohan assisted by bailiffs de Thenissey and Tommasi.
A number of these commanding officers were members of the Council of the Order that had refused Bonaparte’s request to water the fleet simultaneously. The defence plan was to repel French attempts to land and prevent them from gaining footholds on the islands. But this plan failed for three reasons:
1. The alarm was sounded too late because the Order was not immediately certain of the French intentions;
2. The coastal defences lacked the requisite number of defenders;
3. A number of the commanding officers betrayed the Order.
The plan to oppose the enemy landings was completely mistaken. It was crystal clear that the main defensive strength of the island was not the coast and shoreline defences that were only strong enough to repel enemy raids and small landings.
The best plan would have been to abandon the shore defences and retire behind the very strong defences encircling the harbours and fight for time until help would eventually arrive from a country at war with France. In fact, the British fleet under the command of Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson was at the time scouring the Mediterranean searching for the French fleet.
In 1798, Great Britain was the only unsubdued country opposing France. They knew about the numerous French preparations in various European localities for invasion purposes but never realised that the projected aim was the occupation of Egypt. They rather feared that the objective could be Ireland or even England itself. There were also concerns that the French were preparing to occupy the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, apart from the false rumours purposely bandied about by French agents. The British Consul at Leghorn (Livorno) suspected that one of the French objectives was Malta, together with Egypt, but his letters to Lord Nelson were delayed.
Nelson and his fleet had left England on April 10 and arrived at Cadiz at the end of the month. Nelson had been ordered to sail into the Mediterranean to discover the intentions of the French. Bad weather greatly hampered Nelson’s movements and, conversely, favoured the French. When the British were informed that the French had captured Malta, it was too late to intervene because Bonaparte had already left the islands. Judging from the prevailing winds, Nelson concluded that the French had sailed to Egypt and he went in that direction. Again, he did not find the French fleet because, ironically, the British arrived at Alexandria before the French.
The French plan of invasion was to land contingents of troops at four different localities: at Gozo under General Ebenezer Reynier; at St Paul’s Bay and its precincts under General Louis Baraguey d’Hilliers; at St Julian’s Bay and the surrounding area under General Charles-Henri Vaubois; at St Thomas Bay and Wied ix-Xoqqa near Birżebbuġa under General Louis Desaix. Each one of these four contingents had specific objectives so that, collectively, they would ensure that the Maltese and Gozitan countryside would be captured within a short time.
The plan for Gozo was simple: a landing at Ramla l-Ħamra bay with the troops spreading out in the area between Fort Chambray and the Citadel overlooking Victoria. After landing, the St Paul’s Bay troops were to advance on Madliena and Mdina. Vaubois’s task, with Colonel Auguste Marmont and General Jean Lannes in his contingent, was more complex: he had to overcome the batteries at the Madliena inlet and Qalet Marku, blockade Valletta and Floriana, occupy the countryside between Qormi and Casal Paola to affect a junction with Desaix’s troops, blockade forts Manoel and Tigné and spread out in the direction of Mdina to meet up with the columns of Baraguey d’Hilliers.
Desaix was charged with occupying Marsaxlokk Bay and advancing on the Cottonera Lines with the hope that he would be able to take over a part of the fortifications or one of its gates. If this plan failed, Desaix’s troops were to invest Fort Ricasoli and spread out in the direction of Marsa to join part of Vaubois’s forces. The plan also called for the general headquarters of these land forces to be located in the village of Għargħur. The fleet was to assist all the landings and four large ships-of-the-line were to blockade the two main ports, Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour.
On the whole, the French plan was carried out on Sunday, June 10. Generally speaking, the French landed with ease because, on a number of occasions, they were helped by traitorous knights who did their best to facilitate the landings: some commanders openly crossed over to the enemy; cannon balls and guns placed near each other were of different calibres; inferior ammunition was distributed to the troops; and other acts of sabotage. This confounded the Maltese troops and created confusion, with the soldiers not knowing who was trustworthy or not. However, not all the knights betrayed their Order and some of them were blamed for no reason at all.
Reports sent in by the French commanders make interesting reading. On June 11 and 13, General Jean Louis Ebenezer Reynier reported that there were about 2,300 defenders and the landing was effected between Ramla l-Ħamra and Irdum il-Kbir.
Due to preparation time and a contrary breeze, the attack could not take place before 1pm. The French encountered stiff opposition from musket fire from the cliff, the batteries of Ramla l-Ħamra and Sopu Tower; however, the French troops were aided by the ships that successfully bombarded the land defences. The landing cost some lives.
From Ramla l-Ħamra, the French advanced through Nadur to Fort Chambray, which quickly surrendered. The troops then advanced on Rabat through Xagħra and occupied all these positions by nightfall. The French captured a total of 116 guns from the Citadel, Fort Chambray and the other towers and batteries together with a quantity of muskets and three depots with stored grain.
The landing at St Paul’s Bay and its surrounding area was successful. General Louis Baraguey d’Hilliers reported the capture of all the enemy forts, batteries and defensive positions without losing any French lives. About 50 guns were captured, together with 150 prisoners, for the loss of one knight and a soldier. Therefore, the whole countryside in the north of Malta was in French hands who now had a clear passage to advance on Mdina.
But the fulcrum of the French operations really centred on the contingent led by General Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois. The landings started at 4am and were successfully carried out with immediate effect mainly through the help afforded by traitor knights who not only forbade their men to fire on the invaders but some of them openly crossed over to the French, leaving their perplexed men undecided what to do next. Therefore, there was very little opposition to the landings at St Julian’s and St George’s bays.
The landings were successfully carried out with immediate effect mainly through the help afforded by traitor knights
Actually, there was no dearth of troops in the area – 60 Maltese soldiers from the Light Infantry (Cacciatori) and 1,200 men from the Birkirkara regiment of the militia – but each one of these men had been issued with only a musket, a bayonet and three rounds of ammunition. The St Julian’s battery guns did not even fire one round on the enemy.
At the Naxxar entrenchments, there were 400 mainly unarmed militiamen who had replaced the Naxxar regiment that was ordered to proceed to Mdina by the Grand Master, following the advice tendered by Toussard and Saint-Priest, two traitor knights. The men had to flee to Fort Manoel, Valletta or Mdina. Bailiff Giovanni Battista Tommasi tried to restore order and stem the panic but he himself had to retire to Valletta, with the few men at his disposal, to avoid being captured.
At Mdina, the people were panic-stricken. Accompanying the French, there was Vincenzo Barbara, who advised the Maltese to surrender because the fight was against the Order of St John and not against them.
An urgent meeting of the Mdina Universitas, also attended by Bishop Vincenzo Labini, decided to surrender the city on condition that respect would be shown to the Church and the Catholic faith of the Maltese, together with the recognition of their privileges, laws and property. Bishop Labini then invited Vaubois and his officers to dine with him.
But Vaubois had not yet completed the military campaign he had been set. His troops failed to capture forts Tigné and Manoel due to determined defenders led by loyal and honest knights. These forts were surrounded together with the Floriana defences where stout resistance had also been offered.
A Maltese sortie was carried out from Porte des Bombes to repel a group of five French battalions led by Colonel Marmont. The French feigned retreat but led the Maltese into an ambush where they faced a barrage of musket fire and had to retreat behind the Floriana defences. Marmont himself captured a standard of the Order, a feat for which he was later promoted.
Desaix’s troops also landed successfully at Marsaxlokk despite resistance by the village militia and the Order’s cavalry but the defenders had to retreat to Fort Ricasoli and the Cottonera Lines. Fierce fighting took place near Delimara, and Fort St Lucian resisted till the ammunition supplies ran out. The defenders surrendered with the honours of war and were allowed to go to Cottonera.
Therefore, the French could make full use of all the bays in the locality and Desaix’s troops could link up with those of Vaubois. With the exception of the cities and fortresses of the two main harbours, Malta was in the hands of the French.
With the exception of the cities and fortresses of the two main harbours, Malta was in the hands of the French
Opposition by the Order’s naval forces was restricted to one particular action when a galley, two galeottes and a sloop, under Knight de Soubiras, sallied out of Grand Harbour to harass some French landing boats. Because of the lack of a wind, the French ships could not sail to defend the landing craft.
The Order’s craft manoeuvered with their oars and inflicted some damage on the French. However, a breeze then rose up and the French ships were able to sail close and defend their compatriots. The result was that De Soubiras and his small naval flotilla were forced to retreat back to Grand Harbour.
After the countryside was over-run, it seems that the French sacked and looted some localities. A relatione by the Rev. Ignatius Debono from Vittoriosa despatched to Mgr Giulio dei Conti Carpegna, the last Inquisitor of Malta, who had departed from the island before the French arrival, states that there was general looting, killing of farm animals and raping of women by the French at Naxxar, Birkirkara, Lija, Balzan and Qormi.
A few parish documents corroborate part of Debono’s writing because, at the Qormi parish archives, documents state that there was looting from private premises together with the sequestration of many gold and silver objects from the parish church of St George which was decorated for the octave of the Corpus Christi feast.
General sacking seems to have been rampant in the Żabbar area, but it also seems that, at other localities like Żebbuġ, the church treasures were left intact. Sacking and looting were common in Europe in wartime but it was an unexpected new experience for the Maltese.
In the cities there was confusion, with apparently no one knowing exactly what was happening outside the fortifications: news changed all the time while rumours were rife and multiplied every minute.
Before midday, the militia had already retreated behind the Floriana walls and this helped to add to the circulating rumours and to the general uncertainty prevalent everywhere.
The Maltese within the walls were anxious lest a full-scale bombardment would bury them in the ruins of their houses. Every action was exaggerated, especially when alleged sabotage was reported.
French agents withheld messages from the Palace and even prevented provisions from getting through to the defending soldiers. One has to add the distribution of bad ammunition and the withholding of good cartridges kept in the ammunition depots by Knight-Commander de Bardonenche and his clerk Gravagna, both collaborators of the French.
Many Maltese assumed that all the knights were traitors when this was not the case. A few French civilians residing at Valletta – notably Etienne Eynaud and François Damas – were attacked and killed, and assaults were carried out on some knights at Cottonera and Valletta.
Some French knights refused to fight against their fellow countrymen, with the best-known case being the refusal of the Treasury Secretary, Bosredon de Ransijat, who, as soon as the first French landings began, wrote to Grand Master Hompesch saying that he “did not contract any other military obligation beyond that of warring against the Turks” and he “could never contemplate fighting against my native country.” He declared he was going to “observe the strictest neutrality” throughout the fighting. Naturally, he was arrested and detained at Fort St Angelo.
Sunday, June 10: A meeting convened at the Valletta Banca Giuratale by a number of Maltese to discuss the situation included the most prominent people of Valletta: jurats, members of the judiciary, professionals and members of the nobility. After a lot of empty rhetoric, about 30 people agreed to petition the Grand Master to ask for an armistice. Not all those present, such as Judge Giuseppe Borg Olivier (1753-1831), agreed with the petition.
Four representatives presented the petition to Hompesch where it was read out by Giuseppe Guido in the name of the other three deputies: baron Mario Testaferrata, advocate and court counsellor Francesco Bonanno and advocate Francesco Torreggiani. Diplomatically, Hompesch answered that the petition would be considered but the answer was not forthcoming before considerable time had elapsed.
Monday, June 11: At approximately 3am, the French attacked Porte des Bombes and the Maltese saw their own commander, Knight François d’Aulelart, actually betraying them through lantern signals. He was summarily killed and the French attack was repulsed after two hours. But this betrayal fanned the lack of confidence of the Maltese in their leaders.
At the Cottonera, lack of proper preparations and military training resulted in confusion and endless suspicions, some unfounded. Two knights were killed and others managed to escape the same fate. However, many Maltese began to abandon their posts and went home, with the commandant of Senglea, de Suffren, having to report what was happening to the Grand Master at Valletta.
At Valletta, the Maltese killed some knights suspected of betrayal, though a number of them were innocent. Confusion reigned everywhere, and French collaborators set off a cry for the need of an immediate capitulation. The disorder and indiscipline increased so much that Hompesch and the Council were seriously apprehensive there would be a general insurrection against the Order. Therefore, at daybreak, it was decided to request an armistice.
Maybe this decision was taken so quickly because Hompesch was not a man of action and lacked true military fibre, since he was really a diplomat. As a result, he was at a loss on how to react in the confused and bloody circumstances he found himself in. The armistice was quickly followed by the Order’s capitulation on June 12.
Joseph F. Grima is the author of Malta u Franza 1798-1800, Malta, 2006. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 45 | https://www.seabourn.com/en/gb/cruise-destinations/mediterranean-cruises/mediterranean-ports/valletta-malta-mla | en | Valletta, Malta | [
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9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 44 | https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-town-harbour-and-fortifications-of-valletta-capital-city-of-malta-111817637.html | en | The town, harbour and fortifications of Valletta, capital city of Malta. French troops occupied the town, until they capitulated to the British in September 1800. In the early 19th century, the Britis | [
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9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 2 | https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/131/ | en | City of Valletta | [
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Brief synthesis
Malta’s capital Valletta is a fortified city located on a hilly peninsula between two of the finest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. The Siege of Malta in 1565 captured the European imagination and mobilised the resources needed to create the new city of Valletta, founded soon after, in 1566. The Knights of St John, aided by the most respected European military engineers of the 16th century, conceived and planned the city as a single, holistic creation of the late Renaissance, with a uniform grid plan within fortified and bastioned city walls. Since its creation, the city has witnessed a number of rebuilding projects, yet those have not compromised the harmony between the dramatic topography and the Hippodamian grid. The fabric of the city includes a compact ensemble of 320 monuments that encapsulate every aspect of the civil, religious, artistic and military functions of its illustrious founders. These include the 16th century buildings relating to the founding of the Renaissance city, such as the cathedral of St John, the Palace of the Grand Master, the Auberge de Castile et Léon, the Auberge de Provence, the Auberge d’Italie, the Auberge d’Aragon and the Infirmary of the Order and the churches of Our Lady of Victory, St Catherine and il Gesù, as well as the improvements attributed to the military engineers and architects of the 18th century such as the Auberge de Bavière, the Church of the Shipwreck of St Paul, the Library and the Manoel Theatre.
Criterion (i): The city is pre-eminently an ideal creation of the late Renaissance with its uniform urban plan, inspired by neo-platonic principles, its fortified and bastioned walls modelled around the natural site and the voluntary implantation of great monuments in well-chosen locations.
Criterion (vi): The city is irrevocably affiliated with the history of the military and charitable Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, which founded the city in 1566 and maintained it throughout two and a half centuries. Valletta is thus associated with the history of one of the greatest military and moral forces of modern Europe.
Integrity
The city is built on a narrow peninsula surrounded by water. As a result, the perimeter of the city has remained largely unchanged since the departure of the Knights of St John, unencumbered by more recent development. It is of sufficient size and includes all elements necessary to express its Outstanding Universal Value. In spite of some rebuilding projects during the 19th century and severe damage during World War II, a high proportion of the original monuments and the surrounding urban fabric has been preserved intact or carefully restored. The massing and materials used during these later interventions have blended homogenously with the earlier fabric, simultaneously respecting the original urban form. However, the Outstanding Universal Value of the property is vulnerable to impacts on its setting, form and fabric, deriving from the demands of a living city.
Authenticity
Despite the succession of eventful interludes that Valletta has witnessed since the departure of the Knights, resulting in frequent changes of use of many of the buildings they left behind, Valletta has remained the administrative and commercial epicentre of the island and is today Malta’s capital. The property essentially retains its skyline and form from the 16th century, reflecting the natural topography of the peninsula; however, this is vulnerable to development pressures resulting in the increase of building heights, which is not always consistent with the city’s historic profile. The original grid of the street plan has been respected and the most important public squares have been retained, although some key monuments were lost to 19th and 20th century re-development. Rebuilding and restoration necessitated by later war damage has respected the materials and proportions of the historic city. The property retains its authenticity in terms of form and design, materials, function, location and setting.
Protection and management requirements
Two laws governing heritage issues were enacted in the 1990s. The first was the Environment Protection Act (No V of 1991), the second The Environment and Planning Development Act (No 1 of 1992), which aims to regulate and establish modern planning procedures. The latter established critical principles of scheduling and grading of historic buildings, and introduced the concepts of urban conservation areas and protective zoning. Although these policies relate to the whole of Malta and Gozo, they have particular relevance to Valletta. The Grand Harbour Local Plan (realised by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority), in force since 2002, contains policies that specifically protect the World Heritage property.
The Cultural Heritage Act (No VI of 2002, am. 2005) paved the way for the formation of three entities, namely the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, Heritage Malta and the Malta Centre for Restoration (which was merged with Heritage Malta in 2005). The Act also provides for the creation of Religious Cultural Heritage Commissions, which have the same powers and responsibilities as the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage. However, the latter has no jurisdiction over Church property. From 1995, the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta were afforded statutory protection individually and collectively by means of a scheduling scheme. In addition, the Maltese Government has established a number of national entities to ensure that its aims of conservation and rehabilitation of Valletta are achieved.
Valletta is a living city. It is the nerve centre of the Maltese political, administrative and business sphere as well as a major tourist attraction. The day-to-day demands of a modern community exert heavy demands on the institutional bodies entrusted with safeguarding, conserving and enhancing national monuments which are in daily use. Equally heavy and persistent demands are made on the housing and business premises of the city. To sustain the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, a draft Management Plan for the city was prepared in 2012 and the consultation with stakeholders is ongoing. The adequate implementation of the Management Plan will require collaboration among key entities on large-scale developments within the walled city, as well as clear policies on height controls to protect the city’s skyline and streetscapes, on the extent of the control area for building heights and on view sheds outside the walled city. | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 13 | https://www.britannica.com/place/Malta/Modern-history | en | Malta - Mediterranean, British Rule, Independence | [
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Maltese claims for local autonomy were dismissed by Britain, but they never abated. Malta’s political status under Britain underwent a series of vicissitudes in which constitutions were successively granted, suspended, and revoked. British exploitation of Malta’s military facilities dominated the local economy, and the dockyard became the colony’s economic mainstay.
The island flourished during the Crimean War (1853–56) and was favourably affected by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Self-government was granted in 1921 on a dyarchical basis whereby Britain retained control of foreign and military affairs, while a newly created Maltese legislature was responsible for local issues. This agreement was withdrawn in 1933, mostly as a result of Maltese resistance to the imposition of English in lieu of Italian as Malta’s official language. As such, Malta reverted to a strictly colonial regime in which full power rested in the hands of the governor. During World War II (1939–45) the island underwent intense and prolonged bombing by the Axis Powers but did not surrender. The heroism of the Maltese people was recognized when the island as a whole was awarded the George Cross, Britain’s highest civilian decoration. Self-government was granted in 1947, revoked in 1959, and then restored in 1962. Malta finally achieved independence on September 21, 1964, becoming a member of the Commonwealth and subsequently a member of the Council of Europe. Malta became a republic on December 13, 1974.
Salvino Busuttil
The immediate pre- and postindependence period was marked by a hardening polarization between Malta’s two major political parties. From 1962 to 1971, Malta was governed by the Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista; PN), which pursued a policy of firm alignment with the West. In 1971, however, the Malta Labour Party (Partit Laburista; MLP) came to power, embracing a policy of nonalignment and aggressively asserting Malta’s sovereignty. The MLP formed a special friendship with China and Libya and negotiated an agreement that led to the total withdrawal of British forces from Malta by 1979. The closure of the British base was celebrated by the Maltese government as the arrival of “real” independence.
The PN returned to power in 1987 and sought full membership in the European Economic Community (later succeeded by the European Union [EU]). But when the MLP took the reins again in 1996, the party froze Malta’s application for membership in the EU. The MLP’s time in office was short-lived, however, because Prime Minister Alfred Sant called for new elections in 1998 (three years ahead of schedule) after having lost support from his own party. The PN was returned to office in 1998; it reactivated the application for accession to the EU and ushered in major social and economic changes in pursuit of that goal. After considerable political wrangling between the PN and the MLP, Maltese voters in a 2003 referendum chose to join the EU, of which Malta became a member on May 1, 2004. Malta adopted the euro as its currency on January 1, 2008. The PN was again returned to power in 2008, winning the general elections over the MLP by a small margin of votes.
Lino Briguglio
In May 2011 Maltese voters approved a referendum recommending the legalization of divorce. Until then Malta had been the only EU country, and one of only a few countries worldwide, without a divorce law. Legislation permitting divorce was passed by the parliament in June and put into effect in October.
In 2013 the MLP, now known as the Labour Party after the name was changed in 2008, was returned to power with a relatively large majority and broadly adopted the same policies as the PN. The Labour Party did, however, take a more progressive position on social issues; 2014 saw passage of a bill legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples in spite of strong opposition from the Roman Catholic Church.
In 2016 the leak of the Panama Papers revealed that two of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s cabinet ministers, including his chief of staff, owned offshore companies in Panama. Daphne Caruana Galizia, a journalist who had been investigating the Panama Papers, claimed that Muscat’s wife also owned an offshore company the following year. Amid the fallout and calls for his resignation, Muscat called snap elections in 2017. He campaigned on a booming economy with low unemployment, rapid GDP growth, and a budget surplus and promised additional economic benefits and civil liberties. When elections were held in June, he was returned to the premiership with the Labour Party enjoying an absolute majority in parliament.
Months later Caruana Galizia was murdered. An investigation was launched, and in November 2019 police arrested and interrogated Yorgen Fenech, a businessman close to Muscat’s chief of staff, in connection to the murder. Muscat’s chief of staff was also questioned. Protesters demanded Muscat’s resignation, and he announced on November 30 that he would resign after a new Labour Party leader could be selected. On January 12, 2020, Robert Abela, the son of a former president, was elected leader of the party, and he was sworn in as prime minister the following day. Although Labour under Abela’s leadership oversaw some government reform, the remainder of the parliamentary term focused primarily on navigating the health and economic crises brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 the Labour Party handily won another majority in parliament. | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 9 | https://marinadivalletta.com/malta-valletta/ | en | Marina Di Valletta | [
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Place of Interest
St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral
St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, is an Anglican pro-cathedral of the Diocese in Europe situated in Independence Square, Valletta, Malta. The cathedral’s steeple, rising over 60 metres is a landmark on its own being notably visible in the Marsamxett Harbour. The church building is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. Constructed with Maltese limestone in a neo-classical style. The cathedral has columns with capitals of the Corinthian order while the capitals of the six columns of the portico are of the Ionic order.
West Street, Valletta | +356 2122 5714
Attraction
Place of Interest
Casa Rocca Piccola
Casa Rocca Piccola is a 16th-century palace in Malta, and home of the noble de Piro family. Situated in Valletta, Casa Rocca Piccola was built in 1580 an era in which the Knights of St John, having successfully fought off the invading Turks in 1565, decided to build a prestigious city to rival other European capitals such as Paris and Venice. Casa Rocca Piccola was one of two houses built in Valletta by Admiral Don Pietro la Rocca.
74, Republic Street, Valletta |2122 1499
Attraction
Place of Interest
Manoel Theatre
The Manoel Theatre is named after Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller, Fra António Manoel de Vilhena, who ordered its construction in 1731. The theatre is reputed to be Europe’s third-oldest working theatre (older than the San Carlo in Naples), and the oldest theatre still in operation in the Commonwealth of Nations. The Manoel, is the country’s national theatre and the home of Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. The theatre is a small, 623 seat venue, with an oval-shaped auditorium, three tiers of boxes constructed entirely of wood, decorated with gold leaf, and a pale blue trompe-d’oeil ceiling that resembles a round cupola.
Old Theatre Street, Valletta |+356 2124 6389
Attraction
Place of Interest
Fort St. Elmo – National War Museum
Hosted by Fort St Elmo, the National War Museum houses a superb collection of items which takes us back to prehistoric times. Two halls are dedicated to Malta’s important role in WW I, the Inter-War Period and Malta’s historical role in the Second World War. Displayed in these halls one can find perhaps the three most important icons of this museum: the Gloster Sea Gladiator N5520 FAITH, Roosevelt’s Jeep ‘Husky’ and Malta award for gallantry, the George Cross.
Fort Saint Elmo is a star fort in Valletta, standing on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula that divides Marsamxett Harbour from Grand Harbour, and commands the entrances to both harbours along with Fort Tigné and Fort Ricasoli. It is best known for its role in the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. Fort St. Elmo has occasionally been used as a film set, one of the most notable films being that of Alan Parker’s Midnight Express.
Fort St Elmo, Valletta | Tel: +356 21 233088
Attraction
Place of Interest
National Museum of Fine Arts
The National Museum of Fine Arts is located at the lower end of South Street (Valletta) within an area including other fine historical palaces dating from the time of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. The building was originally one of the earliest to be built in Valletta and served as residence to successive knights of Order of St John.
The palace was officially inaugurated as the National Museum of Fine Arts and houses The largest collection of works by the renowned Southern Italian artist Mattia Preti on display in any public museum, the best selection of Baroque art masterpieces on the island and the only watercolour by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) featuring Malta’s Grand Harbour and unique Malta views and landscapes.
South Street, Valletta | Tel: +356 21 225 769
Attraction
Place of Interest
Auberge de Castille
The Auberge de Castille is an auberge in Valletta, originally built in the 1570s to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Castile, León and Portugal. The present building dates back to the 1740s, when it was completely rebuilt during the magistracy of Manuel Pinto da Fonseca. The new auberge was built in the Baroque style, and it has been called “probably the finest building in Malta”. It now houses the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta. The auberge is located at Castille Place, close to Saint James Cavalier, the Malta Stock Exchange and the Upper Barrakka Gardens. It is situated at the highest point of Valletta and overlooks Floriana and the Grand Harbour area.
Attraction
Place of Interest
Malta Stock Exchange
The Malta Stock Exchange (Maltese: Borża ta’ Malta), originally known as the Casino della Borsa, is situated in the former Garrison Chapel building in Castille Square, Valletta. This iconic building was built in 1857 on the designs of T. M. Ellis, and was used as a multi-denominational place of worship until 1950. The former church was then used for entertainment purposes, as a post office and as a naval school, before it was taken over and extensively renovated by the Exchange.
Garrison Chapel, Castille Place, Valletta | (+356) 21 244 051
Attraction
Restaurants
Sciacca Grill
Named after the Sicilian village that inspired its creation, Sciacca Grill is a unique Steak & Grill restaurant located in the heart of Valletta. Apart from its fine meats, it proudly boasts an unusual selection of over 200 whiskeys. Sciacca Grill does not believe in a fixed menu. A wide variety of fresh prime cuts of meat are on display daily, together with a number of specials of the day available.
South Street, Valletta | +356 2123 7222
Attraction
Restaurants
Trabuxu Wine Bar
Nestled below street level in a 400-year-old stone vaulted cellar, Trabuxu Wine Bar has been serving its patrons for over 15 years and is Valletta’s premier wine bar. A landmark to locals, and visitors to this heritage listed city, Trabuxu Wine Bar is cozy and intimate in winter and boisterous and outgoing in summer with guests spilling up and into the stoned stepped street above to enjoy the evening’s warmth. Serious wine and cheese aficionados will appreciate the menu which consists of hand selected cheeses from reputable suppliers. A delicate selection of cured meats is available and all orders are accompanied by fresh Maltese bread, water crackers and a selection of chutneys and jams.
2 Strait Street Valletta | Tel: (+356) 2122 3036
Attraction
Restaurants
Guzé Bistro
Guzé located in a 16th century building in the heart of Valletta has been home to many over the years, including Francesco Buonamici, a chief engineer for the Knights of Malta that lived here from 1634 until 1659. The restaurant opened in 2011 after a lengthy refurbishment retaining all of its original features. Guzé ’s menu and style of food focus on seasonal local produce.
22, Old Bakery Street, Valletta, VLT 1454 | +356 2123 9686
Attraction
Restaurants
Fumia Restaurant
Conveniently situated just a stone’s throw away from our Marina and set right on the sea’s edge in Pieta Creek, Fumia was previously the Custom’s boathouse. Now converted into a fine dining Sicilian restaurant, Fumia specialises in fresh fish caught daily, along with mouthwatering side dishes and in house prepared sumptuous deserts. A vast range of Sicilian and local wines compliment the menu.
The panoramic wall to wall glass panes create the feeling of dining literally ‘on the water’s edge’, just a few inches away from the calm Pieta sea.
Triq Sa Maison, Tal-Pietà | +356 2131 7053 | Closed on Mondays
Attraction
Restaurants
Capo Crudo
Proudly sitting beneath the Capital city’s protective walls, perched a few meters away from the wonderful Mediterranean Sea. Only the freshest ingredients will do, sea catch will only be served if it survives the chef’s rigorous first glance, whilst the healthiest cuts of top grade beef will be given the privilege of dry-ageing in a specially-designed glass-walled chamber. The wine list has been hand-picked with expertise and constantly evolves according to patrons’ desires.
Triq Il-Lanċa, Valletta | +356 7955 5221
Attraction
Place of Interest
The Malta Experience
The Malta Experience is an audio-visual show that tells the dramatic story of the islands’ 7000 year history. Educational, informative and entertaining, the show runs through the turbulent history of a small island nation that has overcome almost unimaginable odds to survive and prosper.
The show chronicles Malta’s unique history in just 45 minutes, enriching your understanding of the islands, its people and the places you’ll see on your visit.
Available in 17 Languages.
St. Elmo Bastions, Mediterranean Street, Valletta | +356 2552 4000
Attraction
Place of Interest
Sacra Infermeria
One of the most imposing buildings in Valletta is the former “Sacra Infermeria” of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, now popularly known as the Mediterranean Conference Centre, which is located adjacent to Fort St Elmo and overlooking the Grand Harbour.
The ‘Sacra Infermeria’ Hall within the Mediterranean Conference Centre is an extraordinary and magnificent space. This hall was once the Long Ward of the Holy Infirmary of the Order of St. John and is one of the longest halls in Europe. When constructed, in the 16th Century it was recognised as an architectural feat.
Hospital Street ,Valletta Malta | Tel: +356 21 243 840/3 | Booking Office: +356 255 95 750
Attraction
Place of Interest
Lower Barakka Gardens
The Lower Barakka Gardens is a garden in Valletta, Malta, and it is twinned with the Upper Barrakka Gardens in the same city. It offers a view of the Grand Harbour and the breakwater. It includes the Monument to Sir Alexander Ball, which is a prominent feature in the form of a neoclassical temple located at the centre of the garden. In addition, the terrace area features, a number of commemorative plaques dedicated to, amongst others, the Hungarian revolution of 1956, the Prague spring, Giuseppe Garibaldi and the 50th anniversary of the European Union.
Attraction
Place of Interest
Upper Barakka Gardens
The Upper Barrakka Gardens are a public garden in Valletta offering a stunning panoramic view of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. Located on the upper tier of St. Peter & Paul Bastion, which was built in the 1560s, the bastion’s lower tier contains the Saluting Battery.
The gardens were originally used to offer recreation to the knights of the Italian langue of the Order of Saint John, but were opened to the public following the end of the French occupation of Malta in 1800.
The gardens are linked to Valletta’s ditch and the nearby Lascaris Wharf by the Barrakka Lift.
Attraction
Place of Interest
Valletta City Gate & Parliament Buildings
The present gate, which is the fifth one to have stood on the site, was built between 2011 and 2014 to designs of the renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.
The first gate which stood on the site was Porta San Giorgio, which was built in 1569 to designs of either Francesco Laparelli or Girolamo Cassar. The gate was renamed Porta Reale in around 1586, before being rebuilt in 1633, probably to designs of Tommaso Dingli. It was briefly renamed Porte Nationale during the French occupation of Malta in 1798. . In 1853, this was once again replaced by a larger gate, which was also known as Kingsgate.
The last fortified gate was demolished in 1964, being replaced by a Futurist gate designed by Alziro Bergonzo. This gate was then demolished in 2011, and it was replaced by Piano’s gate which was completed in 2014.
Attraction
Restaurants
The Harbour Club
The Grand Harbour is renowned to be one of the most stunning harbours around the world and was the inspiration for The Harbour Club.. A carefully converted warehouse that was built by the 64th Grand Master of the Order of Malta in 1712, gives diners a unique dining experience.
Indoors, one may enjoy a cosy interior, decorated elegantly with a recycled deck of an American ship. On the terrace, the stunning view of the Grand Harbour as you enjoy a glass of wine and one of our exquisite dishes, will remain memorable.
4/5, Quarry Wharf, Valletta | +356 21 22 23 32 | +356 79 22 23 32 | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 46 | https://holidaysinmalta.net/valletta-malta-capital-city/ | en | Discover Valletta: A Fortified Capital City in the Mediterranean | [
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] | 2019-12-22T20:14:52+00:00 | Valletta is one of Europe's most interesting cities. Here is everything you need to know about Malta's capital city. | en | Holidays in Malta | https://holidaysinmalta.net/valletta-malta-capital-city/ | A changing Capital
Up until some ten years ago, the streets of Valletta were normally deserted after 9 pm. It sounds very unnatural for a European capital city but in the case of this city, Valletta was only considered as a place worth visiting only by day. Luckily, things have started to change. And this change came with a wave of drastic investment and a renewed interest into the arts and secrets which lie beneath the capital’s surface.
Artists from all across the globe started to invest in the Maltese capital seeking inspiration through its unique architecture and Mediterranean charisma. Streets which were before considered as desolated and abandoned were now being transformed into hotspots for cafes, bars and restaurants.
A perfect example of all this is Strait Street, a corner in the city which was infamous only due to its sinful past. The street, better known with locals as ‘Strada Stretta’, was the lane where soldiers travelling aboard ships during the wars would spend their nights in the company of local women. The place even became the source for novels and local TV dramas.
Because of this renewed interest, a Valletta which was otherwise left for the ageing local population was now seeing a lot of foreigners and Maltese from all across the island invest in the capital’s property. Whereas up until some years ago a property in Valletta was considered as a cheap and bad investment, now houses on the market in this area can go up to millions of euros. Recently the city has seen huge investment in magnificent boutique hotels, accommodations in old townhouses which were brilliantly restored to offer a unique experience. You can easily find accommodation in Valletta on Booking.com.
What really pushed Valletta into a new era was the complete restructure and modernisation of some of its most iconic buildings such as the Triton Fountain and St Georges Square. The next big investment was in a new parliament. This injection of artistic touch came with a helping hand from a world-famous artistic director Renzo Piano (architect of the Chard in London among others). All of these major attractions (which will be mentioned later on) have helped Valletta take a giant leap forward.
In 2018, Valletta was also named as the European Capital of Culture, yet another huge source of investment into this wonderful city. Today, nights in Valletta are as fun as can be. Dozens of restaurants (we mention some of the best below) fill every corner and artistic activities go on practically all year round. It has become the home of painters, poets and writers, but also the hub for modern bars and restaurants. The old meets the new. Art meets politics and palazzos meet modern apartments. Dear readers, we’d like you to meet our beloved capital, Valletta.
History
One thing which Valletta definitely manages to champion is history. The streets of Valletta have seen a lot of bloodsheds, French grandmasters, religious orders, violent conflicts and revolutions. If you are to visit this city you should equip yourself with, at least the very basics. Let’s start with the name.
Valletta is named after Grandmaster Jean Parisot de la Valette who was the head of the Knights of St John in the mid-1500s. It became Malta’s capital in 1570. The city itself was built right after the great siege of 1565, a battle of legendary proportions which saw the Knights of St John clash with the then infamous Ottoman powers. Malta left the siege victorious and historians today agree that this important point in history would have changed the faith of all of Europe.
The city was designed by military engineer Francesco Laparelli. The epicentre of the city was built on an area called Mount Sciberras. After Laparelli, Giolormo Cassar took over the structural works after spending years in Rome. He adopted the style into the Maltese capital. If you are a history enthusiast then make sure you listen to a BBC podcast called In Our Time about the Great Siege of Malta 1565. You can find it on BBC radio 4 or through Spotify.
In 1798 Malta’s capital was seized by the French. Only two years later the Maltese revolt against the French garrison and that same year the British occupied our land. By 1814, Valletta became a strategic British naval base in the Mediterranean. That is why during the Second World War, the city was heavily bombarded through air raids by the Germans and Italians.
The 7th of June is an important date in the Maltese calendar. On this date in 1919, Maltese workers were demonstrating in the streets of Valletta against the British rule and because the colonial rulers failed to help with supplies of food to the local population. The date remained marked in history because the British invaders had shot at the crowd and killed four people. This event was seen as the first step towards Maltese independence. | |||||
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] | 2023-02-09T15:54:36+00:00 | At the close of the War of Independence the new United States of America gained their freedom from British rule, but also left behind the protection, trade routes and international status that being a British colony permitted in the eighteenth century. They needed to make new alliances, and quickly. | en | Museum of the Order of St John | https://museumstjohn.org.uk/10-minute-talk-and-tea-alliance-across-the-atlantic-relations-between-malta-and-the-early-united-states-of-america/ | I am going to start this article by setting the scene for the political situations in both nations towards the end of the eighteenth century.
The Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John had been granted dominion of the island of Malta in 1530, after having lost their previous base in Rhodes to the Ottoman forces of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1523. This was the gift of Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, for which the Order paid a tributary rent of one falcon a year. This gift was not without strings attached, however, as Malta occupied a vital strategic geographical location in the Mediterranean; positioned between Italy and North Africa at one its narrowest parts, this area was a growing hotbed of conflict in the sixteenth century as Christian forces from Spain and Muslim forces from the Ottoman Empire vied for control. Malta’s position in the Mediterranean gave it the unique ability to disrupt communication between the Ottoman capital of Constantinople (known today as Istanbul) and its North African areas of interest; by inviting the Order of St John to take up residence in the islands the Emperor Charles V was expecting them to play a part in the defence of Spanish Christian interests.
In 1565 an Ottoman force of 25,000 soldiers landed on Malta to challenge the Hospitallers, who had marshalled between 8,000 and 9,000 men to confront them, approximately half of which were recruited from the island’s residents and only around 500 were brother knights or brother sergeant-at-arms. Ottoman forces targeted unreinforced harbourside settlements before sieging Fort St Elmo, which held out for 31 days at the cost of 8,000 Ottoman soldiers and 1,500 defenders, including 120 brother knights. When St Elmo fell the Ottomans assaulted the settlements on all sides for a further six weeks until a force of 12,000 Spanish and Italian reinforcements arrived and drove them away. The Siege of Malta, as it became known, and the Hospitallers’ successful defense against the Ottomans cemented their role and reputation as a powerful bastion in the Mediterranean, a role they would hold for almost another 250 years.
Approximately 9,000 kilometres across the Atlantic, the land we know today as the United States of America had only been known as America for a few years when the Order of St John was granted the Maltese islands. It would not become the United States of America until much later, in 1776 when British colonies in America declared their War of Independence to escape from British rule. The new name was codified in their newly-drafted Articles of Confederation, which was ratified by the original thirteen states. At the close of the War of Independence the new United States of America gained their freedom from British rule, but also left behind the protection, trade routes and international status that being a British colony permitted in the eighteenth century. They needed to make new alliances, and quickly.
Even before the United States of America came into existence there had been a connection between it and Malta, albeit an unusual one. In 1752 the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, based in the state’s largest town of Philadelphia, commissioned a new bell for the Pennsylvania State House from a London-based company. However, on its arrival in Philadelphia the bell cracked after its first ringing and was recast twice by locally-based foundry workmen John Pass and John Stow, whose surnames were also cast on the bell in recognition of their work. We know from contemporary records that John Pass was not a Pennsylvania native but instead had emigrated from Malta a few years previously where he had benefited from its tradition of bell-casting. This coincidental involvement gave the island its connection to what we now know today as the Liberty Bell, an American cultural symbol which rang the day the Declaration of Independence was read.
The first formal communique between the new United States of America and Malta came in 1783; Benjamin Franklin, then Commissioner for the United States of America in France, sent a copy of the newly-struck medal ‘Americana Libertas’ in silver to the Hospitaller Grand Master Rohan, accompanied by a letter requesting protection for American citizens passing through Maltese ports. In a return letter Grand Master Rohan accepted this request and complimented the medal thusly: “This monument of American liberty has a distinguished place in my cabinet”. Despite this warm response there were no further discussions of formal relations between Malta and the USA for over a decade. Unfortunate, as the Order’s fortunes would soon change, and use of their ports would be a vital American concern but a few years later.
In 1798 the Order of St John under Grand Master Hompesch surrendered Malta to the French forces under Napoleon, after originally refusing to allow his Egypt-bound expeditionary fleet into Maltese ports, which prompted an armed response. The Order’s popularity amongst the people of Malta had been declining for some time so when the French took control there was initially some hope of improvement, however this was soon disproved as the French garrison began to forcibly close convents and seize valuable treasures of the church. The people rebelled and the garrison retreated to the fortified capital city Valletta, which the Maltese people took with the aid of the British navy. The French garrison surrendered in 1800, at which point the Maltese people elected to become part of the British Empire as a protectorate.
Malta was one of the first countries in the world to have a consular officer representing the United States of America. The Americans shared their first consul for Malta with Britain, a gentleman named Mr William England who was in post from 1796 throughout the French occupation until the British took full control of Malta and nearby Gozo in 1801. The Americans’ subsequent choice of consul was a Maltese gentleman named Joseph Pulis, who solely represented American interests and kept a regular correspondence with the US State Department. These reports covered a variety of topics, including:
– Keeping track of the movements of Barbary corsairs with the scope of alerting the various consuls of the United States in the Mediterranean to warn American ships touching their ports
– Sending lists of American ships making use of Maltese harbours with notes about their cargoes and destination
– Movements of British troops and ships around Malta
– Arrivals and departures of prominent people, including Lord Nelson
– Looking after the needs of the captains and crews of American ships in Maltese harbours, including the supply of money and provisions
– Planning for the return to the USA of shipwrecked American crews and distressed sailors
The first major test of the relationship between the United States of America and Malta, a former British colony and a newly British protectorate, came in 1801, but it had its roots many years earlier. Corsairs from the Barbary coast in North Africa had routinely attacked ships in the Mediterranean from Britain, France, Venice and Genoa since 1492. From its pivotal base of Malta, the Order of St John was one of several maritime powers who tried to combat the corsairs. Eventually a compromise was reached by Britain and other maritime states to pay an annual tribute to protect their ships from attack. After the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 the USA lost the protection of the British flag, so instead entered into an agreement with France in 1778 to ensure the safety of American ships, but this was met with limited success in evading the corsairs’ depredations. By 1784 the United States Congress had agreed to protect its shipping by also making tribute payments.
In 1801 the Pasha of Tripoli insisted on a higher rate of tribute and threatened war against any who refused to accept. The United States of America resolved not to submit to the increased payments so Tripoli declared war on the USA on 10th May 1801, beginning the Tripolitan War which would last until 1805. The United States of America is well over 4,000 miles away from Tripoli, so the American navy were heavily reliant on their good relationship with Malta, itself already a 48-day voyage by boat from the eastern seaboard of the United States. The navy made significant use of Malta’s ports throughout the conflict, as a place to berth ships, get supplies and find medical assistance where needed.
The Tripolitan War was an early event in the storied career of American naval hero Stephen Decatur, although his reputation in Malta was much poorer due to his propensity for dueling – which would eventually result in his death in 1820. In 1803 Decatur was serving aboard the New York which was one of several frigates the USA had sent to fight in the Tripolitan War. While the frigate was docked in Malta to wait out bad weather, crew members of the New York argued with some men from the British Navy and American midshipman Joseph Bainbridge hit a British officer, who challenged him to a duel. As Bainbridge was a poor duelist Decatur stepped in as his second and pushed for the use of pistols instead of blades. Ultimately the English officer was fatally shot, and the Maltese Courts of Law issued a command for Decatur and Bainbridge to surrender themselves for trial, however the Americans fled the island and Decatur went back to the United States for several months.
Decatur would soon have the opportunity to repair his reputation, as he returned to Malta later in 1803 to take command of the Enterprise just in time for one of the war’s most famous events. The Philadelphia ran aground a few miles from Tripoli while chasing a corsair ship, the American crew were rapidly surrounded and forced to surrender, giving the Tripolitan forces 400 prisoners. The corsairs succeeded in refloating the frigate and bringing it to Tripoli, which is when Decatur hatched his daring plan, making use of a captured Tripolitan ship renamed the Intrepid. Decatur and 80 volunteers, mostly US Marines, disguised themselves as Maltese sailors flying under British colours and travelled to Tripoli harbour in the Intrepid. They snuck onboard the Philadelphia, quickly overpowered the few corsairs keeping guard and, with the frigate not sufficiently seaworthy to return to Malta, set it on fire so it could not be used against them. This unorthodox, and ultimately successful, mission made Decatur an instant hero back in the US and garnered praise even amongst the Maltese people. Decatur used this tactic again later in 1804, once again secretly sailing the Intrepid into the harbour and exploding it to devastating effect, an act that ultimately led to the Pasha of Tripoli signing a peace treaty with the United States in 1805.
In just a few years the United States of America had gone from a fledgling nation to successfully conducting international warfare, gaining recognition from such diverse luminaries of the day as Admiral Horatio Nelson and Pope Pius VII. This rapid ascension would not have been possible without its connection to Malta, a vital Mediterranean base from which to establish relationships with other nations and prosecute a war against a distant foe. | |||||
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] | null | [] | 2004-10-23T00:00:00 | en | /favicon.ico | null | Malta, an independent republic, consists of a small group of islands—Malta, Gozo, Kemmuna, Kemmunett, and Filfla—located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily, with a total area of 316 square kilometers. The capital and leading port of the country is Valletta, which appears as a gray patch around the two deep inlets on Malta’s northern coastline. About 400,000 people live on this island nation. The islands of Malta consist of low-lying coralline limestone plateaus surrounded by impermeable clay slopes. The highest point is 239 meters above sea level.
The many ancient monuments and remains on Malta attest to the great age of its civilization. Remains from Stone Age and Bronze Age peoples have been found in subterranean burial chambers. The islands became a Phoenician colony about 1000 B.C. They were later occupied by the Greeks, who called the colony Melita, and later the islands passed successively into the possession of Carthage and Rome. The islands were occupied by Arabs in 870 A.D. A Norman army conquered the Maltese Arabs in 1090, and Malta was later made a feudal fief of the kingdom of Sicily. In 1530 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V granted Malta to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, who ruled the islands until the 19th century. In 1798 Napoleon invaded and occupied the islands during his Egyptian campaign. Unwilling to be ruled by France, the Maltese appealed to Britain, and in 1799 British naval officer Horatio Nelson besieged Valletta and compelled the withdrawal of the French. In 1814 Malta became part of the British Empire as a crown colony.
This natural-color image was acquired on July 29, 2001, by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite. | ||||||
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] | 2013-04-12T23:22:48+00:00 | en | /static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_occupation_of_Malta | 1798–1800 military occupation
The French occupation of Malta lasted from 1798 to 1800. It was established when the Order of Saint John surrendered to Napoleon Bonaparte following the French landing in June 1798. In Malta, the French established a constitutional tradition in Maltese history (as part of the French Republic), granted free education for all,[2] and theoretically established freedom of the press, although only the pro-French newspaper Journal de Malte was actually published during the occupation.[3]
The French abolished nobility, slavery, the feudal system, and the inquisition.[4] The only remaining architectural reminder of the French occupation is probably the defacement of most coats of arms on the façades of buildings of the knights.[5] The Maltese soon rebelled against the French and drove the French garrison into Valletta and the Grand Harbour fortifications where they were besieged for more than two years. The French surrendered Malta when their food supplies were about to run out.[6]
French invasion of Malta
[edit]
Further information: French invasion of Malta
On 19 May 1798, a French fleet sailed from Toulon, escorting an expeditionary force of over 30,000 men under General Napoleon Bonaparte. The force was destined for Egypt, Bonaparte seeking to expand French influence in Asia and force Britain to make peace in the French Revolutionary Wars, which had begun in 1792. Sailing southeast, the convoy collected additional transports from Italian ports and at 05:30 on 9 June arrived off Valletta. At this time, Malta and its neighbouring islands were ruled by the Order of Saint John, an old and influential feudal order that Holy Roman Empire's Frederick Barbarossa had pledged his protection to. The Order was weakened by the loss of most of their revenue during the French Revolution. Nevertheless Grandmaster Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, refused Bonaparte's demand that his entire convoy be allowed to enter Grand Harbour and take on supplies, insisting that Malta's neutrality meant that only two ships could enter at a time.
On receiving this reply, Bonaparte immediately ordered his fleet to bombard Valletta and, on 11 June, General Louis Baraguey d'Hilliers directed an amphibious operation in which several thousand soldiers landed at seven strategic sites around the island. Many of the French Knights deserted the order (although some fought for it valiantly), and the remaining Knights failed to mount a meaningful resistance. Approximately 2,000 native Maltese militia resisted for 24 hours, retreating to Valletta once the city of Mdina fell to General Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois. Although Valletta was strong enough to hold out against a lengthy siege, Bonaparte negotiated a surrender with Hompesch, who agreed to turn Malta and all of its resources over to the French in exchange for estates and pensions in France for himself and his knights. Bonaparte then established a French garrison on the islands, leaving 4,000 men under Vaubois while he and the rest of the expeditionary force sailed eastwards for Alexandria on 19 June.
Reforms
[edit]
During Napoleon's short stay in Malta, he stayed in Palazzo Parisio in Valletta (currently used as the Ministry for Foreign Affairs). He implemented a number of reforms which were based on the principles of the French Revolution. These reforms could be divided into four main categories:
Social
[edit]
The people of Malta were granted equality before the law, and they were regarded as French citizens. The Maltese nobility was abolished, and slaves were freed. Napoleon decided to set up a government ruled by 5 Maltese people that would govern Malta. Freedom of speech and the press were granted, although the only newspaper was Journal de Malte, which was published by the government. Political prisoners including Mikiel Anton Vassalli and those who took part in the Rising of the Priests were released, while the Jewish population was given permission to build a synagogue.[7]
Administrative
[edit]
All of the Order's property was surrendered to the French Government. A Commission of Government was set up to rule the islands, and it was made up of the following people:[2]
Office Officeholder
Commission de gouvernement
Military Governor Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois Commissioner Michel-Louis-Étienne Regnaud President of the Civil Commission Jean de Bosredon de Ransijat Secretary to the Commissioner Coretterie Member Don Francesco Saverio Caruana (Canon of the Mdina Cathedral) Baron Jean-François Dorell (juror of the university) Dr. Vincenzo Caruana (secretary of the archbishop and president of the court) Cristoforo Frendo (notary) Benedetto Schembri (magistrate) Paolo Ciantar (merchant) Carlo Astor
Commission des domaines
Member Martthieu Poussielgue Jean-André Caruson Robert Roussel
Moreover, Malta was divided into cantons and municipalities. Each was run by a president, secretary and four members:[2]
A National Guard was also set up, with 900 men.[7][2]
Educational
[edit]
Primary schools were to be set up in the main towns and villages, while 60 students were to be allowed to study in France. The University of Malta was to be renamed Polytecnique, and scientific subjects were to be taught there. However, none of these reforms were actually implemented due to the short duration of French rule.[7]
Church-State relations
[edit]
The church's extensive property on Malta was taken over by the Government, and religious orders were only allowed to keep one convent each. The Inquisition was also abolished, and the last inquisitor was expelled from the islands.[7]
Later on, French troops began to loot church property, and this was one of the main reasons for the Maltese uprising.[8]
Maltese uprising
[edit]
The French rapidly dismantled the institutions of the Knights of St. John, including the Roman Catholic Church, and the Maltese people were not happy about this. There were economic problems and the French government did not pay wages or pensions anymore, and began taking gold and silver from banks and palaces of the Order.
Church property was looted and seized to pay for the expedition to Egypt, an act that generated considerable anger among the deeply religious Maltese population. On 2 September, this anger erupted in a popular uprising during an auction of church property, and within days thousands of Maltese irregulars had driven the French garrison into Valletta and the Harbour area. Valletta was surrounded by approximately 10,000 irregular Maltese soldiers led by Emmanuele Vitale and Canon Francesco Saverio Caruana, but the fortress was too strong for the irregulars to assault. The Maltese built siege fortifications surrounding the harbour area to bombard French positions.[9]
Help from Britain arrived later in the year and, in 1799, Captain Alexander Ball was appointed Civil Commissioner of Malta. The French garrison in Valletta finally surrendered to the British on 5 September 1800, and were taken to Toulon aboard British ships, with Malta becoming a British protectorate.[7][2]
Gozo
[edit]
Main article: Gozo (independent state)
On 28 October 1798, Ball successfully completed negotiations with the French garrison on the small island of Gozo, the 217 French soldiers there agreeing to surrender without a fight and transferring the island to the British. The British transferred the island to the locals that day, and it was administered by Archpriest Saverio Cassar on behalf of Ferdinand III of Sicily. Gozo remained independent until Cassar was removed from power by the British in 1801.[10]
Further reading
[edit]
Frendo, Henry (December 1998). "The French in Malta 1798 - 1800 : reflections on an insurrection". Cahiers de la Méditerranée. 57 (1). University of Malta: 143–151. doi:10.3406/camed.1998.1231. ISSN 1773-0201. | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 93 | https://thecompassandkey.com/malta/valletta | en | Malta Walking Tour: Valletta — Compass & Key | [
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Founded after the crusades in 1099 to care for sick and injured pilgrims, the religious military Order of Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem played a significant role in shaping Malta. This itinerary takes you to Valletta, the city founded by the Order in 1566 and today, Malta's cosmopolitan center.
As a 2018 European Capital of Culture, Valletta offers a thriving cultural scene with vibrant festivals, contemporary art, noteworthy dining, and so much more.
The Order of St. John arrived in Malta in 1522 needing a new home after Ottoman Turks captured Rhodes, where they had thrived for 200 years. After warding off the Ottomans once again in 1565, the Knights began building their capital city. Napoleon drove the Order out of Malta in 1798, and subsequently they set up headquarters in Rome, where they remained. But the Knights' impact on Valletta can be seen throughout the city to this day.
GUIDES ON THE GO
Take this Compass & Key walking tour with you by following @compassandkey on Mapstr, an app that lets you create a personal map with all of your favorite places, anywhere in the world. Learn more in our Mapstr review.
You can also download a PDF of the guide below to save it to your mobile device or print it out on standard letter-size paper. | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 67 | http://www.mdcourts.gov/reference/glossary | en | Glossary of Court Terms | http://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/favicon.png | http://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/favicon.png | [
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ABA Plea -- A guilty plea based on an agreement patterned on standards recommended by the American Bar Association (ABA); the defendant and the State present to the court, on the record, an agreement that incorporates a specific sentence bound by the terms relating to sentence and disposition.
Abated by Death -- The disposition of a charge due to death of the defendant.
Absconding Debtor -- A person who leaves a jurisdiction purposefully to avoid legal process.
Accommodations -- Assistance with special needs and interpreters.
Accomplice -- A person who knowingly and willingly assists the principal offender in the commission of a crime.
Accused -- The person against whom an accusation is made.
Acquittal -- The finding of a judge that the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction, or a verdict that the accused is not guilty.
Action -- All the steps by which a party seeks to enforce any right in a court or all the steps of a criminal prosecution.
ADA -- A Federal law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities (Americans with Disabilities Act).
Adjudication -- A judgment or decision of a court or jury regarding a case.
Admission -- The voluntary acknowledgement of the existence of fact facts relevant to an adversary’s case. (Compare Confession)
Affiant -- The person who makes and signs an affidavit.
Affidavit -- A written statement the contents of which are affirmed to be true under the penalties of perjury.
Affirm -- Alternate procedure to swearing under an oath.
Affirmed (Judgment) -- A decision by an appellate court finding that the judgment of a lower court is correct and should stand.
Alias (“Otherwise called”) -- indicating one was called by one or the other of two names.
Alleged -- Claimed; asserted; charged.
Alford Plea -- A special type of guilty plea by which the defendant does not admit guilt but concedes that the State has sufficient evidence to convict; normally made to avoid the threat of greater punishment.
Amend -- To change.
Appeal -- The review of a case in a court of higher jurisdiction.
Appeal Bond -- A type of bond set by the court and filed by the appellant until the cause can be passed upon and disposed of by the superior court. The purpose of this bond is to assure that the appellant will prosecute his appeal and will appear in court.
Appearance -- A coming into the court in person or by filing a paper, as plaintiff, defendant, or legal representative.
Appellant -- The party who takes an appeal from one court to another.
Appellate Court -- A court having jurisdiction to review the judgment or order of a lower court.
Appellate Court of Maryland -- Maryland’s intermediate appellate court wherein review is ordinarily a matter of right.
Appellee -- A party against whom an appeal is taken.
Arraignment -- The procedure whereby the accused is brought before the court to plead to the criminal charge in the indictment or information.
Arrest -- To deprive a person of his liberty by legal authority.
Attachment -- The process of apprehending a person (as in a body attachment) or seizing property to satisfy a judgment.
Attorney Information System (AIS) - Centralized Judiciary database for Attorney Information
Attorney of Record -- An attorney who represents a party and has entered an appearance in an action. (See: Counsel)
B
Bail -- A sum of money or other form of security given to the court in exchange for the release of the accused from custody and to guarantee that the accused will appear in court.
Bail Bond -- A written obligation of a defendant, with or without a surety or collateral security, conditioned on the appearance of a defendant as required and providing for the payment of a penalty sum according to its terms; includes a surety bond posted by a surety insurer or bail bondsman and backed by the insurer’s pledge; a cash bond secured by deposited cash; a property bond secured by pledged personal property or a lien on real property; and/or an unsecured bond.
Bail Bond Forfeiture -- The failure to satisfy the condition of the bond, namely the appearance in court as required, causing the full penalty amount to become due.
Bail Bondsman -- The authorized agent of a surety insurer.
Battery -- The unlawful application of physical force to, or offensive touching of, another without the individual’s consent.
Bench -- The body of judges composing a court.
Bench Warrant -- A warrant issued by a judge for the arrest of a defendant for failure to appear in court as required.
Bifurcate -- To try issues separately, such as criminal responsibility and guilt in a criminal proceeding and liability and damages in a civil action.
Bill of Particulars -- A demand by a defendant in writing, unless otherwise ordered by the court, seeking specific factual details about a civil complaint or criminal charge; in a criminal case, the purpose of the bill of particulars is to guard against the taking of an accused by surprise by limiting the scope of the proof.
Body Attachment -- A written order issued by a court directing a sheriff or peace officer to take custody of and bring before the court:
1. A witness who fails to comply with a subpoena.
2. A party who fails to comply with a court order in a civil action.
3. A material witness in a criminal case.
Burden of Proof -- The necessity of proving facts at issue in Maryland, the criminal burden of proof is “beyond a reasonable doubt”; the civil burden of proof is “by a preponderance of the evidence,” or sometimes “by clear and convincing evidence.”
C
Capital Case -- A criminal case in which the allowable punishment includes death.
Case Law -- Decisions of federal and state courts interpreting and applying laws in specific fact situations; opinions are reported in various volumes.
Central Repository -- The Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
Cepi -- I have taken; the return on a warrant indicating that the defendant has been arrested.
Certified Copy -- A copy of a document or record that is certified by the official custodian of the original as a true copy.
Certified Mail -- Mail deposited with the US Postal Service, with postage prepaid and return receipt requested.
Certiorari (writ of) (Trans: to be more fully informed) -- The process by which an appellate court calls for the records of a case from a lower court for review.
Change of Venue -- The transfer or removal of a civil or criminal case from one judicial district to another. (Compare Removal)
Charging Document -- A written accusation alleging that a defendant has committed an offense, including a citation, an indictment, an information, and or a statement of charges.
Circuit -- A geographical area including one or more counties over which the court’s jurisdiction or a judge’s representation extends; under Article IV, Sections 14 and 19 of the Constitution of Maryland, there are six appellate circuits in Maryland and eight trial level circuits.
Circuit Court -- A trial court of general jurisdiction.
Citation -- A charging document, other than an indictment, information, or statement of charges, issued to a defendant by a peace officer or other person authorized by law to do so.
Clerk -- An officer of the court who maintains case files, makes docket entries, issues process, and generally serves as the ministerial arm of the court.
Co-defendant -- One of multiple persons named in the same civil complaint or charged in the same criminal charging document.
Collateral Security -- Any property or money pledged or given to guarantee bail.
Commitment Order -- A court order directing that a person be kept in custody, usually in a penal or mental facility.
Common Law -- That body of law that was originated in England and was brought to the United States.
Complaint, Criminal -- A charge brought before a judicial officer that a person named has committed a specified offense.
Concurrent Sentences -- Upon conviction of multiple counts/charges in one or more cases, sentences must be served at the same time, rather than one after the other (see: consecutive sentence).
Confessed Judgment -- An action seeking final judgment based upon a person agreeing, in advance, to the entry of judgment against them upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, such as making a payment.
Confession -- A statement by an individual, either oral or written, admitting that he or she committed a certain offense. (Compare admission)
Confidential Record -- An official record of which a statute prohibits public review, such as presentence investigation reports. (Compare Public, Sealed, or Shielded Records)
Consecutive Sentences -- Upon conviction of multiple counts/charges in one or more cases, sentences must be served one after the other, rather than at the same time (see: concurrent sentence).
Contempt, Civil -- Noncompliance with a court order or rule that affects another person; punishment is administered to compel compliance.
Contempt of Court -- Failure to obey a court order. A disregard of, or disobedience to, the rules or orders of a judicial body or an interruption of its proceedings by disorderly behavior or insolent language.
Continuance -- A postponement.
Contract --A written or verbal agreement for the exchange of goods or services between at least two parties.
Conviction -- The determination of guilt based on a plea, a jury verdict, or a finding of a judge.
Costs -- Fees and charges required by law to be paid to the court, the amount of which is fixed by statute or court rule.
Counsel -- A person who is admitted to practice in a court of law and gives legal advice. (See: Attorney of Record)
Count -- A separate charge in a charging document or separate cause of action in a civil complaint.
Counter Complaint -- A claim filed by a defendant in a civil case against the plaintiff.
Court -- Judge or body of judges whose task is to hear cases and administer justice.
Court Order -- A command or mandatory direction of a judge which is made during a case. Also includes a command of the judge which established courtroom or administrative procedures.
Court Records -- All official records maintained by the clerk or other personnel pertaining to any criminal action or proceeding for expungement, including indices, docket entries charging documents, pleadings, memoranda, assignment schedules, disposition sheets, transcriptions of proceedings, electronic recordings, orders, judgments, and decrees. Not included are records pertaining to nonincarcerable violations of the Maryland vehicle laws or other traffic law, ordinance, or regulation, published opinions of the Court, cash receipt and disbursement records necessary for audit purposes; or a Court reporter’s transcript of proceedings involving multiple defendants.
Crime -- A positive or negative act in violation of penal law; an offense against the state classified either as a felony or misdemeanor.
Crimes of Violence -- Maryland Law provides a definition for Crimes of Violence as they relate to mandatory sentences in certain crimes and crimes of violence relating to pistols and revolvers.
Cross Claim -- A claim asserted between co-defendants or co-plaintiffs and in a case that relates to the subject of the original claim or counterclaim. A claim by one party against a co-party.
Cross-examination -- Examination of one party’s witness by the other party.
Custodia Legis -- In the custody of the law; property that has been lawfully taken, by authority of legal process, and remains in the possession of a public officer or an officer of a court empowered by law to hold the property.
Custody -- The detainment of a person by virtue of lawful process or authority; actual imprisonment.
Custody Case -- The type of proceeding in which the court determines which parent, other adult, or agency shall have physical control over a child.
D
Default -- The failure to appear, to defend, or to follow proper procedure in a lawsuit.
Defendant -- The person against whom a suit is filed, or in a criminal action, who has been charged with a violation of the law or criminal wrong doing.
De Novo Appeal (Trans: for new) -- An appeal from a District Court to a circuit court for a new trial at which new evidence may be presented and new determinations are made. All criminal traffic charges are heard de novo in the circuit court.
Deposition -- Pretrial examination of a witness on written or oral questions answered under oath, used to discover the witness’ testimony in preparation for trial, and admissible at trial in lieu of live testimony if the witness is unavailable or refused to testify.
Detinue -- An action for the value of goods. If in a replevin action it is not possible to repossess the goods, the action will roll over into detinue.
Discovery -- Procedures used to obtain the disclosure of evidence before trial, such as: depositions, by oral examination or written questions; written interrogatories; requests for production or inspection of documents; orders for mental or physical examinations; and requests for admissions of fact and genuineness of documents.
Dismissal -- Rules provide for both voluntary and involuntary dismissals. Upon entry of a dismissal, except a dismissal without prejudice, the matter has effectively ended.
Disposition -- Determination of the final arrangement or settlement of a case following judgment.
Distress or Distraint -- Seizure; taking personal property out of the custody of a wrongdoer and into the custody of the party injured; for example, distress is a remedy for failure to pay rent.
District Court -- Lowest State trial court; a court of limited jurisdiction.
Docket -- A list of the cases to be heard in the court; or a formal record of court’s activity.
Docket Number -- Case number; the designation assigned to each case filed in a particular court.
E
Ecitation -- The electronic version of the MD Uniform Complaint and Citation (traffic citation). Citations are entered in the issuing officer's patrol car and a copy is given to the violator.
Electronic Surveillance -- Court-authorized interception by use of an electronic device of wire or oral communications; wiretapping; eavesdropping.
Emergency Evaluation -- Petition filed for issuance of an order by someone other than the subject for an emergency mental and/or physical evaluation that could result in involuntary admission to a facility.
Emergency Family Maintenance -- A monetary award that can be ordered by the court in a domestic violence case when the respondent has a duty to support his/her spouse and/or children.
Enforcement -- Action taken to obtain compliance with a court order.
Escrow -- The placing of money, a deed, or real property in the hands of a third party to be held until the performance of a condition.
Eviction -- Action taken to legally dispossess a person of land or property.
Evidence -- All the means by which a matter of fact, the truth of which is submitted for investigation, is established or disproved.
Examination in Aid of Enforcement of Judgment -- A request by plaintiff (judgment creditor) to discover the assets of a defendant (judgment debtor) after entry of judgment. (Also known as an Oral Examination; formally known as Supplementary Proceeding in aid of enforcement of judgment.) A person may not be compelled to appear in person for an examination or to answer interrogatories in order to enforce a money judgment resulting from a small claims action (amount sued for was $5,000 or less, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney’s fees).
Exception -- A formal objection to an action of the court during trial, evidencing the objecting party’s disagreement with the court’s ruling and preserving the matter for review on appeal.
Execution -- A method of obtaining satisfaction of a judgment.
Exclusive Jurisdiction -- Jurisdiction held by only one court over the type of case. (Compare Concurrent Jurisdiction)
Exhibits -- Documents and other tangible things that are attached to a pleading or offered as evidence in a case, after being marked for identification.
Ex Parte -- On one side only, by or for one party; done for, in behalf of, or on the application of, one party only.
Expungement -- The effective removal of police and/or court record from public inspection.
Extradition -- The surrender by one state to another of an individual accused or convicted of an offense outside its own territory and within the territorial jurisdiction of the other which, being competent to try and punish him, demands the surrender.
F
Felony -- A serious criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or death.
Finding -- A determination of fact by a judicial officer or jury.
Fine -- A sum of money a person must pay as punishment because of an illegal act or omission.
Forfeiture -- The loss of money or property or rights to property by failing to perform a condition or obligation required by the law or court without compensation to the owner.
G
Garnishee -- A person holding the property or assets of a judgment debtor.
Grand Jury -- A jury composed of 23 persons who receive evidence and determine if that evidence is sufficient for a criminal indictment.
Guide & File -- Tool developed by the Maryland Courts to help you complete court forms online. The application guides you through a series of questions called an "interview." This free program copies your interview answers directly into your court form exactly as you enter it. When you're done, the program automatically generates your completed forms, along with detailed instructions on what to do next.
Guilty -- The word used by an accused in pleading to the charges when he confesses to committing the crime of which he is charged. It is also used by the judge if he finds that the accused committed a criminal offense or a traffic infraction.
H
Habeas Corpus (Trans: you have the body) -- A writ which brings a person before a court.
Hearsay -- Evidence offered by a witness based on what others have said.
Hicks Waiver -- Waiver of the defendant’s right to a speedy trial, which is 180 days from the defendant’s initial appearance, in person or by attorney.
Hospital Warrant -- In accordance with Health-General Article 12-120, a warrant issued by the court where a determination that probable cause exists that the named defendant has violated a conditional release under Title 12 of the Health-General Article.
I
Immunity from Prosecution -- Protection from prosecution in exchange for testimony that might not otherwise by forthcoming.
In Banc Review -- A review of the trial court’s rulings or judgment by a panel of three circuit court judges.
In Camera -- In chambers; in private.
Incarceration -- Imprisonment; confinement in a jail or penitentiary.
Incompetency -- Lack of capacity to understand the nature and object of the proceedings, to consult with counsel, and to assist in preparing a defense.
Indictment -- A charging document returned by a grand jury and filed in a circuit court.
Indigent -- A person who is unable to afford the expense of a private counsel, payment of fines, and other related costs.
Information -- A charging document filed in a court by a State’s Attorney.
Infraction (Civil) -- A violation of a statute, ordinance, or regulation for which the only penalty authorized is a civil fine.
In Forma Pauperis -- Frequently used by inmates filing papers to seek waiver of prepayment of filing fees in State courts.
Initial Appearance -- The procedure by which an arrested defendant is promptly brought before a judicial officer who advises the defendant of the charges against him, his right to counsel, and his first day to appear in court and establishes conditions of pre-trial release. It also includes a probable cause determination on a warrantless arrest and advice of preliminary hearing in felony cases.
In Propria Persona -- in one’s own proper person; a party choosing to represent himself or herself without the benefit of an attorney; pro se.
Insanity Plea -- A claim that the defendant lacks the soundness of mind required by law to accept responsibility for a criminal act.
Interrogatories -- A set of written questions for the purpose of discovery. A person may not be compelled to appear in person for an examination or to answer interrogatories in order to enforce a money judgment resulting from a small claims action (amount sued for was $5,000 or less, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney’s fees).
Interstate Detainer -- An arrest warrant issued on a charging document in another state and lodged with a correctional institution in Maryland in which the defendant is already detained to ensure continued detention of the defendant until delivered to the custody of the other state for prosecution on the pending charges.
Intrastate Detainer -- An arrest warrant issued on a charging document in Maryland and lodged with a correctional institution in Maryland in which the defendant is already in custody for the same or another offense to ensure continued detention of the defendant until processed on the charges underlying the warrant.
J
Jointly and Severally -- Acting together and separately; anyone so liable can sue or be sued with or without others joining in the action.
Judge -- Can be a judge of any court in this state, but most often will be a judge of the court which issued the documents you have before you, or a judge of the court having jurisdiction over the matter before you.
Judgment -- The final order of the court; in a criminal case, the conviction and sentence constitute the judgment, so there is no judgment until sentence is imposed.
Judgment of Acquittal -- A judgment entered by the court upon a determination that the State’s evidence is insufficient to support a conviction and, thus insufficient to go to the jury.
Judicial Officer -- A judge or a District Court commissioner.
Jurisdiction -- Authority by which courts receive and decide cases.
Appellate Jurisdiction -- the authority that a higher court has to review cases decided in a lower court; the Supreme Court of Maryland, Appellate Court of Maryland, and circuit courts have appellate jurisdiction.
General Jurisdiction -- the unlimited authority over cases brought before the court to decide rights and grant remedies available under the law; circuit courts are courts of general jurisdiction.
Limited Jurisdiction -- the authority over only particular types of cases, or cases under a prescribed amount in controversy, or seeking only certain types of relief, the District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction.
Jury -- A group of 12 citizens assembled to hear evidence at trial and make a unanimous decision as to guilt or innocence beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jury Trial Prayer -- A case that was originally filed in the District Court, but for which a trial by jury in the Circuit Court is requested.
L
Landlord’s Complaint for failure to pay rent -- An action for the recovery of possession of real property.
Law Enforcement Unit -- A State, county, or municipal police department or unit, the office of a Sheriff, the office of a State’s Attorney, or the office of the Attorney General of the State.
Lesser Included Offense -- A crime composed of some, but not all, of the elements of a greater crime; commission of the greater crime automatically includes commission of the lesser included offense.
Levy -- A setting aside of the defendant’s property made by the sheriff or constable; this property is placed in custody of law.
Lien -- A claim upon the real property of another for some debt; the property remains in the defendant’s possession.
Line (Praecipe) (Trans: command) -- A written request by an attorney entering his/her appearance, for the client before the court.
Litigant -- A party to a lawsuit; one engaged in litigation.
M
Mandamus -- A court order compelling an individual to fulfill an official ministerial duty.
Mandate -- The judgment issued upon the decision of an appellate court.
Marital Property -- The property, however titled, acquired by one or both parties during the marriage. Note: Marital Property does not include property acquired before the marriage; acquired by inheritance or gift from a third party; excluded by valid agreement; acquired during the period that the parties voluntarily lived separate and apart without cohabitation and without interruption; directly traceable to any of these sources.
Mediation -- A form of alternative dispute resolution in which a trained neutral person, a mediator, helps people in a dispute to communicate with one another, understand each other, and if possible, reach agreements that meet the participants’ needs.
Merged -- The absorption of a lesser included offense into a more serious offense.
Merits -- Strict legal rights of the parties; a decision “on the merits” is one that reaches the right(s) of a party as distinguished from a disposition of the case on a ground not reaching the rights raised in the action; for example, in a criminal case double jeopardy does not apply if charges are nolle prossed before trial commences, and in a civil action res judicata does not apply if a previous action was dismissed on a preliminary motion raising a technicality such as improper service of process.
Microfilm -- A photographic record on film of printed or other graphic matter.
Minor -- An individual under the age of 18 (eighteen) years.
Miranda Warning -- A requirement based on a United States Supreme Court decision that a person be advised of certain constitutional rights against self-incrimination at the time of arrest and before questioning.
Misdemeanor -- A minor criminal offense (other than a felony or an infraction) punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both.
Mistrial -- A trial that has been terminated and declared void due to prejudicial error in the proceedings or other extraordinary circumstances.
Modification -- (a change or alteration) An order changing the terms of a prior order of the Court. Modifications can be ordered in open and closed cases. (Also known as Reconsideration)
Moot -- Issue previously decided or settled. Of no practical importance. Non-issue.
Motion -- A request to a court by one or more of the parties for a specific action in a case.
N
Nolle Prosequi (Nol Pros) (Trans: to be unwilling to proceed) -- A formal motion in a case by the State’s Attorney, indicating that the charges will not be prosecuted.
Nolo Contendere (Trans: “I will not contest it.”) -- The name of a plea in a criminal action having the same legal effect as a plea of guilty so far as regards all proceedings in the case and on which the defendant may be sentenced.
Non Est (Inventus) (Trans: not to be found) -- the sheriff’s return of process when service is not made because the person was not found.
Notice of Release -- A written request for expungement of police records.
Nuisance -- An action that interferes with the use of property by being irritating, offensive, obstructive or dangerous.
Nulla Bona -- No goods; a return to a writ of execution when no goods of the defendant are found to levy.
Nunc Pro Tunc -- Now for then; phrase used when an order is issued on one date but is effective as if issued on an earlier date when it should have been issued.
O
Offense -- A violation of the criminal laws of this State or any political subdivision thereof.
Opinion -- The statement of the court’s decision in a case, setting out the reasons for the decision.
Oral Examination -- A request by plaintiff (judgment creditor) to discover the assets of a defendant (judgment debtor) after entry of judgment. (Also known as Examination in Aid of Enforcement of Judgment; formally known as Supplementary Proceeding in aid of enforcement of judgment.)
Order -- A ruling of the court, on a motion, objection, or other matter relating to a preliminary point or some step in the proceedings.
Ordinance -- The enactments of the legislative body of a local government.
Original Jurisdiction -- Jurisdiction of the first court to hear a case.
P
Pardon -- Relief from a conviction (full pardon) or from any further punishment imposed by a conviction (particular pardon) granted by an executive official (governor or president).
Parole -- A conditional release from imprisonment by a parole board that entitles the defendant to serve the remainder of the sentence outside of the prison as long as all of the conditions of release are met. (Compare Probation).
Peace Officer -- A person charged with the duty to enforce and preserve the public peace. (See: Huger v. State, 285 Md. 347, 353.)
Peace Order -- An emergency form of relief or an order available to individuals who are experiencing problems with another person, including someone in a dating relationship, a neighbor, or a stranger.
Pending -- Cases that are awaiting further action.
Person -- Any individual, partnership, joint stock company, unincorporated association or society, municipal or other corporation, the State, its agencies or political subdivisions, or any other governmental entity.
Petitioner -- The person requesting the court's help.
Petition for Expungement -- A written request for expungement of Court and police records.
Petty Offense -- An offense the penalty for which does not exceed imprisonment for a period of three months or a fine of five hundred dollars.
Plaintiff -- A complaining party in a civil action.
Plea -- The defendant’s formal answer to criminal charges. Typically defendants enter one of the following pleas: guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere.
Plea Agreement -- Agreement between the prosecutor and the defendant to exchange a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for reduction in the charge(s) or leniency in sentencing.
Pleadings -- The formal allegations by the parties of their respective claims and defenses for the judgment of the court; in criminal matters, this includes a charging document.
Police Record -- All official records that a law enforcement unit, booking facility, or the Central Repository maintains about the arrest and detention of, or further proceeding against, a person for a criminal charge, a suspected violation of a criminal law, or a violation of the Transportation Article for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed. Not included are investigatory files, police work-product records used solely for police investigation purposes, or records pertaining to nonincarcerable violations of the vehicle laws of the State or of any other traffic law, ordinance, or regulation.
Post Conviction -- A procedure by which a convicted defendant challenges the conviction and/or sentence on the basis of some alleged violation or error.
Prayer for a Jury Trial -- Request of a defendant in certain cases to be tried by a jury.
Preliminary Hearing -- A hearing held in the District Court, unless waived by defendant, to determine whether there is probable cause to believe the defendant committed the offense(s); available when offense(s) charged are not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the District Court.
Preliminary Inquiry -- Pre-trial hearing to determine that the defendant has received a copy of the charging document and under-stands the offenses with which he is charged and the penalties thereof. The defendant is also advised of right to counsel, referred to the Public Defender, if eligible, and informed that further appearance in court without counsel is deemed to be a waiver of counsel.
Presentence Investigation Report (PSI) -- A confidential report ordered by the judge and produced by the division of parole and probation prior to sentencing, to provide background information (job, finances, family status, community ties, etc.) and prior criminal record of the defendant and, in certain cases, a victim impact statement.
Presentment Before Grand Jury -- Presentation of evidence, including testimony of witnesses, by the State’s Attorney to the grand jury to establish probable cause that the accused committed the alleged offense and to seek issuance of an indictment.
Presumption -- An inference of the truth or falsehood of a proposition or fact that stands until rebutted by evidence to the contrary.
Pretrial Release -- The release by a judicial officer of a defendant, prior to trial, under conditions that the judicial officer feels will reasonably assure the defendant’s appearance as required.
Prima Facie -- Evidence good and sufficient on its face.
Private Process Server -- An adult private person, not a party to a case, used to deliver a summons, subpoena, or other court order.
Probable Cause -- Information given to a judicial officer that is sufficient in itself to warrant the issuance of a charging document.
Probation -- A means of conditionally releasing an individual after trial.
Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) -- A conditional avoidance of imposition of sentence after conviction; failure to satisfy the terms and conditions may cause imposition of sentence after a finding of violation of probation. A defendant may plead not guilty and enter into an agreement with the State to accept a probation before judgment. The court may find facts justifying a finding of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, defer entry of a conviction and place defendant on probation before judgment subject to reasonable conditions.
Procedural Law -- The method, established normally by rules, to be followed in a case; the formal steps in a judicial proceeding.
Process -- Any written order issued by a court to secure compliance with its commands or to require action by any person and includes a summons, subpoena, an order of publication, or a commission of other writ.
Prosecuting Attorney or Prosecutor -- A public officer whose duty is the prosecution of criminal proceedings on behalf of the citizens of the state; most often refers to a State’s Attorney or Assistant State’s Attorney but, for some crimes, can be the State Prosecutor or Attorney General.
Public Defender -- Counsel provided at public expense, primarily to defend indigent defendants in criminal cases.
Public Record -- A record maintained in a government office, such as a court record, available for inspection by the general public. (Compare Sealed, Shielded or Confidential Record).
Purge -- To cleanse or clear; eliminate inactive records from court files; with respect to a civil contempt, to curve the noncompliance that caused the contempt finding.
Q
Quash -- To set aside or to make void; with respect to process, such as a summons or subpoena, to void on motion of the person served.
R
Rebuttal -- The act of contradicting or overcoming the effect of a presumption or evidence.
Recall -- Cancellation by the court of a warrant before its execution by the arrest of the defendant.
Reconsideration -- (a change or alteration) An order changing the terms of a prior order of the Court. Reconsiderations can be ordered in open and closed cases. (Also known as Modification)
Record on Appeal -- The case file and its contents, together with a transcript of all proceedings in the lower court.
Recuse -- A judge’s determination of the inappropriateness of his/her hearing a particular matter.
Release of Lien -- The cancellation of record of a Declaration of Trust or other recorded security instrument given to secure a bail bond that has been discharged.
Remand -- An action by the court that sends a case to another court or agency for further action.
Removal -- Change of location (venue) of a case on the grounds that a party cannot receive a fair and impartial trial in the jurisdiction in which the action is pending.
Replevin (Trans: to make good, to satisfy) -- To recover the possession of goods or property unlawfully taken or detained.
Res Gestae -- Things done; rule under which a remark made spontaneously and concurrently with an incident carries an inherent degree of credibility and is admissible because of its spontaneous nature (excited utterance); an exception to the hearsay rule.
Res Judicata -- The matter already has been decided; a rule against relitigation of issues.
Respondent -- The alleged abuser in a domestic violence case.
Restitution -- The act of making good or giving equivalent of any loss, damage, or injury.
Return -- The act of a sheriff, constable, or other ministerial officer in delivering back to the court a writ, notice, or other paper which he was required to serve or execute with a brief account of his doings under the mandate, the time and mode of service or execution or his failure to accomplish it, as the case may be. Also the endorsement made by the officer upon the writ or other paper stating what he has done under it, the time and mode of service etc.
Reverse Waiver -- Procedure by which charges against a minor defendant are transferred from the circuit court to the juvenile court.
Review of Sentence -- Review of a criminal sentence by a three judge panel (excluding the sentencing judge) on application of the defendant; as a result of the review, the sentence may be increased, decreased, or remain unchanged. (Compare Revision of Sentence).
Revision of Sentence -- A procedure by which the trial court (ordinarily the sentencing judge, unless unavailable) is asked to correct an allegedly illegal sentence or otherwise modify the sentence; as a result of the procedure, the sentence may be decreased or remain the same, but may not be increased unless done before the defendant leaves the courtroom at the original sentencing proceeding.
S
Satisfaction -- An entry made on the record by a plaintiff that states that he/she has been paid and the judgment satisfied.
Sealed Record -- A record closed by a court to further inspection by anyone unless ordered by the court. (Compare Public, Shielded, or Confidential Record).
Search Warrant -- A written order by a judge directed to a peace officer or constable commanding the officer to search for and seize property as described therein.
Seizure -- The taking of a defendant’s property to satisfy a judgment.
Sentence -- The judgment of court after conviction awarding punishment.
Shielded Record - A record or information in a record removed from public inspection by a judge or commissioner. (Compare Public, Sealed, or Confidential Record)
Split Sentence -- A sentence imposing a fine and imprisonment with the imprisonment part suspended or imposing a period of imprisonment, part of which is suspended and a period of probation is imposed.
Sequester -- Separate or isolate; for example, to separate witnesses from each other, to separate property from a party and place it in the custody of the court or a third person, etc.
Service -- Delivery of a writ, notice, injunction, etc., by an authorized person, to a person who is thereby officially notified of some action or proceeding in which the person is concerned.
Service of Process, Personal -- Service of a summons or other process made by delivering it in person to the person named in the process.
Settlement Conference -- A process in which you and anyone else involved in your case meet with a neutral attorney who will help you try and find ways to settle your case.
Shielded Record -- A record or information in a record removed from public inspection by a judge or commissioner. (Compare Public Record or Confidential Record)
Show Cause -- A process directed to a person to appear in court and present reasons why a certain order, judgment, or decree should not be made final.
Speedy Trial -- The right of the accused to a speedy trial as guaranteed by the 6th Amendment of the United States Constitution; in Maryland, the right to be tried within 180 days after initial appearance, unless waived.
Statement of Charges -- A charging document, other than a citation, filed in District Court by a peace officer or by a judicial officer.
State’s Attorney -- A person authorized to prosecute an offense on behalf of the State or a political subdivision thereof.
Statute -- An act of the General Assembly declaring, commanding, or prohibiting something.
Stay -- Hold in abeyance. An order entered by a judge suspending or postponing a proceeding or execution of an action before the Court.
Stet (Trans: to stand) -- A conditional stay of all further proceedings in a case. On motion of the State’s Attorney, the court may indefinitely postpone trial of a charge by marking the charge “stet” on the docket.
Sua Sponte --Of its own will; commonly when a judge does something without being so requested by any party in a case.
Sub Curia (Trans: under law) -- An action of the court ordering a matter to be held pending resolution due to a legal requirement (a procedure, rule or statutory requirement that prevented the finality of the matter).
Subpoena -- A writ issued by a court that compels a person to appear and give testimony at a specified time and place.
Subpoena Duces Tecum -- (Trans: bring it with him) -- A writ commanding a witness to appear and produce documents or papers in court that are relevant to a case.
Subsequent Offender -- A defendant who, because of prior conviction, is subject to additional or mandatory statutory punishment for the offense charged.
Summons -- A writ notifying the person named that an action has been filed against the person and
1. in a criminal action, failure to appear may result in a bench warrant being issued for the person’s arrest.
2. in a civil action, failure to answer may result in entry of a judgment against that person.
Supplementary Proceedings -- Proceedings supplementary to an execution, directed to the discovery of a debtor’s property and the application of the property to the debt for which the execution is issued.
Suppress -- To stop, prohibit, prevent, subdue; with respect to evidence, to prevent its use by showing it was obtained illegally or is irrelevant.
Supreme Court of Maryland -- Maryland’s highest appellate court wherein review is ordinarily a matter of discretion.
Surety -- One who makes himself responsible for the defendant’s obligation to appear in court and agrees to pay money or do other acts in the event that the defendant does not appear.
Surety Bond -- A bond posted by a surety insurer ensuring that the penalty sum will be paid if the conditions of the bond are not satisfied.
Surrender (by bail) -- The return of the defendant again into custody by the surety on a bail bond.
Suspend -- To set aside all or part of a sentence.
T
Tenant Holding Over (THO) -- A landlord-tenant action filed by the lessor to repossess certain leased premises which the tenant has not vacated after notice.
Third Party Claim -- A defendant may cause a summons and complaint to be served upon a person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to the defendant for all or part of a plaintiff’s claim against the defendant. A person so served becomes a third-party defendant.
Tort (Trans: twisted) -- An injury or damage to person/or property for which the person who caused the injury is legally responsible.
Tracking Number -- The assigned 12-digit number that identifies the defendant and incident throughout criminal proceedings; the number identifies the year (first 2 digits), the origin of the charging document (next 4 digits), and the place of the charge(s) within the sequence of changes issued that year (last 6 digits).
Transcript -- The official typed record of court proceedings, including the word for word testimony of witnesses, statements by attorneys, rulings by the judge, etc., prepared by the court reporter from stenographic notes or electronic recording made during the proceeding.
Transfer -- In a criminal case, a change of location (venue) of the case to another location in which charges are pending and to which the defendant has pled guilty or nolo contendere, to permit the defendant to similarly plead to the transferred charges, and have sentence imposed as to all the charges.
Trial De Novo -- From the beginning; appeal in which the reviewing court completely retries the case. (see De Novo)
Triple Seal -- Exemplified copy; a term referring to a certification of a court document’s authenticity by signature of the clerk and seal of the court and certification by a judge of the court as to the authenticity of the clerk’s signature and seal; used to permit admission of the court document in a proceeding in another state under the full faith and credit provision of the U.S. Constitution.
True Copy Test -- A copy of a court document given under the clerk’s seal, but not certified.
U
U.S. Court of Appeals -- Federal appellate court having jurisdiction over actions decided in the U.S. District Court.
U.S. District Court -- Federal trial court with general jurisdiction.
V
Vacated -- To make void or set aside.
Venue -- The geographical division in which an action or prosecution may be brought for trial.
Verdict -- The finding of a court.
Verification -- An oral or written statement that something is true, usually made under oath or affirmation.
Voir Dire (Trans: to speak the truth) -- the preliminary examination of a prospective juror, or witness, to determine whether the person is competent, impartial, and unprejudiced.
Vulnerable Adult -- Adult who is physically or mentally incapable of providing for his/her daily needs.
W
Waive/Waiver -- Giving up a legal right voluntarily, intentionally, and with full knowledge of the consequences.
Waiver of Fees -- An action for an order permitting a person to obtain a good or service without having to pay the standard fee.
Warrant -- A written order by a judicial officer commanding a peace officer to arrest the person named in it or to search for and seize property as described in it.
Arrest -- A written order by a judicial officer directed to a peace officer and commanding him to arrest the body of a
person named in it who is accused of an offense.
Bench -- Process issued by the court itself, or “from the bench,” for the attachment or arrest of a person.
Search -- A written order by a judge directed to a peace officer and commanding him to search for and seize property
as described therein.
Witness -- One who testifies to what he has seen, heard, or otherwise observed and who is not necessarily a party to the action.
Writ -- A written order issued by a court and addressed to a sheriff or other person whose action the court desires to command to require performance of a specified act or to give authority to have the act done.
Writ of Execution -- An order of court commanding performance of a specified act or granting authority to have the action done.
Writ of Garnishment of Property -- An order of court commanding that a defendant’s assets be seized and the money paid to the plaintiff to satisfy a judgment.
Writ of Garnishment of Wages -- An order of court commanding that a portion of the defendant’s wages are deducted regularly and paid to the plaintiff to satisfy a judgment.
Writ of Habeas Corpus -- A court order compelling a Warden/Sheriff to bring a prisoner before a court at a specific date and time, most frequently to determine whether the prisoner is being held lawfully.
Wrongful Death -- A lawsuit brought by a decedent’s survivors for their damages resulting from a tortuous injury that caused the decedent’s death. | ||||
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] | null | [] | null | From 1798 to 1801, an Anglo-Ottoman alliance competed with the French for control of Egypt. Their victory resulted in French troops withdrawing from the region and also helped safeguard Britain's possessions in India. | en | /themes/custom/nam_theme/favicon.ico | https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/egyptian-campaign | The route east
Britain's interest in the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East emerged primarily from its strategic relation to possessions in Asia, most significantly India.
Egypt was of particular importance as it provided the shortest route to the riches of the east. Described as 'the master-key to all the trading nations of the earth', it became a theatre of battle during the Wars of the French Revolution (1792-1802). This was a series of conflicts that pitted post-revolutionary France against Britain, Prussia, Russia, Austria and other European monarchies.
During the 16th century, the Ottomans had absorbed Egypt into their empire, retaining the local Mamluks as the ruling class. By the 1790s, the Mamluks still ruled Egypt, officially on behalf of the Ottomans, but effectively as a semi-independent state.
French invasion
In May 1798, the French despatched a force to secure Egypt, strengthen France's Middle Eastern trade and open a possible route of attack towards British India. It was led by General Napoleon Bonaparte.
After capturing Malta en route (12 June), around 40,000 French soldiers landed in Egypt on 1 July. The next day, they took Alexandria before marching on Cairo.
On 21 July, a large Mamluk army attacked Napoleon’s troops at the Battle of the Pyramids. The French deployed in large squares to resist repeated massed cavalry charges and scored a decisive victory. They occupied Cairo the following day.
Nelson’s victory
The British were troubled by the prospect of Egypt becoming a French colony and a potential staging post for an attack on their possessions in India. They decided to send out a fleet under Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson.
After failing to intercept Napoleon’s expedition at sea, Nelson subsequently destroyed the French fleet at anchor during the Battle of the Nile (1-3 August). This left Napoleon’s army isolated in Egypt. It also encouraged the Mamluks and Ottomans to continue fighting.
Into Syria
After learning that new Ottoman armies were gathering in Syria, Napoleon decided to take the offensive instead of waiting for them to arrive in Egypt. He marched into Syria, winning several victories in February and March 1799, before returning to Egypt due to an outbreak of plague in his army.
On 15 July, an Ottoman force from Rhodes landed from British transport vessels and dug in at Aboukir. Four days later, Napoleon attacked their lines, bringing about an Ottoman surrender on 2 August.
With the French position seemingly secured, Napoleon returned to France, slipping past the British navy in a frigate. He subsequently used his popularity and military support to mount a coup that made him First Consul, the head of France’s government.
British landing
The British now sent troops to Egypt under the command of General Sir Ralph Abercromby. Unfortunately, bad weather delayed the landing of his expeditionary force at Aboukir Bay on 8 March 1801, giving the French ample time to organise a response.
Around 2,000 troops from the French garrison of Alexandria, equipped with 10 field guns, positioned themselves along a line of sand dunes overlooking the bay. They inflicted heavy losses on the vanguard of the British force as it disembarked from small boats, each of which carried 50 men ashore.
Despite these setbacks, the British rallied. Led by Major-General Sir John Moore, they charged the defenders with fixed bayonets, securing the beachhead and allowing the remainder of the 17,500-strong army to get ashore with its equipment.
British casualties totalled around 700, while the French sustained close to 400 men killed wounded or captured.
Mandora
Next, the British advanced along the narrow spit of land between the sea and Lake Aboukir. Another stiff engagement ensued at Mandora on 13 March. Around 5,000 French troops manned a strong line of defences, parts of which were eventually breached after close-quarter fighting.
As night fell, the British withdrew to a defensive position five miles from Alexandria, near the ruins of Nicopolis. There, they fortified their position to await a possible French counter-attack.
French casualties during the day’s fighting were around 500 soldiers killed, wounded or captured. British casualties were probably double that.
Battle of Alexandria
At dawn on 21 March, the French attempted a surprise attack, under the command of General Jacques-François Menou. The British had expected an assault, but misjudged its timing and direction.
The French proceeded to overrun the British outposts and began attacking their entrenchments in the ruins, primarily the section of line led by Sir John Moore. This included the 28th Regiment, which simultaneously beat off cavalry attacks on both sides of its line.
The customary formation for repelling cavalry was the square. But there was not enough time to form one. Instead, the rear ranks of the line about-turned.
For a while, the whole British line seemed threatened. However, reinforcements and renewed artillery fire - including a bombardment from Royal Navy gun boats which lay close inshore - enabled the British troops to rally and win the day.
The French sustained around 4,500 casualties; British losses were less than half that number. However, among them was General Abercromby, who was struck in the thigh by a musket ball and died of his wounds a week later. Moore said of Abercromby that he was 'the best man, and the best soldier, who has appeared amongst us this war'.
The British victory was a welcome boost to Army morale after setbacks against the French elsewhere.
Cairo and Alexandria
General John Hely-Hutchinson succeeded Abercromby as British commander. He left Major-General Sir Eyre Coote at the head of a 6,000-strong force to keep Menou bottled up in Alexandria, before marching on Cairo.
After a few skirmishes, Hutchinson arrived in the Egyptian capital in mid-June. Reinforced by an Ottoman army, he invested the city, forcing the 13,000-strong French garrison to surrender on 27 June.
On his return from Cairo, Hutchinson encountered fierce opposition at Fort Marabout, which the 54th Regiment eventually stormed. But the French position in Alexandria was increasingly hopeless. They were unable to break out and their food supplies were running low. Memou eventually surrendered his 10,000 troops on 31 August 1801. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 32 | https://axhotelsmalta.com/discover-activities-in-malta/attractions/top-things-to-do-in-valletta/ | en | The Top Things to do in Valletta | [
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Discover the top things to see and do in Malta’s capital city!
A city full of charm, where old and new merge into one and culture abounds – the city of Valletta is a truly unique destination – in fact, it was awarded the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Situated on the south-east of the island of Malta, between two harbours, the peninsula is considered to be an open-air museum due to its major historical significance. Our beautiful capital city Valletta is a historic site with a story waiting to be told around every corner. Not only is it teeming with culture but it’s simply rife with activities for people from every walk of life. Whether you’re staying in one of its charming boutique hotels, visiting one of its traditional Maltese cafés or posing with some of its iconic monuments, you’re sure to have plenty to write home about. Many travellers will choose to book their accommodation in Valletta, as the beautiful city itself can be explored extensively over several days. Malta’s main bus terminus is also located in Valletta, so the city is a good base if you want to venture out to other parts of the island during your trip! Before we tell you all the top things to do in Valletta, let’s look at the city’s history.
The construction of Valletta
The first stone of Valletta was laid in 1566, by Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of St John, Jean de la Valletta, after whom the city was named. Following the Great Siege of 1565 against the Turkish forces – a colossal battle in Malta’s history – the Knights intended to build more fortifications around the island in order to prevent further attempted invasions. Thus, plans for the building of a new capital city – which would also guard two of the island’s main harbours – came into being.
Valletta is a unique example of Baroque architecture, a modern city designed by Pope Pius V’s foremost engineer, Francesco Laparelli. The new city would be built on a new site, a hill known as Mount Sceberras, and would be designed on a grid system to facilitate modern water, air circulation and sanitation systems. The completion of Valletta was then left to Laparelli’s Maltese assistant, Gerolamo Cassar. Cassar designed and supervised the building of several prominent buildings in Valletta, including the Sacra Infermeria, the seven Auberges, and the Co-Cathedral of St. John.
Valletta under the British
While many original buildings from the Knights’ period are still in use today, Valletta has also experienced new additions and alterations throughout its rich, diverse history. Up until Independence Day on 21st September 1964, Malta was a British colony. The British made a lasting impact on the island and its people during their 164 year rule over the island; English is one of the two national languages (together with the native tongue, Maltese), citizens drive on the left-hand side of the road, and many buildings and street names are named after British commanders. They used the Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta as the military headquarters for British Royal Navy’s Mediterranean fleet during this time. The capital was subjected to heavy bombardment during the Second World War, and the number of inhabitants fell from 16,000 to 9,000.
Enough about history - let’s start exploring!
There’s so much to do and see in Valletta, so take your time to explore. The city is home to some of the best restaurants and bars in Malta, fascinating museums, beautiful churches, and an invigorating cultural scene. These are the top things to do in Valletta and the main points of interest:
› See the City Gate. The entrance to the city was revamped and completed in 2014. Designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, the fifth city gate is built upon the old bastions guarding the entrance to the city. The project gave a new, modern look to the entrance, including a newly–built Parliament House and an open-air theatre built in the ruins of the Royal Opera House (now called Pjazza Teatru Rjal).
› Walk down Republic Street. Upon entering Valletta from the city gate, you will find yourself in the busiest street of the whole city. Republic Street stretched from the entrance of Valletta all the way down to St George’s Square and beyond, and it is full of shops, bars and restaurants.
› Walk through Merchant’s Street. Parallel to Republic Street is Merchant’s Street, which was were most trade took place in the past. Nowadays, you’ll find more shops and restaurants, as well as the famous ‘Suq Tal-Belt’ food court here. Our Valletta hotels are both situated on this street. Rosselli – AX Privilege is the first 5 star luxury hotel in the heart of Malta’s capital city while AX The Saint John is an urban boutique hotel. You can also find two of our restaurants, located in Merchant’s Street – Cheeky Monkey Gastropub and Grain.
› Visit St George’s Square. The most famous ‘piazza’ in Valletta is St George’s Sqaure, wherein 1942, Malta was awarded the George Cross (proudly displayed on the national flag) by King George VI, “to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history”.
› See the Grandmaster’s Palace. Located in St George’s Square, the Grandmaster’s Palace is a beautiful and imposing building that was home to several Grandmasters of the Order of St John. Nowadays, the Palace State Rooms and the Palace Armoury are open to visitors.
› Visit the Auberges Several old ‘Auberges’ (houses) belonging the different ‘langues’ (nationalities) of the Knights of St John have been turned into historical museums. The National Museum of Archaeology is housed in the Auberge de Provence, while the Malta National Community Art Museum (the MUŻA) is housed in the Auberge d’Italie. Moreover, the office of the Prime Minister is located at the most impressive Auberge de Castille et Lyon.
› Discover Malta’s History Museums. Apart from those already mentioned, Valletta has some very informative museums to answer all your historical questions. The National War Museum at Fort St Elmo explore different periods of war in Malta while shining a spotlight on WWI and WWII. The Lascaris War Rooms are an underground network of tunnels that were used as the Military HQ for the British Royal Fleet, which played an important role throughout WWII, Operation Husky and the Suez Canal Crisis, before being taken over by NATO’s Communications Centre. Furthermore, at the Fortifications Interpretation Centre, you can learn all about the many fortifications in Malta.
› Get a taste of Maltese nobility at Casa Rocca Piccola. This privately owned 16th Century Palazzo is the residence of a Maltese noble family, who give guided tours to curious visitors during the week.
› Malta Postal Museum & Arts Hub. If you’re interested in philately, visit the Malta Postal Museum. The museum traces the postal history of Malta from the 16th century onwards, displaying every local stamp that has been issued in Malta between 1860 and 2010. Upstairs, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions.
› Visit Malta’s National Library. The beautiful building on Republic Street is where one can find all of the old documents and books from different periods of Malta’s history. While the building can be appreciated from the outside, you might want to book a tour to explore further.
› Watch a Play. The beloved Manoel Theatre is one of the oldest operating theatres in Europe. You can watch a show here, or simply explore the magnificent building during the opening hours. You could also watch a performance at the open-air Pjazza Teatru Rjal. There’s nothing like it!
› Immerse yourself in Contemporary Art. In recent years, Valletta has become one of the main cultural hubs in Malta. ‘Spazju Kreattiv’ (creative space), located at St James’ Cavalier, is one example. You can see a play, watch an arthouse film or visit an art exhibition here. The Valletta Contemporary museum and Iniala Galleries are also worth a visit for art lovers!
› Explore the views by sea. One of the more interesting aspects of Valletta is that it’s a peninsula. You can say that it is adorned with one of the most picturesque harbours in Europe. One can travel to and from Valletta by ferry to visit Sliema whilst taking in the view of Manoel Island, or to Bormla, whilst enjoying the spectacular view of the Three Cities. One could also go around the Grand Harbour on one of the harbour cruises. They sail past the magnificent forts that guard our harbour whilst giving a detailed commentary and explanation of what happened in the two Great Sieges of Malta. Perfect to tickle any history buff’s interest.
› Enter the St John’s Co Cathedral. Possibly one of the most famous buildings built by the Knights of St John, the Cathedral is a sight to behold. Inside, you’ll also find Caravaggio’s masterpiece ‘The Beheading of St John’, which will inspire awe in every visitor.
› Explore Valletta’s Churches. There are over 25 churches located in Valletta alone, which are worth visiting in order to understand Malta’s deep-rooted religious culture. Two examples are the Chapel of Our Lady of Victories, where the first stone of Valletta was laid, and the Church of St Catherine of Italy, both of which have beautiful artworks inside.
› Have a Drink on Strait Street. This narrow backstreet in Valletta has a seedy past, as sailors used to frequent the bars and brothels located here. Nowadays, the street is where many locals and tourists hang out in the evenings, due to the wide choice of bars and restaurants present. It’s worth taking your time to explore the backstreets of Valletta, as you’re bound to find a surprise around every corner.
› Take a stroll through the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Here, you can take in the breath-taking views of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities, located across the harbour. The gardens are an ideal spot for a romantic walk, with benches all around. You’ll also find lots of locals spending their coffee breaks here.
› See the Saluting Battery. From the Upper Barrakka Gardens, you’ll be able to see the canons located on the Saluting Battery below. Every day at noon, the canons are fired ceremoniously, too.
› Ride the Upper Barrakka Lift. Opened in December 2012, the lift acts as a link between the Grand Harbour and the city centre. Before the new lift was built, a previous one operated in the same spot between 1905 and 1973.
› Similarly, the Lower Barrakka Gardens offer fantastic views of the entrance to the Grand Harbour. Located on the lower side of Valletta, close to Fort St Elmo, the Lower Barakka Gardens also overlook the Valletta breakwater, Fort Ricasoli, Fort St Angelo and the city of Senglea.
› Visit the Malta Experience at the Sacra Infermeria – the old hospital used by the Knights of St John, which was restored and turned into the Mediterranean Conference Centre. The award-winning audio-visual show explains Malta’s 7000-year history, while also taking you on a tour of the Sacra Infermiera.
› Explore the Valletta Waterfront. The seaside promenade is where you can take in some of Malta’s best views, and enjoy a spot of lunch, shopping and entertainment. Situated on the west side of the Grand Harbour, the Valletta Waterfront is a collection of old warehouses turned into a dynamic area full of dining establishments and shops.
› Share a Meal at Grain. A culinary gem in Valletta – Grain is innovative in all aspects. You can choose a laid-back dining experience with plates to share at Grain Street, or opt for a more refined experience at Under Grain.
› Eat at the Cheeky Monkey Gastropub. If you’re looking for something more casual, head to the Cheeky Monkey. A local favourite, the gastropub is a great place to enjoy a few drinks, good food and music with friends.
› Finally, make sure to keep updated with the events that will be taking place during your stay. Valletta’s cultural calendar is packed with annual events! Don’t miss out – follow our page for news about the latest events taking place in Valletta! | |||||
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] | null | [] | null | en | //www.rssing.com/favicon.ico | null | Malta’s capital, Valletta, is a grande dame undergoing rapid change. With more than 300 monuments crammed into the city’s small peninsular borders, Valletta has one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world. This means that there are lots of things to do in Valletta, whether you’re an architecture aficionado, military-history buff or passionate wanderer eager to see a city reawakening from a long slumber.
Shawn and I were delighted to have called Valletta home this past year, living on one of the city’s most infamous streets – a narrow lane which was once a red-light district that lured sailors. When we first learned we’d be moving to Malta for Shawn’s studies, we thought we might develop island fever living on a tiny island nation for twelve months. Surprisingly though, there was so much to experience in and out of Valletta that our weekend calendar was always replete with activities.
A decade before moving to Valletta, I also played tourist in the capital city, making it my home base during a long-weekend visit. Back in 2006, Valletta was eerily quiet. Half of the city’s buildings were boarded up and abandoned. Accommodation in Valletta was so scarce that I literally had to sleep in a spacious maid’s closet for one night, until a proper room became available. Coincidentally, ten years later, my future in-laws would choose to stay at a boutique hotel located just across the street from the same guesthouse in which I stayed as a solo female traveler in 2006. It’s funny how life comes full circle like that!
As a solo traveler on that long weekend, I loved exploring Valletta’s streets and their characteristic golden-limestone buildings, radiant wooden balconies, and vintage storefronts. Therefore in 2015, Shawn and I were elated to have that impressive architecture, history, and culture just outside our doorstep for an entire year.
Drawing upon my experience as a visitor and one-year resident, I’ve created this guide to exploring Valletta. It highlights some of the Maltese capital’s top sites, plus a smattering of lesser-visited ones. Along with overviews of Valletta’s gardens, museums, churches, and palaces, I’ve thrown in generic logistical details to help with issues about transportation, groceries, and accommodation. I’ve also included a few photo-taking spots and a personalized map to help you plan your visit. Hop to my Table of Contents below for a post outline, or my Malta index for everything I’ve written about Malta.
A Bit of History
The Knights of Malta (also known as the Knights of the Order of St. John, or the Knights Hospitaller) started building Valletta in 1566, following the Great Siege of 1565. After this legendary fight against the Ottoman Turks, the Knights wanted to construct a fortified stronghold to protect against future attacks.
A Pope sent Italian architect Francesco Laparelli to Malta to oversee Valletta’s construction. Laparelli, who had once been Michelangelo’s assistant, designed Valletta in a grid-pattern fashion. Massive bastions, moats, and narrow streets were created, all with the intent of making the new city of Valletta easier to defend. An added advantage of the city’s grid pattern was that Valletta’s high walls helped shade streets on sizzling summer days, while ushering in refreshing sea breezes. Having lived on one of the city’s streets for a year, I can attest that this is still a good form of natural air conditioning.
The Knights of Malta remained in power until Napoleon seized the island in 1798. The French occupation was short-lived, only lasting about two years. Shortly thereafter, Malta became part of the British Empire. The country ended its colonial relationship with the United Kingdom in the 1960s.
Since 1980, Valletta has been a UNESCO World Heritage city. In 2018, the city will be a European Capital of Culture, a designation that’s been instrumental in fostering Valletta’s economic rebirth.
Baroque to British Flair
From stately baroque buildings and classic old storefronts to ornate brass door knockers, devotional statues, and enclosed wooden balconies, Valletta’s narrow streets are replete with character. Historians are unsure when the first of the distinctive balconies (gallariji) appeared on the island’s buildings. The suspicion is that this architectural feature made its debut on Valletta’s Grandmaster’s Palace, and then other homeowners simply followed suit.
Since Malta was a British colony from 1813-1964, you’ll see remnants of that chapter of history in the form of cherry-red phone booths, rounded mail boxes, and the grand Victoria Gate. The city’s Catholic influence is equally evident in the devotional saint’s statues which rest in corner niches throughout the city. Some even have a donation slot built into the wall below the figure.
Finally, though it’s not as common in Valletta as it is in Maltese villages, you’ll notice a few name plates adorning the front of buildings. These little signs bear the name of the home given to it by its residents. Common house names honor religious figures or meld a husband’s and wife’s first names. (Shawn and I resisted the urge to dub our apartment ‘Trishawn’!)
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The Doors of Valletta (my blog post collage)
The Door Knockers of Valletta (my blog post collage)
Table of Contents
General
Festivals and Holidays | Hotels | Groceries | Maltese Newspapers | Pharmacies | Post Offices | Restaurants | Safety | Souvenirs | Tourist Information Offices | Transportation | Valletta Map | Additional Links and Resources
Churches
St. John’s Co-Cathedral | St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral | The Carmelite Church | Our Lady of Victories Church
Gardens
Hastings Gardens | Lower Barrakka Gardens | Upper Barrakka Gardens
Landmarks
Auberge de Castille | City Gate | De Valette Square | Former Victory Kitchen | Nelson’s Hook | Parliament | Saluting Battery | Siege Bell War Memorial | Queen Victoria Statue and Victoria Gate
Museums
Fort St. Elmo and the National War Museum | Fortifications Interpretation Centre | Grandmaster’s Palace: State Rooms & Palace Armoury | Lascaris War Rooms | National Library of Malta | National Museum of Archaeology | National Museum of Fine Arts | Sacra Infermeria (The Knights’ Hospital)
Entertainment & Theaters
Manoel Theatre | Pjazza Teatru Rjal | St. James Cavalier (Malta’s National Centre for Creativity) | Strada Stretta
Misc
Walking Circuit Around the Exterior of Valletta’s Fortifications
De Valette Square
The year 2016 marked 450 years since Valletta’s foundation stone was laid by the city’s namesake, Jean Parisot de Valette. Having led the Knights of Malta to victory during the Great Siege of 1565 (as a 70-something warrior!), Grandmaster de Valette was seen as a heroic figure within the order.
Not long after their arrival on the island of Malta, the Knights had contemplated building a city on the then-barren Sciberras Peninsula. First came Fort St. Elmo, and later the fortified city of Valletta that we know today, both designed to help defend the island against attack.
Though the Knights officially took chastity vows, it’s interesting that de Valette himself is said to have covertly fathered at least two children: a son that would be ‘legitimized’ by the King of France, and a daughter that was tragically murdered by her husband.
Since he died in 1568, de Valette did not live to see Valletta’s completion. His ornate sarcophagus is located in St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral
&
The Carmelite Church
Two buildings punctuate Valletta’s skyline: the enormous dome of the Carmelite Church, and the pointy steeple of St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral.
Malta is overwhelmingly Roman-Catholic but St. Paul’s stands as a remnant of Malta’s British colonial past. Groundbreaking for the neo-classical structure began in 1839, at the request of a visiting queen who lamented that there was no place of worship for Anglican parishioners. Originally, the Auberge d’Allemagne (quarters for the German branch of the Knights of Malta) stood here.
Surprisingly, the Carmelite Church was not constructed until the 20th century. The original structure was built in the 16th century, but because it was decimated during World War II bombings, it was reconstructed during the 1950s to 1980s.
Photo tip: Splendid places to photograph the Valletta skyline at sunset are either from the promenade in the city of Sliema (a short ferry ride across the Marsamxett Harbour from Valletta) or from this Valletta parking lot on St. Michael’s Bastion (map here). Both vantage points will allow you to capture these iconic buildings in your photograph. During our year in Valletta, we often strolled past this spot just before sunset, watching the neighborhood children play soccer in a nearby parking lot, as a scrappy Chihuhua ran about.
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Carmelite Church (official website) & Carmelite Church (Facebook page)
St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral (official website)
Our Lady of Victories Church
This dainty church is Valletta’s oldest building, and is best known for being the first resting place of Grandmaster de Valette. After the colossal St. John’s Co-Cathedral was built, his remains were transferred from Our Lady of Victories to St. John’s.
The Grandmaster himself is said to have financed Our Lady of Victories Church, which was designed to express gratitude for the Knights’ victory over the Ottoman Turks in 1565.
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Admission free.
Our Lady of Victories Church (Wikipedia)
Our Lady of Victories Church (National Trust of Malta – Din l-Art Ħelwa)
Saluting Battery
Each day, without fail, visitors cram themselves onto the terrace of the Upper Barrakka Gardens, for the twelve o’clock cannon salute in the Saluting Battery below. To escape the garden’s crowds at midday, you can enter the Saluting Battery just below the gardens, which has the same commanding perspective over the Grand Harbour. (Note: the Upper Barrakka Gardens are free to enter, while the Saluting Battery has a small admission fee.)
The Knights built the Saluting Battery in the 1500s, near the site of a battery earlier established by the Ottomans during the Great Siege of 1565. This 16th-century map shows the Ottoman’s battery as it would’ve looked then.
Gun salutes have historically been fired here to commemorate anniversaries and religious feast days, to welcome dignitaries, and to help ships with their time-keeping.
Photo tip: If you stroll along the walls facing Valletta’s Grand Harbour, you will find a bounty of photo-snapping spots. St. Barbara’s Bastions (map here) offer some of the nicest panoramas of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities, and this area generally has less crowds than the Upper Barrakka Gardens. The Lower Barrakka Gardens also have commanding views across the Grand Harbour.
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Saluting Battery (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
City Gate
Adorning a wall in our Valletta apartment was a turn-of-the century photograph of one of Valletta’s former city gates. At the time, the entrance was dressed in bunting and a huge ‘welcome’ sign. Since the black and white image hung over our kitchen sink, I looked at it whenever I did dishes, and analyzed the faces of the people frozen in time. Most of the passersby were dressed in black, with some wearing formal, big hats. Others wore the attire of laborers. What the two groups shared was a curiosity of the camera, which would have been a novel contraption at the time.
In the past 450 years, there have been five different versions of gates installed on this spot, each doing its part to help secure Valletta’s primary entrance. This most recent rendition was designed by celebrated Italian architect Renzo Piano (of London Shard fame), and inaugurated in 2015. Because of its minimalist design, the City Gate, as well as Piano’s adjacent Parliament building, remain controversial additions to this largely baroque city.
If you’d like to see what’s thought to be the gate’s original wooden drawbridge, you can find it at the Fortifications Interpretation Center (listed below).
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The evolution of Valletta’s City Gates, from 1566 to the present (Wikipedia)
Parliament
Malta’s Parliament Building was controversially unveiled in 2015, receiving mixed reviews. Some lauded its contemporary design and how it incorporates the island’s traditional limestone, while others thought its abstract look was incompatible with Valletta’s baroque buildings. For a time, there was even concern that UNESCO might strip Valletta of its World Heritage Site status because of this addition. To this day, some displeased locals describe it as a ‘cheese grater’ on stilts. As you walk past the Parliament, note the fossilized remains in the limestone under your feet.
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Parliament of Malta (official website)
Fortifications Interpretation Centre
Housed in a 16th-century era building that was once a warehouse for the Knights, the Fortifications Interpretation Center describes itself as part museum, and part resource center. If you’re remotely interested in military architecture, or simply want to better understand Valletta’s prominent fortifications, then the Centre is a worthwhile stop. It’s just a two minute’s walk from the Valletta – Sliema Ferry.
One of the star attractions in the museum is a segment of a drawbridge that’s believed to date back to around 1645. Much of the weathered wood has been chipped off or devoured by woodworms. However, it still helps to paint a picture of what life in Valletta was like during times of insecurity.
Another exhibit displays a sampling of tools that would’ve been used by laborers to quarry and shape Malta’s rugged limestone into uniform blocks. In another wing, informational boards highlight how fortifications around the world have evolved over the millennia.
Other exhibits that help illustrate the island’s extensive fortifications include: models of Valletta, Malta’s coastal watchtowers, the medieval city of Mdina, and the Gozo Citadel. Shawn and I easily whiled away about two hours here.
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Admission free.
Fortifications Interpretation Centre (official website) lists opening hours.
Walking Circuit Around the Exterior of Valletta’s Fortifications
While it is common for visitors to traipse along the top of Valletta’s fortifications, not as many tourists realize that it’s possible to explore them around the outside too. Shawn discovered this walking circuit while scouting out jogging spots. This route soon became one of our favorite early-evening walks.
Starting from the Valletta – Sliema Ferry and ending at the Sacra Infermeria, or vice versa, the walk takes you past the Breakwater, a cluster of boat houses, fishing spots, and WWII-era sites.
The war-related structures are the most notable sites and include a Boom Defence, lookout towers, and bomb shelters. The cave-like bomb shelters were carved by Valletta residents to offer refuge during the air raids of 1940 to 1942. The shelters have since been transformed for more peaceful purposes, and are now utilized as spaces to house boats, tools, and picnic furniture. Owing to the number of men that we saw flocking to them on a routine basis, Shawn and I joked that they are Malta’s version of a ‘man cave.’
Please wear sensible footwear and tread carefully as parts of this walk take you over uneven rock and metal bridges. In other words, this area is blissfully devoid of hordes of tourists, and there’s not a paved sidewalk. This is a prime spot to enjoy a picnic too! I’ve created a walking route map here.
Auberge de Castille
Now the office of Malta’s Prime Minister, this stately building housed one branch of the Knights of St. John during the 16th to 18th centuries. Back then, clusters of knights were tasked with defending specific parts of the island of Malta. The knights were grouped together into eight different langues, administrative groups based upon the knights’ respective languages and cultures. Langue is a French word meaning ‘language’ or ‘tongue’.
Knights from the langue of Castile, León and Portugal were housed here, and when Malta was part of the British Empire, the Auberge de Castille housed British armed forces. The structure survived World War II bombings.
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Not open to visitors.
Upper Barrakka Gardens
A lovely place to get your bearings upon arriving in Valletta, the Upper Barrakka Gardens offer commanding views of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities of Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua. Birgu actually pre-dates Valletta, and is well worth a visit!
The park’s arches date back to the 17th century, and the gardens were once a recreation spot for the Italian branch of the Knights.
Bench real estate is often coveted, but there is a café inside as well. Because the garden was so often inundated with people, Shawn and I often flocked to quieter Valletta gardens (see below).
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Admission free.
Upper Barrakka Gardens listing (Malta Tourism official website)
Upper Barrakka Gardens (Wikipedia)
Lower Barrakka Gardens
When I visited Malta for the first time in 2006, I distinctly remember strolling through the Lower Barrakka Gardens, taking in the extraordinary views of Valletta’s Grand Harbour. I found it rather romantic, and wished that I could’ve been sharing the spot with my special someone, whom I hadn’t yet met. Fast forward to the autumn of 2015 and beyond, and that ‘special someone’ and I had moved to Malta!
Not long after relocating to Valletta, Shawn and I went to the Lower Barrakka Gardens to partake in a picnic. As we feasted and watched vessels of all sizes go by, I recounted tales to Shawn from my solo travel days in Malta. Not much had changed in the Lower Barrakka Gardens in the past ten years. The so-called ‘temple folly’ in the neo-classical style was still there, as were olive trees with twisted trunks. They were just a bit more mature.
The Lower Barrakka’s well-manicured lanes are great to explore any time of day, but there’s something especially nice about them at night. I’ll never forget the late-summer evening when Shawn and I watched an Old World vessel lift its elegant white sails and glide past the gardens’ rampart walls. It felt like a scene from another age.
Note that during the summer months, you might find the Lower Barrakka Gardens closed to the public, as they are a popular spot for wedding receptions and private parties.
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Admission free.
Hastings Gardens
The Hastings Gardens were one of our favorite spots for jogging, walking, or just taking in a splendid sunset. Shawn and I would occasionally bring a coffee or homemade banana bread to Hastings, climb onto a wide section of the mighty fortifications, and watch the world go by on land and on sea.
The gardens take their name from Lord Hastings, who was a Governor of Malta during the 1820s. Built atop Valletta’s formidable bastions, Hastings Gardens are shaded by olive and oleander trees. The park provides a bit of reprieve from the cacophony of honking horns in Valletta, and it offers a silhouetted view of the town of Mdina.
Like the Lower Barrakka Gardens, during the height of summer you might occasionally find Hastings closed to the public, as it’s a popular site for wedding receptions, private parties and community events. Teenagers also flock there with their significant others, so don’t be surprised if you turn a corner and see them locking lips. On such a densely-populated island, there just aren’t many places to go to find privacy!
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Admission free.
Strada Stretta
When elderly Maltese residents heard that Shawn and I lived on Strada Stretta (also known as Strait Street or Triq-id-Dejqa) they usually responded with a hushed “Oh!” Sometimes they smirked, other times they were embarrassed to relay the infamous street’s history to us.
Decades ago, Strada Stretta was the playground of visiting sailors who referred to the narrow alley as ‘The Gut‘. Because Strada Stretta was packed with bars, brothels and lively music halls – offering wine, women and song – many Maltese told me that they were once mortified at the thought of even walking anywhere near it. One woman remarked how embarrassed she was that her father’s law practice was situated there. Another Valletta resident took a more sentimental approach, relaying that her sister met her American husband-to-be on the narrow street.
After the British military’s departure from Malta, and several decades of neglect, Strada Stretta is having a more G-rated renaissance today. A popular television show of the same name has hit Maltese television airwaves. And on the once notorious street itself, restaurants offering everything from tapas to Maltese fare have cropped up. They are nestled alongside wine bars, offices, and abandoned buildings waiting to be restored. The street’s dining and drinking establishments regularly play host to fun (mostly free) musical performances, which are organized by the Strada Stretta Concept.
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Strada Stretta Concept (Facebook page features events taking place on Strait Street / Strada Stretta. During our time in Valletta, we enjoyed classical performances, an evening celebrating French vocalist Edith Piaf, gypsy jazz music, even a saxophonist accompanied by an opera singer.)
St. James Cavalier
&
Malta’s National Centre for Creativity
St. James Cavalier epitomizes the concept of adaptive reuse. The structure was built in the 16th century as a cavalier, but in the hundreds of years since then, it’s been a gun platform, a social spot for British officers, and even a printing press. Today, the austere building – its sole embellishment is a coat of arms – is Malta’s National Centre for Creativity. Inside there is a cinema, theater and multi-purpose halls. Visit the website below to learn about the facility’s upcoming events.
If you’re really into military history, Valletta’s other cavalier (St. John’s Cavalier) is practically identical and situated parallel to this one. It’s now the Embassy of the Order of St. John, the descendants of the Knights who originally built it.
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Malta’s National Centre for Creativity – Spazju Kreattiv (official website)
Grandmaster’s Palace
State Rooms & Palace Armoury
Ever since its construction in the 1560s, this Valletta landmark has served as Malta’s seat of government. Originally built as a lavish palace for the Knight’s grandmasters, the building later served as the official residence for British colonial governors. Until 2015, it was the meeting place for Malta’s Parliament, and today, it’s the Office of the President of Malta.
Inside, there are two sections of interest: the lavish State Rooms and the Palace Armoury. The State Rooms are renowned for the Parisian tapestries dressing the walls of the Tapestry Room. This area was under construction during our visit, so I didn’t get to see the exotic flora and fauna depicted on the tapestries. Still, I enjoyed overlooking the verdant courtyard, and exploring the building’s sun-drenched corridors, with their ornate ceilings and marble floors. We’d lived in Malta for a few months by the time we visited the palace, so it was fun trying to pick out the island’s various landmarks depicted in the paintings.
The Palace Armoury is located in another wing of the building in what was formerly the palace stables. The Knights’ extensive arsenal of arms and armor was moved to the palace in 1604, and while some of the collection has since been ‘depleted’ (between 1798-1800, Malta was occupied by Napoleon’s troops and some looting took place), the armory is still said to have one of the world’s largest collections of arms and armor. As I walked past the large glass cases holding instruments of war, I couldn’t help but notice how everything from breastplates to canons were intricately decorated. The objects were simultaneously beautiful and evil.
Just in front of the Grandmaster’s Palace, on St. George’s Square, concerts, annual holiday parades, and commemorative events are held, such as the 1942 awarding of the George Cross to the people of Malta. If you like pomp and circumstance, the Changing of the Guard Ceremony takes place here the last Friday of each month.
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Palace State Rooms (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Palace Armory (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Changing of the Guards (Malta Tourism official website)
Fort St. Elmo and the National War Museum
I often associate Fort St. Elmo with the sweet, but feral felines that call the granaries on the landward side of the structure home. Today, benevolent locals leave mounds of food for the cats on the lids of these 17th-century contraptions. This seems fitting – especially considering that these subterranean pits would have once sheltered a precious supply of grain for the island’s residents. Since Malta was so dependent on food imports centuries ago (it still is!) and because sieges were an ongoing threat, long-term storage options were absolutely essential.
Fort St. Elmo itself was built in 1552 by the Knights of Malta, designed to protect both the Grand Harbour and the Marsamxett Harbour, which together flank the Valletta Peninsula. While impressive in its own right, the star-shaped Fort St. Elmo was and still is dwarfed by the more formidable Fort St. Angelo, located across the Grand Harbour from Valletta in the Three Cities.
During the Great Siege of 1565, when the Knights and the Ottoman army engaged in heavy battle, Fort St. Elmo held out for 28 days – much longer than expected. Though the Ottomans eventually took the smaller St. Elmo at great costs, leader Mustafa Pasha, turned in the direction of Fort St. Angelo and reportedly said, “If so small a son has cost so dear, what price shall we have to pay for so large a father?” A few weeks later, the deflated Ottoman army left Malta.
After the Great Siege, St. Elmo continued to serve various purposes, including serving as a prison during the French occupation (1798-1800) and as a strategic defensive point for the British during bombardments by the Italian Air Force in World War II.
Today, it’s possible to explore select sections of St. Elmo. The compound also houses Malta’s National Military Museum, which focuses on World War I and World War II-era collections, and includes the George Cross. This coveted award was given to the people of Malta for their bravery during World War II. The next time you see the red and white Maltese flag, make note of the George Cross in the upper-left corner.
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Fort St. Elmo | National War Museum (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Siege Bell War Memorial
The Siege Bell Memorial overlooks Valletta’s breakwater, the Grand Harbour, and the open sea toward Sicily. It is also the perfect place to catch a magnificent Valletta sunrise. It honors the 7,000 people who lost their lives during the 1940-1943 Siege of Malta. During those three years, tiny Malta was bombed relentlessly by Axis powers Italy and Germany. In just two months of 1942, more bombs were dropped on Malta than on London and Dresden during the course of the war. Those statistics are especially dramatic given the country’s small size — about 27 km long by 15 km wide. Thankfully, the area around the Siege Bell is a more peaceful place today, with hobbyist drones replacing combat aircraft, and cruise ships, ferries and private yachts plying the water.
Photo tip: A brilliant spot to capture the sun rising over the Mediterranean (map here).
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Admission free.
Lascaris War Rooms
Situated about 40 meters (120 ft) under Valletta’s Saluting Battery (see above), these underground rooms and tunnels once served as the War Headquarters for the British during World War II. They were opened in 1940.
Top secret during its time, the Lascaris War Rooms housed radar equipment, encryption machines, and rooms for coordinating artillery fire. This allowed the military staff working within to transmit and receive clandestine communications. General Eisenhower used the subterranean complex to oversee the Invasion of Sicily.
During our visit, a dedicated volunteer guide enthusiastically shared the details of his recent meeting with a Maltese woman, now in her nineties and living abroad, who worked in the complex during the 1940s. The woman returned to Malta to see the rooms where she once covertly worked. She shared tales of not even being able to tell her family members about her true place of employment. She also relayed more lighthearted tidbits about trying to look attractive, so that she might be able to catch the eye of one of the foreign officers working there.
Even after World War II drew to a close, the Lascaris War Rooms continued to be used, most notably during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Cold War.
More –
Lascaris War Rooms (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Panoramic tour of the Lascaris War Rooms
Lascaris War Rooms (Wikipedia)
National Museum of Archaeology
&
Auberge de Provence
If you’ve explored some of Malta’s temples and wish to complement your visit, or if you didn’t have enough time for the temples but still wish to absorb a little archaeological heritage, then The National Museum of Archaeology is a fantastic stop.
Located on Republic Street, the museum is housed in what was once the Auberge de Provence (residence for the Knights from Provence). There are sections devoted to Malta’s Temple Builders, Bronze Age people, and Phoenician period.
I found the Sleeping Lady figurine, which was sculpted by the so-called Temple Builders, to be fascinating. Though miniature in size, it’s incredible that the statue survived for thousands of years inside the depths of the Hypogeum. So many mysteries exist about this chapter of Malta’s history, and I couldn’t help but wonder who the Sleeping Lady was modeled after, and what she represented? Peaceful sleep? Death?
Aside from this enigmatic figure and the architectural fragments taken from Malta’s temples, my other favorite display was the one devoted to the seafaring Phoenicians. The sarcophagus and description of how the Phoenicians made their noble purple dye by painstakingly extracting it from a seashell, were especially intriguing.
More –
National Museum of Archaeology (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
National Museum of Fine Arts
&
Auberge d’Italie
As I was researching this guide, the country’s Museum of Fine Arts was being moved to the Auberge d’Italie building, which once housed the Italian branch of the Knights. The new location for the National Museum of Fine Arts is said to be three times as large as the former museum. It’s projected to be open to the public by 2018.
If the museum is still undergoing development during your visit, the ornate exterior of the Auberge d’Italie, (particularly the crest and bust toward the top of the building), is worth a quick peek.
More –
National Museum of Fine Art (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Pjazza-Teatru-Rjal
From 1866 to 1942, Valletta’s elegant Royal Opera House graced the corner of Republic and South Streets. Sadly, the grand building was mostly leveled during a World War II bombing raid, as this vintage photograph shows. For decades, the site lay in ruins, with only the terrace and parts of the ornate columns remaining. After the war, government leaders couldn’t decide what to do with the site. Indeed, when I first visited Valletta in 2006, the plot of land appeared completely neglected, a bit like long-forgotten Roman ruins.
By 2013, the remnants of the opera house had been transformed into the open-air theater called Pjazza Teatru Rjal that you can see today. Like the sleek City Gate and Parliament, the site is another project designed by architect Renzo Piano. The Teatru Rjal now holds concerts, dance performances and film screenings.
More –
Teatru Rjal (official website)
St. John’s Co-Cathedral
Built by the Knights in the 1570s, the interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral dazzles with its baroque opulence. St. John’s inlaid marble floor, comprised of the tombstones of prominent knights, is especially stunning. When we attended a Christmas concert there, the invitation asked that ladies refrain from wearing high heels, so that the precious floor could be protected. When you see the intricately-crafted tombs, you’ll understand why.
A plethora of rich sculptures and paintings cover practically every square inch of the cathedral, making your eye unsure where to rest. The most famous of the paintings is The Beheading of Saint John, painted by Caravaggio. The Italian artist is said to have committed a murder and then escaped to Malta with the intent of producing a painting in exchange for a pardon. He even became a Knight of Malta for a brief spell.
St. John’s Cathedral has eight chapels, one for each of the langues (linguistic groups) that existed during the time of the Knights. See the Auberge de Castille listing above for more information about the various langues. And, if you’re eager to scout out the Knights’ auberge buildings in Valletta and in Birgu (their first base) this list should be helpful.
More –
St. John’s Co-Cathedral (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Manoel Theatre
From the outside, the Manoel Theatre looks stately, but not much different from Valletta’s other baroque-style limestone buildings. Step through its main entrance and into the theater though, and this 285-year-old structure is dazzling – bringing to mind a terraced wedding cake.
One of Europe’s oldest working theaters, ‘the Manoel’ was built in 1731 by the Portuguese Grand Master of the Order of St. John, and inaugurated in 1732. In the past, some of the Knights of Malta even performed there. While the venue does not hold performances year-round due to sweltering summer temperatures, it regularly offers behind-the-scenes tours. We enjoyed peeking at the theater’s colossal collection of costumes, while simulating the sounds of rain, wind and thunder using the museum’s 19th century ‘sound machines.‘
More –
Putting Malta in the Limelight: Valletta’s Manoel Theatre (my blog post)
Manoel Theatre (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Sacra Infermeria
The Knights’ Hospital
The Knights of Malta are famous for driving away the Ottoman Turks during the Great Siege of 1565. However, what’s less known about the order is its legacy of medical care. When the Knights built La Sacra Infermeria in 1574, it was one of the most advanced medical facilities of its time. The hospital remained open through World War I and into the 1920s, helping Malta earn its title, ‘The Nurse of the Mediterranean.’
The Knights Hospitallers exhibit features models of what the hospital’s wards would have once looked like, and outlines the Knights’ revolutionary medical practices, including the antibacterial use of silver for food service. The farther below ground you venture here, you’ll find shelters used during bombing raids in World War II, and see gloomy subterranean cells where patients with mental conditions were housed. Visually, the most impressive part of the facility is the former ward, which is 155 meters long (roughly 500 feet), and once the largest in Europe. Since the building now functions as a conference center and concert hall, this section unfortunately may not always be open to visitors.
More –
Sacra Infermeria / Mediterranean Conference Center (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Malta Experience website You can purchase combination tickets to this audio-visual show and the Sacra Infermeria, or go into the Sacra Infermeria building itself to buy a ticket only for that site. I’ve never seen the Malta Experience show, as Shawn and I only purchased Sacra Infermeria tickets.
National Library of Malta
&
Republic Square
Certainly worth a peek if you are a bibliophile, the National Library of Malta exudes old world charm. In its atmospheric Reading Room, shelves of centuries-old books line the walls from hip to ceiling level. Many of these books and valuables were left to the library by Knights upon their death.
The elegant 18th century-structure, popularly known as the Bibliotheca, is situated on Republic Square, near the outdoor dining area of the opulent Caffe Cordina. It’s the last of the official structures built by the Knights, and for those interested in conducting research on either the Knights of Malta, or Maltese culture and history, there’s a good chance you’ll find the collections fascinating.
If you visit, be sure to bring a passport or other form of identification, as an ID is needed to obtain an entry badge. Photography is not allowed inside the Reading Room.
More –
Admission free.
National Library of Malta (official website)
National Library of Malta (Wikipedia)
Queen Victoria Statue and Victoria Gate
Having been part of the British Empire for 151 years, Malta still flashes relics from its colonial past. One of the most prominent is the stately Victoria Gate, which faces Valletta’s Grand Harbour side. Constructed in the 1880s, the Victoria Gate replaced its 16th-century predecessor, the Del Monte Gate. We saw crackling oil paintings of the old Del Monte Gate at Valletta’s Museum of Fine Arts and thought it was neat that a marina had sprung up around it, creating a bustling area. It looks like there was once a fountain and fish market nearby there too. Nowadays, the Victoria Gate is a popular place for placid stray cats that lounge under the limestone structure.
The Queen Victoria statue is in front of the National Library on Republic Square. She usually has a flock of pigeons vying for the limited seating space around her crown. Her likeness was inaugurated in 1891.
Nelson’s Hook
Believed to have been installed into a building’s exterior wall by the Knights, this iron hook on St. John’s Street is often overlooked by passersby. Though it has no signs alerting visitors of its significance, the unassuming hook is believed to have first been used to help hoist St. John’s Co-Cathedral’s gargantuan bells in the 1740s. A few decades later, it might have helped facilitate public punishment – propping up a pillory.
Lord Nelson, the curious hook’s namesake, was said to have squeezed his body through the hook after being dared. This supposedly happened in 1803, and thereafter the tale of Nelson’s flexible feat spread. A legend developed in the British Navy that a promotion could be achieved if a service-member succeeded in wiggling his body through the hook, as demonstrated in this vintage picture. Find the hook on this map.
Former Victory Kitchen
During World War II, Malta had more than 40 Victory Kitchens – places from which war-weary families could get food. Back then, families were issued meal vouchers, entitling them to food items like goat’s meat, tomato sauce and beans.
In the early 2000s, a Victory Kitchen sign was unearthed during restoration on this Valletta building. You can find the sign on the Melita Street side of the Clark’s shoe store building. This is right near the intersection with Merchants Street (map here).
General Resources:
Valletta Waterfront | Cruise Port
Technically in the neighboring town of Floriana, the Valletta Waterfront is the port of entry for visitors arriving by cruise ship. From here, you can access the city by taxi, via the Upper Barrakka Lift (elevator), or on foot.
While the restaurants, bars and shops here mostly cater to visitors, this spot still is historical. In the 1700s, the Knights – along with visiting merchants – used to unload their goods here.
More –
Valletta Waterfront (official website)
Tourist Information Offices
There are two tourist offices in Valletta – one on Melita Street (in central Valletta) and another on the Valletta Waterfront. See the Malta Tourism Authority website for opening hours and contact information.
Transportation
Valletta is known for its steep, San Francisco-esque streets and abundance of steps. While this makes for a picturesque atmosphere, it can also make getting around on foot challenging for someone with limited mobility. In this section, I’ve included information about alternatives to walking: horse-drawn cabs, electric taxis, and a trackless tourist train.
And, if you’re using Valletta as a hub for exploring spots elsewhere on the island, I’ve included links to Valletta’s bus schedule and bus card options, plus ferries to Sliema and the Three Cities.
Taxis – From the airport to Valletta & surrounding areas | General taxi standards. We regularly used the bus to get around, but when we needed an early-morning taxi to the airport from Valletta, we used eCABS. We were impressed with the customer service we received, and the pre-arranged fare was the best I found too.
Bus Travel – Valletta does have a circular bus, which might be useful for getting around Valletta if you have limited mobility or cargo to carry. If you’ll be exploring Malta for a few days or more, you’ll probably want to pick up a multi-use bus card. Depending upon how many days you’re staying, this will likely save you money, and it’ll make bus drivers happy too, since you won’t need to make a cash transaction. Journeys completed within two hours should count as one fare, so save your receipt if you choose to pay with cash. If you’re living in Malta for a longer amount of time, you’re eligible to apply for a residential Tallinja card, which offers even lower fares. Whatever card you choose, use this Journey Planner to map out your excursions. Keep in mind that short distances can be deceiving when it comes to travel times throughout the island! The island is densely populated, and it can take an hour just to go a few kilometers. This is especially true during rush hour, or if there’s just been a heavy storm. (When we first got to Malta in 2015, flooded roads meant that it took us about 2.5 hours to travel just 10 kilometers by bus!)
Sliema Ferry – It takes about 5 minutes to travel from Valletta’s Marsamxett Harbour to the city of Sliema by ferry. This is considerably faster and more scenic than taking a bus! See the Sliema Ferry website for a timetable and fares.
Three Cities Ferry | Dgħajsa– The journey time from Valletta to Vittoriosa (known locally as Birgu) is roughly 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, you can travel by dgħajsa, Malta’s version of a gondola. Dgħajsa drivers congregate near Valletta’s Three Cities ferry point. Like its Sliema Ferry counterpart, a ferry or a dgħajsa is a quicker and more enjoyable way to travel from city to city than by bus. Visit the Three Cities ferry website for a timetable and fares. As for dgħajsas, on one of our crossings by dgħajsa, Shawn and I met ‘Captain Bruce’ who pilots the Pici. He can be reached by mobile at 99 93 33 77. Alternatively, you can schedule a dgħajsa through this website. (I have no experience with this website.)
Electric Taxi (Smart Cabs) – A fleet of electric taxis exists in Valletta. I’ve never ridden them, but here are pricing and booking details.
Horse-Drawn Cabs – If you’d like to explore Valletta’s perimeter by horse-drawn carriage (karozzin), you can find horse drivers offering their services near Valletta’s City Gate (near the Bus Terminal), as well as near the entrance to Fort St. Elmo. I’ve never done this before, but as you would anywhere in the world, be sure to confirm the price in advance. There are actually signs posted at the pick-up spots, noting the established prices. As of 2016, it was €35 for the first 30 minutes. This is the price per trip, not per passenger. Also, use your own judgment about whether you think the horse is well-cared for.
Tourist Train – Like the horse-drawn cabs, I haven’t had the occasion to ride the tourist train, but I often saw it snake through central Valletta. It might be fun for kids, or practical for those with limited mobility.
Hotels
& Longer-Term Accommodation
When I first visited Valletta in 2006, short-term lodging options were few and far between. Back then, I stayed at the Asti Guesthouse, run by sweet Annie and her family, and situated on atmospheric St. Ursula Street. In recent years, more and more charming boutique hotels and self-catering apartments have appeared on the scene in Valletta (affiliate links), some occupying pretty old palazzi. Since we lived in Valletta, we never had the need to stay elsewhere in the city. Still, Valletta boutique hotels like the Casa Ellul, Trabuxu Boutique Living and 10 Strait Street piqued my curiosity, as they look like they offer a stylish blend of old and new. Airbnb is also an option for finding accommodation. If you’re new to Airbnb and sign up using this link, we both get $25 in travel credit. Some readers have mentioned that Airbnb modifies the promotion from time to time, so the figure might be a bit more or less.
Since Valletta is compact, chances are that you’ll find yourself in a convenient spot wherever you choose to stay on the peninsula. Valletta hosts the island’s main bus terminal, so staying there makes day-trips to sites elsewhere on the island convenient. Even if you’re visiting for a long-weekend or city break, you can see from this guide that there are lots of things to keep you busy in Valletta itself.
While I would wholeheartedly recommend staying in Valletta, it might not be a good fit for you if you’re planning to spend most of your time at the beach, or if you’re not accustomed to lively surroundings. We found it rather noisy living in Valletta: honking horns, a rambunctious family next door, construction noise at many hours of the day and night (even at midnight and at 4 AM). Living on Strada Stretta where there are wine bars, we expected bar-related noise, but not the other types that I mentioned. The live acoustic guitar and chatter of guests emanating from the wine bars & cafés was pleasant and not bothersome; the other noise – pretty intrusive! So, in short, check to see that your Valletta accommodations have sound-proof windows. Or, be prepared to embrace life in a ‘spirited’ capital city.
As for longer-term accommodation, it can be challenging finding a Valletta apartment to rent on a long-term basis. This is because owners prefer short lets (higher profit margins for them), plus only a fraction of the city’s buildings have been restored. The rest of the buildings are derelict, with many undergoing refurbishment. When we moved to Malta in September 2015, I found these practices to be helpful for finding an apartment for a long let:
Work with several real estate agents at a time, and be persistent! At the height of our apartment search, I was calling or emailing about 7 agents on a daily basis to see if any new properties had appeared in their database since our last conversation. Though we had hoped to avoid paying a realtor’s commission, in the end working with an agent was the only way we could find an apartment. As commission, we paid half of one month’s rent; our landlord paid the other half of that commission.
If you can, partner with an agent who specializes in properties in Valletta or the Three Cities. If you are set on living in Valletta, clearly communicate this to your agent. Persistence pays off.
Join accommodation-themed groups on Facebook and publicize that you’re looking to rent in Valletta.
Distribute your phone number to locals within Valletta. At one point, I even went into shops and restaurants to strike up conversations with employees, inquiring if they knew of anyone with a vacant apartment. I got a few leads this way.
If you’re looking for a long-let during the winter months, you might have better luck than someone searching during the summer. Otherwise, keep in mind that many apartment owners are eager to rent their properties on a shorter-term basis, especially during the prime tourist season.
The Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture designation has created a flurry of interest in the city, sparking a ‘seller’s market’. When we were offered a handful of Valletta apartment viewings, we encountered high-pressure sales. Often, a realtor scheduled several clients at once, injecting a feeling of competition.
We paid €675 monthly rent for an 11-month contract. We had a 1-bedroom apartment, with a combined kitchen/living room. Electricity was approximately €65 a month, and water was about €20 a month. Internet was €30 a month for a 30 Mbps speed.
Groceries & Bakeries
Valletta has a fair number of ‘mom & pop’ grocery markets, making shopping for bottled water and essential nibbles rather convenient if you’re staying in the capital. Some cater to locals, while others target tourists.
Though I like supporting smaller establishments, Shawn and I did most of our grocery shopping outside of Valletta, at Lidl or Pavi supermarkets in the town of Qormi. We did this for several reasons. For one, we tended to do a week’s worth of shopping at a time. Also, larger grocery stores outside of the capital have a greater selection, including gluten-free products. I still occasionally popped into Valletta’s small shops when I needed a last-minute ingredient, or to restock our fruit and veggie basket.
In Valletta, I took a liking to a tiny grocery store named Fresh Direct run by Valletta resident, Tanja, who was happy to share details about Maltese life with me. You can find Tanja’s shop at 143, Old Bakery Street, or via the shop’s website.
If you can, go there on a Saturday (before the afternoon closure), and mingle with some of the Valletta locals. I met 83-year-old Richie, a former cabaret performer, who might even have been a drag queen in the 1950s. The ladies at the grocery store told me that Richie can still dance, and that he was quite handsome during his performing days. I also had a chance meeting with a cosmopolitan Maltese diplomat at the grocery store. He was sporting a straw hat – perhaps from his years spent in South America. He seemed thrilled to share historical tidbits about the island. Other down-to-earth locals there were always eager to tell me what Valletta life was like back in the day too. They lamented that it was much better years ago, because there were less people and things felt more private.
However crowded it is, the shopping experience at Tanja’s felt authentic, with people yelling over the counter in a boisterous fashion. They were quick to tell me that they were passionately discussing issues – not fighting!
When I was writing this guide, Valletta was in the midst of restoring its atmospheric old covered market on Merchant’s Street, called is-Suq tal-Belt in Maltese. Reports say that the ‘new’ covered market will feature food shops and stalls, and catering establishments. We peeked inside this 1860s-era market before the restoration began, and loved the look of the wrought ironwork. It’s lovely to hear that the structure is experiencing a renaissance after many years of neglect. Some locals I chatted with expressed regret that it will “not be the same” experience that they once had buying fresh fish, fruit and vegetables. Nevertheless, I hope it might be able to incorporate some degree of authenticity.
Late during our time in Valletta (lucky for Shawn who is addicted to bread!), we discovered Borg Bakery, an authentic bakery frequented by Valletta locals. You can get ftira and Ħobż Malti there, ranging from 25 to 75 Euro cents for a bread bun or sliced loaf of sourdough, respectively. Find the Borg Bakery at 76, Triq San Nikola. It’s at the tip of the peninsula, heading toward Fort St. Elmo.
For sweet treats I found some lovely cannoli (kannoli) at the kiosk near the City Gate entrance. It’s the first stand on the left if you’re facing the City Gate. It’s a dangerous neighborhood for those with a sweet tooth, because it’s situated next to the celebrated imqaret (date treat) stand. Being gluten-free, I didn’t get to try the kannoli or the imqarets, but Shawn and our Maltese friends gave the cannoli great reviews.
Restaurants
As for restaurants, our Valletta picks follow. If you’re a gluten-free eater, as I am, rest assured that several restaurants offer gluten-free pasta options. If you ask, some might even bring out gluten-free bread to accompany your meal.
Wherever you choose, do consider making reservations – especially on weekends and holidays. Also note that many establishments are closed on Mondays.
La Mère – Hands-down, this was our Valletta favorite! Perhaps one reason I liked this restaurant so much is because eating there reminded me of our time exploring India. Couple that nostalgia with a delightful menu of Indian, Arabian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes, kind staff, and a cozy interior, and you have a winning combination. All of the waiters I encountered understood what gluten is, and were able to recommend dishes accordingly. I loved the spicy curries!
D’Office Bistro – Friendly staff, pleasant Mediterranean-style food, complimentary gluten-free bread, and an awareness of what is and is not gluten-free, made this centrally-located restaurant a nice pick. It’s just around the corner from the Grandmaster’s Palace.
Rampila Restaurant – Tucked into Valletta’s fortifications overlooking the City Gate entrance, the setting is what makes this restaurant special! Stepping inside, you might be tempted to dine under the attractive limestone-arched ceiling, but if you can, reserve a table outside on the terrace for lovely views. After dinner, it’s fun to pop into Rampila’s wine bar for a drink. Its walls are studded with wine from around the world, and through the floor’s glass panel, you can spy the old wine cellar below.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies are located throughout Valletta’s main thoroughfare, Republic Street, and on some side streets. Our go-to place for drugstore needs was the Empire Pharmacy, which has a shop on Melita Street and Old Theatre Street. Karen, who works there, was always very helpful and kind.
Post Offices
Valletta’s most convenient post office is situated just across the street from the Auberge de Castille. For other locations and opening hours, visit MaltaPost’s website.
Safety
Crime-wise, Shawn and I never felt unsafe in Valletta. There are occasionally reports about pickpockets in Valletta’s (and Malta’s) most touristic areas. Open grates with drop-offs, low fortification walls, gargantuan piles of dog droppings and wreckless drivers disregarding signs and speed limits probably pose the biggest hazards. I can’t emphasize the poor driving enough, as drivers often do not stop at stop signs or designated pedestrian crosswalks. Unfortunately, news articles about pedestrians and bicyclists being hit in Malta are all too common.
Consult your country’s foreign affairs site for specifics. Here are Malta-specific travel pages for Americans, Brits, Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders.
Souvenirs
If you’re looking to take home an ink drawing, mug, or set of notecards capturing the essence of Malta’s colorful doors, floor tiles and street scenes, check out the work of local artist Stephanie Borg, whom we met while on a Maltese olive-oil tasting ecotour. Note that her shop is in Rabat (near popular Mdina), not Valletta.
A good gift for ladies who appreciate handmade jewelry is a piece of sterling silver filigree. When my beloved Croatian handcrafted filigree earrings needed a polishing, I sought out The Silversmith’s Shop (on Republic Street). They had stunning bracelets, necklaces and pendants there, and I enjoyed talking to the son whose father started the business. A traditional Maltese symbol would be the Maltese Cross, but there are loads of options. I also popped into other filigree jewelry stores to peek at their work, and one shop-owner confessed that many of their pieces are no longer produced in Malta. Be sure to inquire about where the jewelry is made, if that’s important to you.
The National Museum of Archaeology Gift Shop features items inspired by Malta’s Temple Builders. I thought the shop’s limestone candle holder, featuring the prehistoric people’s trademark swirl design, was neat, but I couldn’t add more weight to our luggage.
If your country allows you to import honey, it could be fitting to bring home a jar as a souvenir because Malta has been known for its remarkable honey since ancient times. Speculation exists that the name Malta even evolved from names given to it thousands of years ago. Numerous stores in Valletta sell honey, but scrutinize your purchase carefully, as fakes are reputed to exist. The best way to determine authenticity is to purchase directly from the beekeeper. Two Maltese beekeepers we met live outside of Valletta, but perhaps you can meet up with them elsewhere on the island. We visited the apiary of beekeeper Michael Muscat (find his contact details and the story of our visit here) and we also crossed paths with beekeeper Ray Sciberras at several community events.
Festivals and Holidays
The Maltese excel at celebrations and fanfare! From a film festival to a baroque music festival, a plethora of special events take place in Valletta year-round. I suggest that you consult the Malta Tourism Authority’s What’s On calendar to see what’s happening during your visit.
What follows, however, are just a handful of Valletta’s most popular festivities. These dates change, so check them before your visit.
Feast Days:
St Paul’s Shipwreck – 10 February
St Augustine – 11 May
Our Lady of Mount Carmel – 16 July
St Dominic – 3 August
Carnival
Easter
Christmas & New Year’s
Notte Bianca
Valletta 2018 Events
Wine Festivals (Delicata and Marsovin)
Maltese Newspapers
If you want to keep abreast of happenings in Malta before or during your visit, peruse the country’s online newspapers:
The Times of Malta
The Malta Independent
Malta Today
From Maltese apps to a weather forecast website, here are more links to help you plan your stay in Malta:
Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture
Visit Malta (official tourism website)
City of Valletta website and City of Valletta Facebook page
Malta Yellow Pages
Malta 7-Day Forecast
Malta Apps (recommendations from the Malta Tourism Authority)
Do you need more trip-planning ideas? From an island hopping sailing excursion, to ecotours in Malta’s greener corners, this index highlights all my posts from Malta.
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Where in the World?
Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.
Have you visited Valletta, or do you now call Malta’s capital city home? If so, which of your favorite spots have I missed? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Filed under: Art and Culture, Malta, Outdoors, Travelogues Tagged: architecture, history, Knights of Malta, Mediterranean, museums, travel, travel photography, UNESCO World Heritage, Valletta | ||||||
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] | null | [] | 2022-11-13T00:00:00 | Baroque-style buildings line the streets in Valletta, Malta, many dating back to the founding of the city in the 16th century The City of Valletta has been a UNESCO World heritage Site since 1980. It is fairly unusual in that the whole city (polulation ~ 6,000) has been included as a World Heritage Site. The… | en | https://s1.wp.com/i/favicon.ico | Where in the world is Riccardo? | https://richedwardsimagery.wordpress.com/2022/11/13/city-of-valletta-republic-of-malta/ | The City of Valletta has been a UNESCO World heritage Site since 1980. It is fairly unusual in that the whole city (polulation ~ 6,000) has been included as a World Heritage Site. The UNESCO website explains that “Auberge de Castille, sits at the highest point in the heart of Valletta near the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Barrakka Lift and, since 1972, houses the Office of the Prime Minster of Malta; it was built in the 1740s.”
“Built in 1861, due the increasing popularity of opera on the Maltese Islands, the majestic Royal Opera House was designed by the English artist, Edward Middleton Barry. As resilient as it is beautiful, this superb performance venue suffered two devastating blows. The first, a fire in 1879 which destroyed its interior and resulted in its being rebuilt, the second, severe bombardment during World War ll, after which very little remained. Reconstructed in the twenty-first century, the magnificent Pjazza Teatru Rjal opened its doors to the public in 2013, and has been a musical hotspot ever since. A truly magical experience, a performance at this stunning theatre is strongly recommended!” — https://www.visitmalta.com/pl/attraction/pjazza-teatru-rjal-malta/
“Malta’s capital Valletta is a fortified city located on a hilly peninsula between two of the finest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. The Siege of Malta in 1565 captured the European imagination and mobilised the resources needed to create the new city of Valletta, founded soon after, in 1566. The Knights of St John, aided by the most respected European military engineers of the 16th century, conceived and planned the city as a single, holistic creation of the late Renaissance, with a uniform grid plan within fortified and bastioned city walls. Since its creation, the city has witnessed a number of rebuilding projects, yet those have not compromised the harmony between the dramatic topography and the Hippodamian grid. The fabric of the city includes a compact ensemble of 320 monuments that encapsulate every aspect of the civil, religious, artistic and military functions of its illustrious founders. These include the 16th century buildings relating to the founding of the Renaissance city, such as the cathedral of St John, the Palace of the Grand Master, the Auberge de Castile et Léon, the Auberge de Provence, the Auberge d’Italie, the Auberge d’Aragon and the Infirmary of the Order and the churches of Our Lady of Victory, St Catherine and il Gesù, as well as the improvements attributed to the military engineers and architects of the 18th century such as the Auberge de Bavière, the Church of the Shipwreck of St Paul, the Library and the Manoel Theatre.” — https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/131/
“The beautiful and impressive St John’s Co-Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the heart of Valletta dedicated to Saint John the Baptist… It was built between 1572 and 1577 by the Knights of Malta at the request of Grand Master Jean de la Cassière to act as the Conventual Church of Saint John. Its design is a prime example of Baroque architecture and as an attraction is a must-visit on a trip to Malta! Several artistic pieces of great value enrich the co-cathedral, with paintings from the great Caravaggio to works of art donated as gifts by past Grand Masters and Knights of the Order of St. John.
“The building itself was designed by renowned Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar, who is also credited to have designed the Grandmaster’s Palace as well as the original design for the Knights’ hospital, La Sacra Infermeria. In the 17th century, Mattia Preti and other able artists gave the cathedral’s interior the Baroque imprint. Over the centuries several gifts and inheritances left by the various Knights further embellished the cathedral to become a true jewel.
“St. John’s Co-Cathedral retained its title as the conventual church of the Order until the Knights left Malta with the French occupation in 1798. It is called a Co-cathedral since it shares the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta together with the older Cathedral of Saint Paul in Mdina. The Co-Cathedral is home to priceless works of art, including the Beheading of St. John, an internationally recognised masterpiece by Caravaggio. The interior of the church is considered to be one of the finest examples of high Baroque architecture in Europe. The cathedral contains nine richly decorated chapels on its two sides. Eight were made for each of the langues (or branches) of the Order of the Knights, while the ninth was built in honour of Our Lady of Philermos, the patron saint of the Order. The cathedral has three clocks on one of its towers. A second and third clock indicates the current day and week.” — http://www.maltauncovered.com
“Auberge d’Italie was also called Berġa tal-Italja when it was built at the end of the 16th century. It was a hostel for the Italian langue of the Knights from the Order of Saint John who were responsible for guarding the Bastions of St. Peter and Paul. Th[e] ornate relief above the front door was installed during an enlargement in 1683. The design by La Fe’ included a coat of arms, the Trophy of the Arms and a statue of Grandmaster Gregorio Carafa which is now missing. Subsequently the building was the military headquarters for the French and later the British. [For 15 years, through 2017 it] house[d] the Ministry of Tourism and include[d] a tourist information office.” — https://www.encirclephotos.com/image/auberge-ditalie-ornate-sculpture-in-valletta-malta/
“It is now converted to host the national collection (previously at national Museum of Fine Arts). In 2018 it became the new National Community Art Museum, MUZA (from the Maltese acronym Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti).” –- Wikipedia
“The city is pre-eminently an ideal creation of the late Renaissance with its uniform urban plan, inspired by neo-platonic principles, its fortified and bastioned walls modelled around the natural site and the voluntary implantation of great monuments in well-chosen locations… The city is irrevocably affiliated with the history of the military and charitable Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, which founded the city in 1566 and maintained it throughout two and a half centuries. Valletta is thus associated with the history of one of the greatest military and moral forces of modern Europe.” — https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/131/
“The Upper Barrakka Gardens is a popular, yet quiet location on the southern side of Valletta, with magnificent views over Grand Harbour. It’s a great stop for a quick coffee and snack at its quaint kiosk and terrace. You can also enter Valletta from down at the harbour using the Upper Barrakka Lift and it’s a good place to be at noon and 4 pm sharp daily for the firing of the guns at the Saluting Battery down below.” — https://www.maltauncovered.com/valletta-capital-city/ | ||||
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"free website"... | null | [] | null | Create your own free travel journal. Upload text, photos, video to your blog and map your trip. Browse 5,332,620 photos, 19,191 videos, and 54,176 trips! | /favicon.ico | null | Public holiday in Malta today being Workers Day. We decided to visit Valletta which is only a 5 minute and 2 Euro ferry ride away. Valletta is the capital city of Malta. It is located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west. As Malta’s capital city, it is a commercial centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life and at just 0.61 square kilometres, it is the European Union's smallest capital city. Being so small, I think we walked every street in the town, that included amazing views across the harbour.
Well the good news is Tina is okay and was back at the hotel last night. She is sporting a small cut and a swollen eye but was in good spirits at breakfast. Said goodbye to everyone. It was a good group to travel with - everyone mixed well and lots of laughs. Now at the airport waiting for my flight to Frankfurt.
This morning we met our new guide, Cynthia. She is very organised and communicates well. We were given a glass of a locally made soft drink called Kinnie. So then a bus ride for about 20 minutes to Valletta, the capital of Malta. A walk along the Main Street which is the same as many other towns in that it becomes a pedestrian only road at a certain time in the morning until late afternoon. Malta was heavily bombed during the Second World War and the Opera House is testament to this with only a few pillars and the base still standing. To...
We were docked in Valetta, Malta by 7:00 in the morning. Marilynn was startled to see a man looking up at the ship when she opened the curtains, and we felt that we were docked just across the street from the apartment buildings lining the road beneath the ancient walls. Malta Is an island that has been invaded countless times, beginning with the ancient Phoenicians and followed by, just to mention a few, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Crusaders, Spain, Napoleon’s army and lastly, the British. Because of the British occupation, English...
My trip to Mdina, the former capital of Malta, by public bus got off to a slow start this morning. The bus stop is only 100 metres from the apartment & I got there in plenty of time for the 9:15 bus. It didn’t come & neither did the 9:30 one, then I realized that it didn’t look like a regular city bus so I’d let 2 of them go past. I finally got to the central bus station which is huge & the bus I needed was the furthest from the information booth. Of course, true to form, I just missed a bus but they were only 10 minutes apart & it was a...
It’s still hot but I planned a full day of sightseeing after my day off yesterday. The Hop-on Hop-off bus has 2 routes, the north & south so I started off on the first bus of the day which was the north route. Just as well I had plenty of time because the bus stop had moved closer to the cruise terminal to catch passengers from the huge Costa Pacifica out of Genoa, which was full of thousands of Italians. The bus was full by the time we left, but most of them got off in Mdina which I’ve decided to leave until tomorrow because, with an hour...
One of the great advantages of travelling independently instead of on a tour is that you can occasionally take the day off if you feel like it. That’s exactly what I did today. My weekly Zoom session with the family ended at 10:30am my time & it was forecast to be 34C today (93F) so I didn’t want to spend too much time in the sun after the hot day yesterday. I went up the hill to the supermarket I’ve found in the centre of town & bought the ingredients to make a chicken casserole because I wanted some home cooking for a change after eating...
It was forecast to be hot again (33C) so I got an early start. I walked along the seafront among the fishermen, to the fast ferry wharf which is also the starting point for the Hop-on Hop-off buses. After looking at the schedules, I decided to spend the day on Gozo, a small island to the north of Malta but still part of the Maltese Republic. The senior fare on the fast ferry was only 3 Euro so I don’t know how much less the regular one would be. It took 45 minutes to make the crossing, then there was a sightseeing bus waiting to meet the...
I wasn’t feeling great yesterday, so I decided to have an easy day. There are still lots of places I want to see outside Valletta but every time I go into the town, which is just a short walk from the apartment, I find new treasures. This morning, I vowed to find St John’s Co-cathedral, supposedly the highlight of a trip to Malta. When I looked at the map, it seems I’d passed it a couple of times but hadn’t recognised it because it’s very plain on the outside in contrast to the lavishly decorated baroque interior. The main entrance is...
The closest attraction to the apartment seemed to be the best place to start today. It’s called The Malta Experience, an audio/visual presentation of 7,000 years of Maltese history in 45 minutes & it was excellent. There were only about 10 of us in a theatre which could seat hundreds & each seat was equipped with headphones where you could select the audio in 16 different languages. I noticed that the English version was narrated by Derek Jacobi. The original Knights of St John of Jerusalem (or Knights Hospitallers) were founded in the 11th...
The taxi was on time at 10:00 am & got to the airport in record time. The traffic here is crazy but it seems no-one will mess with a taxi even though there were plenty of instances when I was sure he’d have to give way to these very aggressive Sicilian drivers. He just kept going although the other cars were just inches away. I’m flying for the first, & maybe the last, time with Ryanair who invented low-cost, low-service airlines. I’m doing it not because I wanted to save money but they’re the only airline I could find flying from Catania...
We arrived in Malta, entering the Grand Harbor of Valletta. The harbor is protected on both sides by ancient fortresses. The entry and exit from the harbor is spectacular. The first of two days in Malta we went to the old capital of Mdina for a concert in the Mdina Cathedral. We were treated to an orchestra, choir, and operatic singers. The acoustics on the cathedral were amazing without any electronic enhancement. Mdina is called the “Silent City” as cars are not allowed in the streets, except for deliveries to local shops. Horse drawn... | ||||||
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] | null | en | L-Università ta' Malta | null | Positioned at the crossroads between Europe and Africa, the Maltese Islands boast a history and culture which reflect its geographical characteristic. After being subjected to foreign rule for centuries, Malta is now a free independent Republic island-state, member of the European Union since 2004. The official languages in Malta are Maltese and English. A complex derivative of Semitic and Romance languages, Maltese is a very particular language, having an Arabic sound but using Latin characters.
The particular language of the Maltese people is one of the numerous witnesses to Maltaâs turbulent narrative, which started around 7,000 years ago with a prehistoric community settling on our shores from nearby Sicily. With the arrival of the Phoenicians, Malta unveiled its historic period. Centuries of foreign dominion have left there imprint on the development of a rich history, influenced by the Ancient Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Spanish, French, Italian and British.
The capital city, Valletta, is considered the Baroque capital par excellence. Built in the 1560s by the Knights of St John to serve as the headquarters of the Order, Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and will be European Capital of Culture in 2018.
The Maltese climate is typically Mediterranean. Winters are mild and summers very hot. The lack of rain during the summer months results into very dry land, which limits agricultural activity. With a population of around 421,000, the Maltese people have developed an incredible flexibility and resourcefulness, adapting themselves to changing economic circumstances and developing a strong tourism industry.
Malta offers the perfect atmosphere for any event, be it a large-scale conference or an exclusive study-trip. The diverse facets that the archipelago offers, along with the hospitable nature of the Maltese people, ensure peace of mind to the organiser and an unforgettable experience for the participants. | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 12 | https://www.maltauncovered.com/valletta-capital-city/ | en | Valletta: All You Need to Know About Malta’s Capital City | [
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] | null | [] | 2015-08-13T05:29:00+00:00 | Get to know Valletta through the eyes of a tourist-turned-local and prepare to visit Malta's capital city and its many places of interest. | en | /apple-icon-57x57.png | MaltaUncovered.com | https://www.maltauncovered.com/valletta-capital-city/ | Built on a peninsula between two large natural harbours (Grand Harbour on the eastern side and Marsamxett Harbour to the West), the city sits perched on higher ground. Its streets were aligned in a grid-like layout, being wide and straight, which is said to have been chosen to allow the sea breeze to provide respite from Malta’s hot summer weather.
Valletta is Malta’s administrative and commercial hub, with several Maltese government departments occupying some of its historic buildings and several financial and logistics companies having their offices here.
Despite its small size, Valletta is packed with sites of historical significance, with buildings dating back to the 16th century. So much so that it’s been an officially listed UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980.
That’s right, the city of Valletta as a whole is recognised by UNESCO for its historical and cultural value and is designated as having “outstanding universal value”. That doesn’t mean the place is swarming with tourists, however, although tour groups aren’t an uncommon sight, particularly during the summer months.
Intrigued? In this article, I cover the basics of what you need to know about Valletta, what makes it so special and what’s worth seeing and experiencing when you decide to pay this magnificent city a visit.
Restaurants & food recommendations
Valletta’s nightlife isn’t known for its clubs with loud music but rather for dining and casual drinks. There’s a good choice of quality restaurants, none overly expensive, although few budget options are around. In general, it’s always advised to book a table for dinner, especially on weekends.
Most of the options mentioned are quite popular, so the earlier you book, the better a chance you stand of getting a table.
These are my personal recommendations: Best Valletta Restaurants Guide.
Restaurants at the Valletta Waterfront
Fancy a 10-15 minute walk down to the Valletta Waterfront? You’ll find a number of restaurants and bars here, housed in the old (but recently renovated) storerooms. Apart from the international Hard Rock franchise, you should also try Tribelli and Brown’s Kitchen for a good selection of food that is reasonably priced.
Drinks & bars in Valletta
Trabuxu is a casual but cool wine bar set up in a semi-basement cellar and rustic decor. Great place to get a good bottle of wine and a platter of cold cuts, cheeses, etc.
Kingsway Bar & Restaurant is a popular place for both drinks and brunch/lunch. It’s a pretty classy place with both indoor and outdoor tables overlooking Republic Square
Café Society is one of the most popular bars in the city and is LGBTQ+-friendly. It’s a good bar to have a (cleverly named!) cocktail in a nice and chilled atmosphere. You can even sit outside on the stairs and enjoy the night breeze. Some evenings there is live music and jazz.
Bridge Bar is located close to Victoria Gate, on the South end of the city and is a wine bar known to host jazz sessions on Friday nights in summer. Casual seating on the steps and the bridge just outside, combined with atmospheric lighting and good wine and platters, make for a unique experience. The best place for info is their Facebook page.
History of Valletta
Besides being the smallest capital of the European Union, it’s also one of the youngest, having been founded a little over 450 years ago. The fortified city was built by the Knights of the Order of St. John (also known as the Knights of Malta or the Knights Hospitaller) on a peninsula with two harbours on its flanks.
Having survived The Great Siege by successfully warding off an attempt by the Ottoman Empire to invade the Maltese islands, the Knights strategically chose the city’s location for its highly defensible position. A small island in the Mediterranean Sea, Malta was always vulnerable and was considered to be located on the doorstep of Europe and its mostly Christian population.
With funding from the Vatican, amongst other benefactors, the Knights built the new city of Valletta to fortify Malta as a stronghold for Roman Catholicism. Despite its small size, Malta had a significant military advantage due to its location and was the perfect location for the Knights to accommodate the sick and injured, which was (and still is!) their core mission (as opposed to being a military order as such).
Even if you’re not into history much, if you really want to understand Valletta at its core, it pays to read up on the city’s history. Why and how was the city built? Who were the people who built and designed it? How is it that there’s so much to see in terms of history and culture?
I answer all of these questions here: Valletta’s history: A tale of conflict and cultural development | ||||
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] | 2021-11-01T16:54:00-04:00 | Even before I heard of the country of Malta, I was well aware of the existence of the Knights Hospitalier. Back in 2006, I was in a study abroad program in Rome. On one of our walking tours with the class, we stopped in front of a grand palazzo near the Spanish Step. A professor asked us whether we | en | https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4ef170d347c007483edd76/1602959925406-FMLWFX4V8HMV2WJZ07RO/favicon.ico?format=100w | Tuljak! Travel Blog | https://www.tuljak.com/blog/malta-the-islands-of-the-kninghts | Even before I heard of the country of Malta, I was well aware of the existence of the Knights Hospitalier. Back in 2006, I was in a study abroad program in Rome. On one of our walking tours with the class, we stopped in front of a grand palazzo near the Spanish Step. A professor asked us whether we recognized the flag flying above the front portico. It was a red flag with a white cross composed of four inward-pointing arrows. While all of us students have puzzled faces, the teaching assistant Corey whispered on the side: the Knights of Malta. That was my first introduction to the Knights of Malta. As it turned out, we were standing at the entrance of Palazzo Malta, the headquarters and an extraterritorial property of the modern successors to the original Knights Hospitalier. Ever since that moment, the Knights of Malta have been a thing of intrigue.
The history of the Knights Hospitalier is illustrious and goes back to the 12th century. The order began as a charity organization that cared for pilgrims visiting the holy lands. Over the centuries, the order expanded its “services” to providing armed escorts for warning pilgrims. It did not take long until they developed it into a full military force. The order retained its original charitable root while becoming a major regional force. In 1113, Pope Paschal II issued a papal bull to grant the organization the status of an autonomous Catholic order. For some time, Knights Hospitalier and their infamous rival Knights Templar were the main military forces in the region. Together, they built up some of the most formidable fortifications in the holy land.
Officially known as the "Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem,” the knights were based in Jerusalem until being captured by the Ayyubid Sultanate in 1187. The knight moved their operation around the Aegean Sea until headquarters on the Greek island of Rhode were finally set up in 1310. By then, the order has become a full-fledged military order in response to repeated sieges from both the Ayyubid Sultanate and the Ottoman Turks. The battle with the Muslim world intensified after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Eventually, the order lost Rhode to the Ottoman Empire after a seven-month siege in 1522.
Knights of Saint John vs. Knights of Malta
In 1530, Pope Clement VII made an agreement with the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to transfer the Maltese islands and Tripoli under the control of the knights. In addition to granting various privileges to Spain and Spanish-controlled Sicily, the order was to pay an annual tribute of a single Maltese falcon in what is known as the “Tribute of the Maltese Falcon.” Because Malta occupies such a strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean, the Catholic world banded together to ensure Malta remained in Catholic hands. Malta is considered the last stand against an Ottoman takeover of the Mediterranean. In acknowledgment of the importance of the coastal defense, the administrative center of Malta was moved to the coastal town of Birgu with the Knights arriving at Malta.
Historically, the Knights consist of eight “Langues” of knights from different ethnolinguistic divisions of the Catholic world: the Crown of Aragon, Auvergne, Crown of Castile, Kingdom of England, France, Holy Roman Empire, Italy, and Provence. Each Langues is organized with its own organizational hierarchy and administered from individual headquarters called “auberge.” Indeed, many of the original auberges still exist today. Some even house many important institutions of modern Malta. The most famous would be Valletta’s Auberge de Castille, which houses the office of the Maltese prime minister today. I was very confused about why the prime minister’s office was adorned with Spanish and Portuguese coats of arms, particularly because neither Spain nor Portugal ever ruled Malta. Other notable auberges that survive today include Auberge de Provence (now the National Museum of Archaeology) and Auberge d'Italie (National Community Art Museum).
What is particularly fascinating for me is how the local Maltese population fits within the larger story of the Knights. While we are all fascinated by the mystic of the Knights, the stories of Maltese were often overlooked. You would notice that there were no langues for Maltese. Ethnic Maltese were not allowed to be part of the order, even for those in the Maltese nobility class. Having ruled over Rhode previously, many in the order were known to have a colonial mindset. The treatment of Maltese during this period varied from one grandmaster to another. Maltese were mostly manual laborers for the order and were never given any high administrative role in running their homeland.
The knights rarely acknowledged the local Maltese’s contribution to the various battles. All the monuments and plaques dedicated to the sieges were dedicated to the knights and did not mention the Maltese. It was even said that Maltese causality was not even given proper burials after the Ottoman siege. After the two-year French occupation of Malta ended in 1800, local Maltese expressed their wish not to return the islands back to the Knights Hospitaller. The National Assembly of Maltese declared King George III the monarch and Malta a self-governing entity as a British Protectorate. It was even more remarkable considering that the devoutly Catholic Maltese would prefer the rules of the protestant monarch over a catholic order.
As a Taiwanese, I feel compelled to draw a parallel between the history of Malta and Taiwan. Like Malta, my home country has always had a great affinity for the most recent colonizer (Japan in Taiwan’s case). As island nations, both countries have always been political pawns in the geopolitical games between great powers. From the architecture to school textbooks, the national history of both nations was often written from the perspective of the colonizers. Perhaps it is a time for us to learn about Malta's history and the Maltese people.
The Great Siege of Malta
Without any question, Knights Hospitalier’s greatest single achievement would be the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. Malta may have seen its fair share of battles in its history, but this battle of 1565 with the Ottoman Empire is particularly legendary. This was the Ottoman’s second major attempt to take Malta. In the eyes of many in Christian Europe, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent must have seemed unstoppable. In a few decades, the sultan undertook major military expansion and captured major cities such as Belgrade, even coming as close to the fate of Vienna. The Ottomans began their attack after anchoring their fleet at Marsamxett Bay and launched a coordinated assault on Fort Saint Elmo. The fort fell to the enemy after more than a month's brutal assault. Ironically, the Ottoman causalities on the capture of Saint Elmo were so significant they contributed to the eventual failure of the siege.
The triumph of the Knights Hospitalier is often attributed to one man: Grandmaster Jean Parisot de Valette. Valette was a French nobleman who had a colorful history with the order. He even served a four-month sentence in the order’s prison in Gozo for disorder conduct. He was elected to be the Grandmaster because of his military leadership. Unlike his predecessors, Valette had no grandiose illusion of retaking Rhode from the Ottoman. Instead, he saw the fortification of Malta as essential to the Knight’s survival. In anticipation of the expected Ottoman invasion, Valette commissioned a network of spies to Constantinople. These spies were instrumental both before and throughout the siege. Aside from his superior military commands, Valette was also known for rallying his troops in the darkest of times through his stirring words and psychological coercion.
Even though the siege was a tremendous victory for the knights, roughly a third of the knights and Maltese lost their lives. The battle became one of the most famous battles in history, marking the last battle by “Christian crusaders.” The surviving knights who were fortunate enough to live to tell the tales became heroes of Europe. Voltaire once said: "Nothing is better known than the siege of Malta." In the aftermath, the knights enjoyed unprecedented prestige and wealth. Malta was further fortified with the best military engineers at the time. The fortification we see around the Grand Harbor nowadays looks formidable and has been placed on Malta’s tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
For me, the best place to learn about the Knights would be Fort Saint Elmo. Located at the very tip of the Sciberras Peninsula, this fort not only experienced the fiercest bombardment during the siege but was also considered a linchpin for the defense of Malta. Grandmaster Valette instructed their knights that Saint Elmo must be held on at all costs. The knights considered the defense of this fort as their ultimate sacred duty to their Christian faith. It is said that knights destroyed all the religious icons and crosses right after their final prayer in the chapel to prevent desecration by their Muslim enemy. Unsurprisingly, very few remnants of the fort from the 1565 siege remain. The knights and the British restored and expanded the fort in subsequent centuries.
Historic significance aside, Fort Saint Elmo is home to Malta’s National War Museum. The museum presents the story of Malta through the history of warfare. We have been to quite a fair number of military museums; they could be quite boring, to be honest. After all, guns and military regalia do not interest me. But if I were to think of another country where military history is so closely related to its history and identity, it would be Malta. The museum chronicles successive military campaigns dating back to the Arabic rules to the WWII siege by Fascist Italy and Germany.
Not surprisingly, the siege of 1565 is a marquee exhibit in the museum. The interactive exhibit traced all the actions and the defensive network around the Grand Harbour. Before the construction of Valletta, Fort Saint Elmo was an isolated outpost guarding the entry to the harbor. On exhibit were armor and cannonballs from the siege; it reminded us just how physical and hands-on many of these combats were back in the day. Seeing these historical artifacts gave us a physical dimension that we could not have from simply reading historical accounts.
Saint John's Co-Cathedral
Today, Grandmaster Valette’s claim of fame is probably not the Great Siege of 1565. Instead, he is most remembered as the founder of the capital that bears his name today. Valletta, the modern capital of Malta, was conceived right after the great siege. Following a perfectly rigid grid plan with uniform architecture, Valletta was conceived with the clinical efficiency of a military camp; it reminded me of Lisbon’s Baixa neighborhood, another city set up by a military general. It was said that Valletta was the first city to be laid out on paper since the fall of the Roman Empire. Valletta may be the most enduring architectural legacy of Grandmaster Vallette, but unfortunately, he did not live to see its completion.
Valletta's Saint John's Co-Cathedral is the best spot to learn about the knights today. After the completion of Valletta, the knight set up their capital here. Grand Master Jean de la Cassière constructed this church as a convent, eventually becoming the order's mother church. From the outside, the church is spartan, like a military citadel. Common legend holds that the architect modeled the structure after a former church in Rhode, the former home of the order. The church interior was austere for the first century of its existence. In 1664, Grandmaster Raphael Cotoner instructed the interior to be richly decorated to “rival any church in Rome.”
Today's interior is a dazzling explosion of Baroque symbols and gilded motifs by Italian painter Mattia Preti. Because the interior was decorative within such a short period of time, the design is unusually cohesive for a building of this scale. The ceiling of the main nave is decorated by massive murals depicting the life and martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of the order. Of course, the various grandmasters made cameo appearances in the story. Along the nave are eight individual chapels, each dedicated to one of the eight “langues” of the Knight Hospitaller. Walking through the cathedral was like a mini-tour of continental Europe. In addition to the motif of the Maltese cross, each chapel is also cloaked with nationalist symbols such as France’s fleur-de-lis and the vine grape of Provence. Naturally, each chapel also houses the tombs of various grandmasters elected from their own langues.
One of the most memorable funeral monuments in the church is that of Grandmaster Raphael Cotoner in the Chapel of Aragon. It stands out because of the figure of an African and Muslim slave looking up to the grandmaster from the base of the monument. Although it is not politically correct, this monument reminds us of the fact that slavery was a prominent feature of Malta during the knight’s rule. While slavery had been in Malta since antiquity, slavery reached its zenith under the Knights Hospitalier.
Most of Malta’s slaves were either of Jewish or Muslim origins and were captured in the knight’s various military forays and periodic raids along the coast of North Africa. Their demand for slave labor stemmed from the need to maintain their navy’s galley. Surprisingly, around a fifth of the slaves during this period were Christian. It was remarkable to think that a Catholic order would have no issue with holding Christian slaves. The practice of slavery ceased with the arrival of the Napoleonic rules. The abolition was officially codified when Malta was converted into the Crown Colony of the British Empire.
Funny enough, the most memorable part of the cathedral for us was the works of the infamous Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. He is one of those painters that any student of Western art history would know. Known for using dramatic lighting and vivid human expression, Caravaggio was extremely influential on some of the greatest artists of the Baroque age, such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Rembrandt, and Peter Paul Rubens. Indeed, the word "Caravaggisti" or "Caravagesques” came to describe a whole school of artists who took inspiration from his technique of illuminating humanity with dramatic spotlights and dark shadows.
Besides being groundbreaking artistry, Caravaggio lived an eventful life. After murdering a nobleman in Rome, he fled to Naples and then Malta. In Malta, he earned the patronage of Grandmaster Alof de Wignacourt and was promptly knighted into the order. He was given the most coveted commission: the massive altarpiece, The Beheading of St John the Baptist. Not only is this the largest painting the artist has ever done, but it is also the only painting that puts his signature on it. His volatile personality got into trouble just a year later. He got into a brawl with a fellow knight and was sentenced to imprisonment. In an ironic twist of fate, Caravaggio received his sentence in the shadow of his own painting. Being quite a rebel, he escaped Malta with some inside help.
It may surprise some… but the Knights Hospitaller remains the Sovereign Military Order of Malta or SMOM. Of course, being a Catholic organization, the order also goes by its fancy name: Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and Malta. As the name implies, the order has always been a sovereign separate from the Holy See. Like before, the grandmaster is elected among the members and not appointed by the Pope. And it was not unusual for the grandmaster and the pope to be at loggerheads with each other. One of the most famous instances was the dispute between Pope Francis and Grandmaster Matthew Festing over the issue of contraceptives. When the pope requested Festing’s resignation, many in the order accused him of violating the order’s sovereignty.
Today, the SMOM operates out of a Palazzo Malta in Rome, and they have several extraterritorial properties throughout the city. But notably, they are not technically the territory of the order. This gives the order the unique distinction of being a sovereign nation without territory. And like any tiny nation, SMOM cherishes its quirks by issuing its own postal stamps and currency. The order also maintains an official “diplomatic” relationship with about 110 nations, notably the Holy See and the Republic of Malta. The order also enjoys observer status or representation at multiple intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations. For a Taiwanese like myself, I could only shake my head at how SMOM somehow got more recognition than my home country.
Nowadays, the order returned to its original roots by providing medical and ambulance services worldwide. Even though it no longer has a standing army, the order retains all the traditional pomp and circumstance with elaborate ceremonies and regalia. In Malta, the SMOM maintains an embassy in Valletta and has a 99-year lease of the upper section of Fort Saint Angelo.
The knights made their indelible mark on Malta from the impressive fortification to the passion for Catholicism. Interestingly, today, the Maltese love of rabbits came from the knights’ period. It was said that rabbit hunting was reserved for the aristocratic knights at the time. So when the French booted the knight, local Maltese saw eating rabbits as a special privilege. Even though the Maltese did not necessarily cherish the 268-year reign by the Knights Hospitaller, the order gave Malta a unique identity. All the military sieges certainly hardened the Maltese identities. Unsurprisingly, the flags of the order still fly in many villages across Malta today. | ||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 25 | https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/battles/1798/c_Malta.html | en | The Conflict for Malta, 1798 – 1802 | [
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The Knights of St. John in Malta and Tsar Paul I
The Order of St. John of Jerusalem was established in roughly 1070 to protect Christians in the Holy Land. The Knights Hospitallers, as they are known, moved to the island of Cyprus in 1291 and later Rhodes in 1309. The hospitallers were once mounted knights, but turned to the sea when they arrived in the island of Rhodes. However, after repeated attacks, Rhodes fell to the Ottomans. The knights found a more permanent home in 1530 when the Holy Roman emperor, Charles V, bestowed the southern Mediterranean island of Malta to the Order. The knights’ maritime prowess led to a period of economic prosperity. Thirty-five years later, the knights repulsed invading Turkish forces in what would become known as the Great Siege of Malta. The island emerged as a well-fortified stronghold which would remain in the hands of the knights until the French invasion in 1798.
The power of the knights had declined significantly by the dawn of the eighteenth century. The majority of the members by this time were French, although there were also Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, and Anglo-Bavarian knights under the leadership of a Grand Master. The final Grand Master of Malta, Ferdinand von Hompesch was elected in 1797. Unfortunately for Grand Master von Hompesch, the Order was in a difficult situation when he took his post. During the French Revolution in 1792, the Order’s property in France was confiscated by the revolutionary government, which caused financial trouble for the knights. The Maltese people also became weary of the Order’s rule of the island. Desperate for assistance, the knights looked to the Russian empire and the tsar, Paul I.
While Grand Duke, Tsar Paul I had developed an interest in the Catholic Church and also the Order of St. John. He was greatly intrigued by the knights and entertained the idea of becoming the Grand Master himself. Fortunately for Paul, the Order and Russia enjoyed improved relations from 1796. On 10 December 1797 the Russian Tsar became “Protector of the Order of Malta .” The Tsar would later be awarded the title of Grand Master. In the end, the knights’ decision to accept the Tsar’s patronage ended badly for both sides. The French used the Russian alliance as cause to invade Malta and end the Order’s tenure on the island. Tsar Paul’s unstable and often confusing foreign policy contributed to his downfall and murder in 1801.
The French Period 1798 – 1800
Napoleon devised an expedition to seize Egypt from a weakened Ottoman empire and also threaten Britain ’s hold on India . The French foreign minister, Talleyrand, supported the idea of a Middle Eastern campaign, which began in the spring of 1798. Napoleon decided to send spies to Malta to report the condition of the knights. Reports from these spies led Napoleon to reason that the knights would not put up a great resistance in the event of an attack. The French also realized Malta ’s strategic importance, as it made for an ideal post in which to conduct operations against the British navy in the Mediterranean.
A force of over 30,000 Frenchman which had sailed from Toulon, Corsica, Genoa, and Civitta Vecchia arrived off of Malta on 9 June. The majority of the roughly 300 knights were elderly, which resulted in a poor defense of the island. Also, the local militias were poorly trained and terrified at the prospect of engaging the French. Napoleon wasted little time once his fleet arrived off of the island. Two brigades commanded by future marshals Marmont and Lannes under General Charles Henri Vaubois landed near Valetta, the capital of the island. Vaubois’ column quickly dispersed the Regiment of Malta, who retreated towards Valetta. Meanwhile, General Louis Charles Desaix landed and defeated another body of Maltese troops. A third column under General Jean Louis Ebénézer Reynier captured the neighboring island of Gozo after he promised to do the locals no harm.
The arrival of the French caused widespread panic in the streets of Valetta. Several knights were killed by a mob after rumors had spread of the island’s surrender. As all of this chaos raged within the walls of the city, the Grand Master remained indecisively in his palace. Finally, the knights came to terms on 11 June, surrendering the island to the French. The Order’s tenure on the island had met a dishonorable end.
Grand Master von Hompesch was exiled to Trieste, while the other knights were ordered to abandon the island shortly after. The French would gain considerable wealth from their expedition to Malta ; however, the treasure would be lost during the disastrous battle of the Nile. Vaubois was left in command of the island when the force departed for Egypt several days later.
Vaubois was uncertain if his position on the island was tenable because of the lack of necessities. A British fleet also loomed after Nelson’s annihilation of the French frigates in the battle of the Nile. Shortly afterward, Naples stopped all trade with Malta , seriously limiting the possibilities of receiving provisions. The Maltese themselves were beginning to pose a threat to French control of the island.
The local population voiced their anger on several matters, including some religious reforms brought by the French. The attempted seizure of a convent in the town of Notabile by the French led to an uprising. The French garrison in Notabile attempted to hold off the mob but it was soon overrun. The mob slaughtered the entire garrison after the town fell in their hands. Vaubois answered by reinforcing the garrisons of several important cities on the island but the Maltese insurrection had begun.
Emmanuel Vitale emerged as the leader of the movement. Vitale established a junta by agreeing to share power with a member of the current administration named Francesco Saverio Caruana. The leaders of the insurrection appealed to the King of Naples for aid, as the irregular Maltese forces could not expect to defeat the French troops on the island. However, King Ferdinand was hesitant to send aid while his Neapolitan kingdom was threatened by the French. Despite the absence of foreign support, the Maltese continued to harass the French, whose supplies dwindled daily.
Neither the Maltese nor the French could inflict serious damage on the other for several months. Meanwhile, several members of the Second Coalition including Britain , Naples, and Russia began to consider who would control Malta once the French were expelled. The British were opposed to Russia ’s presence in the Mediterranean because of Russian Tsar’s hostility. Tsar Paul was dissatisfied with the British because the knights’ sovereignty on the island was still in question.
In late 1799, Brigadier General Thomas Graham was dispatched to Malta as commander of the forces besieging Valetta. However, the allied forces in the Mediterranean were in a state of disarray. The British and the Russians were still at odds over the administration of Malta . While the allies quarreled over Malta , the French under Vaubois remained pinned in their defenses with limited supplies and little hope of escape as enemy frigates blockaded the island. Unfortunately for Vaubois, the disorganization of the forces would not deter his enemies from succeeding in the capture of Malta .
British-Controlled Malta , 1800 – 1802
After their exile from Malta , many of the knights once again turned to Russia for protection. Paul was quick to welcome those who wished to stay in Russia while examining the situation in Malta . Russia entered into an alliance with the Ottomans in 1798 and captured the Greek island of Corfu from the French in November. Despite the presence of a Russo-Turkish fleet in the Mediterranean, Paul made no effort to seize Malta . The Tsar planned to withdraw from the Second Coalition after a dispute with the allies.
Fortunately for the British, Russia ’s withdrawal from the Mediterranean and the Second Coalition opened the door for the conquest of Malta . On 5 September 1800, Vaubois surrendered the island to the British. The British governed the island through a rear admiral and later a general until 1813. The military officials were unable to manage the island effectively and became unpopular with the Maltese. However, the Maltese came to tolerate the British because of economic improvements during the Napoleonic Wars.
The British lost another ally in the Mediterranean as the Neapolitans made peace with the French, and by doing so were forced to close their ports to English goods. Russia began to negotiate with the French, especially after Napoleon’s victory at Marengo in June of 1800. Tsar Paul closed Russia ’s ports to British merchants in protest over the administration of Malta . The tsar had become so disgusted with Britain that shortly before his murder in March of 1801, the Russians had contacted Napoleon with plans of a Franco-Russian invasion of the Middle East.
Despite the fact that Tsar Alexander I declared to protect the knights, Russia had lost interest in their restoration in Malta . Britain and Russia came to terms concerning the island and agreed that Malta would remain a British naval base. The peace of Amiens in 1802 called for the knights’ restoration in Malta and neighboring Gozo but the British and the Russians argued that Napoleon’s appointment as president of a new Italian Republic among other things violated the terms of the agreement. The British resolved to retain Malta , which was one of the factors that led to war with France in the spring of 1803. Malta remained in British hands throughout the Napoleonic Wars and continued to serve as a strategic naval base into the 20th Century until obtaining independence.
Bibliography
Bradford, Ernle. The Shield and the Sword. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1973.
Cavaliero, Roderick. The Last of the Crusaders. London: Hollis and Carter, 1960.
Cohen, Reuben. Knights of Malta 1523-1798. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1920.
Gregory, Desmond. Malta , Britain , and the European Powers 1793-1815. Madison, New Jersey: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1996.
Herold, J. Christopher. The Age of Napoleon. New York: American Heritage Publishing Co., 1963.
Marshall-Cornwall, James. Napoleon as Military Commander. New York: Penguin Books, 2002.
Porter, Whitfield. A History of the Knights of Malta . London: Longmans, Green, & Co., 1883.
Ryan, Frederick W. The House of the Temple. London: Burns Oates and Washbourne Limited, 1930.
Vella, Andrew P. Malta and the Czars. Valletta, Malta : Royal University of Malta , 1972.
Notes:
[1] Cohen, Reuben. Knights of Malta 1523-1798. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1920. Pg. 6
[2] Bradford, Ernle. The Shield and the Sword. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1973. Pgs. 122-123.
[3] Porter, Whitworth. A History of the Knights of Malta . London: Longmans, Green, & Co., 1883. Pg. 647.
[4] Ryan, Frederick W. The House of the Temple. London: Burns Oates and Washbourne Limited, 1930. Pg. 208.
[5] Vella, Andrew P. Malta and the Czars. Valletta, Malta : Royal University of Malta , 1972. Pg. 26.
[6] Marshall-Cornwall, James. Napoleon as Military Commander. New York: Penguin Books, 2002. Pg. 82.
[7] Porter; Pg. 648.
[8] Cavaliero, Roderick. The Last of the Crusaders. London: Hollis and Carter, 1960. Pgs. 224-225.
[9] Cohen; Pg. 55.
[10]Bradford; Pg. 214.
[11] Cavaliero; Pg. 246.
[12] Ibid; Pg. 253.
[13] Gregory, Desmond. Malta, Britain, and the European Powers 1793-1815. Madison, New Jersey: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1996. Pgs. 13-14.
[14] Herold, J. Christopher. The Age of Napoleon. New York: American Heritage Publishing Co., 1963. Pg. 317.
[15] Bradford; Pg. 218.
Placed on the Napoleon Series: December 2008 | |||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 72 | https://www.goworldtravel.com/exploring-manoel-island-and-valletta-malta/ | en | Maltese Crossings: Exploring Manoel Island and Valletta, Malta | [
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It feels like Malta has been on everyone’s hit list, and not just that of tourists; centuries of invasions and colonisation reflect that.
The Greeks gave the island its name, “Malta,” which is close to their word for honey. This affirms the now centuries-long association with the production of varieties such as ghasel tas-saghtar, the wild thyme honey harvested by beekeepers in the summer months.
Phoenicians colonised Malta in 800 BC, then came the Romans, followed by invasions from the Arabs, Turks, French and Brits.
The republic might have a continental European flavour these days, with two-thirds of the population conversant in Italian (and 80% Catholic), but the vibe is not exclusively Latinesque.
However, don’t assume Malta lacks its own identity. The intriguing melange of all things Mediterranean is its personality. Independence may have come in 1964, but outside nations have left indelible marks and contemporary Malta embraces them.
The mix of military, colonial and cultural history is no more noticeable than in and around the bays of the east coast, particularly on Manoel Island and in Malta’s capital city, Valletta.
Manoel Island
To those less familiar with their surroundings, when gazing out at sea level from Sliema across Marsamxett Harbour, the scene on the other side of the creek conjures up a confusing tangle of stunning sun-bleached prominences.
At first glance, it’s difficult to distinguish ‘mainland’ (although technically as an archipelago, there is none) from that which is not. As it turns out, Manoel Island is presented at the forefront, with the Maltese capitol of Valletta tucked away behind.
I say island. Manoel is really just that, connected to Sliema by a 30-foot-long stone-arched bridge. By contrast to the busy Sliema side of the bay, there’s little human presence or activity going on here, other than a few diners at the solitary waterside restaurant just on the other side of the bridge.
There is a boat and yacht yard but no other amenities to speak of, and only so many parts of Manoel Island can be easily reached. What it does offer is respite. An escape from the noise, bustle, traffic and pushy sales patter of day-trip touts dotted along the promenade.
Book your hotel on Manoel Island here
Fort Manoel
Gates and fences currently guard Fort Manoel on the eastern tip at the time of writing. These were erected for the sake of preservation and restoration work.
The fort was once the proud bastion of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. However, the knights may not have been the first to introduce Christianity to the island. The shipwrecked arrival of Paul the Apostle in the first century reputedly marks that occasion. But the ancient military religious order did a good job of imbedding the Catholic faith, ensuring its dominance even after they were forced to move on by Napoleon’s lot in 1798.
As Manoel geographically guards the bay, it’s easy to see why it was once utilised for military purposes. Although there is now an overriding feeling of abandonment (the British decommissioned their guns on the island at the turn of the 20th century).
At the top of the island, just before the road meets the fort, it’s worth taking time out to sit on the rocks among the rare greenery of olive trees and firs. This is Manoel’s highest point, which overlooks the bay.
Here, you’re provided with an instant reminder of Malta’s isolated position: smack dab in the middle of the Mediterranean, over one hundred miles from Sicily, and three hundred from the North African coast. Little wonder the island’s strategic location has been a matter of interest to a multitude of nations over the centuries.
Valletta
Valletta, or Il-Belt to the Maltese, is situated just south of Manoel and is in complete contrast to its neighbouring landmark. Even the view of Malta’s capital from the opposite side of the bay provides an immediate sense that this small but compact city is going to impress.
Construction of what is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site began in 1566, with all fort defences and the main cathedral reputedly completed within 15 years.
Valletta’s etymology lies in the name of knight Jean Parisot de Valette, in recognition of his efforts in defending Malta during the Great Siege. The city currently stands as a baroque architectural masterpiece. Heavy restoration work was necessary here after significant bombing during World War II destroyed much of the infrastructure, but you’d hardly notice.
There are two ways of approaching Valletta from Sliema. The longer way round to Europe’s smallest capital city is by bus, which can take an hour or longer, depending on traffic.
An alternative option is the boat trip from Sliema harbour-front to the jetty on the other side of the bay, is a mere eight minutes. It’s also ridiculously cheap and much more fun. The ferry operation runs like clockwork, with non-stop trips across the bay as tourists pile on and off at each end for most of the day.
After stepping off the jetty at Valletta, the ritual to enter the city centre is to follow the procession of passengers up the short but steep and winding Boat Street. From there, you will pass a couple of bars and enter the periphery of Valletta’s grid-iron street network.
Book your hotel in Valletta here
Valletta City Centre
If you peer down the undulating streets and pedestrian walkways, there’s a feeling of a mini-San Francisco with an ancient twist. But Valletta doesn’t sit on a geological fault line. It has grown through the centuries on levelled rocky hill, with sides dropping dramatically to the sea.
I won’t lie. In the heat of summer, it’s a short but heavy hike into the heart of the city to get your bearings. But take in the journey as you pass cafes and some small bars, smelling the Maltese coffee and dodging the scooters and cars as you go.
Once in the pedestrianized centre, Valletta’s outlay is logical enough. Tourist attractions are well signposted, and the perpendicular street layout and major landmarks as reference points make it easy to navigate.
Cafés, restaurants and outdoor bars abound. Shops sell everything from tourist tat to upmarket sartorial elegance. There’s so much going on to see and do in what is less than one square kilometre.
Various cultural and religious marks have been left here, not least that of Christianity. The vast majority of the population is either Roman Catholic or of a related denomination, and 28 churches sit within Valletta’s perimeter.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of the most famous. Ironically, it’s also one of the youngest, having been built in the last century on the site of a late 16th-century church that was destroyed during World War II. You’d be forgiven for thinking the basilica has always been part of the furniture here, though. It merges in well, and the 42-metre-high dome is certainly striking. An instantly recognisable part of the Valletta skyline.
The Old Town and Barrakka Gardens
When you’ve had your fill of Valletta’s cafés, crowds and places of note, venture downhill to the quieter quarter of Valletta’s old town. Away from all the noise, a sense of Malta’s past is evoked.
The dusty streets are a combination of lower-key residential properties, with only the occasional boutique hotel and gallery dotted about. Here by the water’s edge, and without the shadowy protection of the narrow streets and alleyways, the daytime heat is obvious.
The evening’s close is best enjoyed from one of Valletta’s half-dozen or so manicured and beautifully landscaped public gardens. Without a doubt, the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens provide some of the finest views, where they overlook the Grand Harbour.
Originally the private reserve of the Knights of St. John, it opened to the public during the French occupation a couple of centuries ago. The upper gardens feature a terrace with monuments to various prominent folk, including Winston Churchill and Sir Thomas Maitland.
The lower gardens display a variety of flowerbeds, a fountain and a neoclassical temple ccenterpiece—themonument to British naval officer Alexander Ball. As the sun goes down on this most colonial part of the island, the Barrakka Gardens offer a perfect way to end a visit to the jewel in Malta’s crown.
If You Go
All flights land at Malta International Airport, located in Luqa, 5km south-west of Valletta.
Transfer to Sliema and Valletta at off-peak times is approximately 20 minutes by car or 40 minutes by public transport.
Further information on travelling to and exploring contemporary Malta is available from the official tourism site.
For more details on Malta’s rich history go to https://www.hiddenhistory.co.uk/destinations/malta.
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9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 28 | https://www.britannica.com/place/Malta | en | Malta | History, Language, Map, People, & Points of Interest | [
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Top Questions
How many islands make up Malta?
Malta comprises five islands—Malta (the largest), Gozo, Comino, and the uninhabited islets of Kemmunett (Comminotto) and Filfla.
What kind of climate does Malta have?
Malta typically has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers, warm and sporadically wet autumns, and short cool winters with adequate rainfall. The annual mean temperature is in the mid-60s Fahrenheit (about 19 degrees Celsius), and monthly averages range from the mid-50s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (about 12 to 29 degrees Celsius).
What languages are spoken in Malta?
Maltese and English are the official languages of Malta. Maltese resulted from the fusion of North African Arabic and a Sicilian dialect of Italian and is the only Semitic language officially written in Latin script. English is a medium of instruction in schools. Italian is understood by a sizable portion of the population.
Does Malta have an official religion?
The official religion of Malta is Roman Catholicism, but there is full freedom of religious belief. More than nine-tenths of Maltese are Roman Catholic; however, only about three-fifths of these practice their faith. Small numbers of Maltese are adherents of other Christian denominations or of Islam.
Malta, island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea. A small but strategically important group of islands, the archipelago has through its long and turbulent history played a vital role in the struggles of a succession of powers for domination of the Mediterranean and in the interplay between emerging Europe and the older cultures of Africa and the Middle East. As a result, Maltese society has been molded by centuries of foreign rule by various powers, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Swabians, Aragonese, Hospitallers, French, and British.
Audio File: National anthem of Malta
Head Of Government:
Prime Minister: Robert Abela
Population:
(2024 est.) 550,100
Currency Exchange Rate:
1 USD equals 0.937 euro
Head Of State:
President: Myriam Spiteri Debono
The island of Malta specifically played a vital strategic role in World War II as a base for the Allied Powers. It was heavily bombarded by German and Italian aircraft, and by the end of the war Malta was devastated. In 1942 the island of Malta was presented with the George Cross, a British award for great gallantry, in recognition of the wartime bravery of the Maltese people. After the war, the movement for self-governance became stronger. The country of Malta became independent from Britain and joined the Commonwealth in 1964 and was declared a republic on December 13, 1974. It was admitted to the European Union (EU) in 2004. A European atmosphere predominates in Malta as a result of close association with the Continent, particularly with southern Europe. The Maltese are renowned for their warmth, hospitality, and generosity to strangers, a trait that was noted in the Acts of the Apostles, with respect to the experience of St. Paul, the Apostle, who was said to have been shipwrecked off Malta in 60 ce.
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Roman Catholicism is a major influence on Maltese culture. Various traditions have evolved around religious celebrations, notably those honouring the patron saints of towns and villages. The eight-pointed, or Maltese, cross, adopted by the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem in 1126, is commonly linked with Malta’s identity and is printed on the country’s euro coin. Valletta is the capital city.
Land
The country comprises five islands—Malta (the largest), Gozo, Comino, and the uninhabited islets of Kemmunett (Comminotto) and Filfla—lying some 58 miles (93 km) south of Sicily, 180 miles (290 km) north of Libya, and about 180 miles (290 km) east of Tunisia, at the eastern end of the constricted portion of the Mediterranean Sea separating Italy from the African coast.
Relief
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The islands of Malta are dominated by limestone formations, and much of their coastlines consist of steep or vertical limestone cliffs indented by bays, inlets, and coves. They lie on the submerged Malta-Hyblean Platform, a wide undersea shelf bridge that connects the Ragusa Platform of southern Sicily with the Tripolitana Platform of southern Libya.
The main physical characteristic of the island of Malta is a well-defined escarpment that bisects it along the Victoria Lines Fault running along the whole breadth of the island from Point ir-Raħeb near Fomm ir-Riħ Bay to the coast northeast of Għargħur at Madliena Fort. The highest areas are coralline limestone uplands that constitute a triangular plateau; Ta’ Żuta, which rises to 830 feet (253 metres) in the southwest, is the highest point. The uplands are separated from the surrounding areas by blue clay slopes, while an undercliff area is found where the coralline plateau has fallen and forms a subordinate surface between the sea and the original shore. The total shoreline of Malta is about 136 miles (219 km).
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In northern Malta the escarpment is occasionally abrupt and broken by deep embayments. To the south, however, the plateau gradually descends from about 600 to 830 feet (180 to 250 metres) into undulating areas of globigerina (derived from marine protozoa) limestone less than 300 feet (90 metres) in elevation. The western area is characterized by deeply incised valleys and undercliff areas, while to the east there are several valley systems that descend to the central plains.
The west coast of Malta presents a high, bold, and generally harbourless face. On the east, however, a tongue of high ground known as Mount Sceberras, on which the capital city, Valletta, is built, separates Marsamxett Harbour and Grand Harbour. Because of tectonic activity, Malta has been tilted in a northerly direction, producing cliffs of up to about 800 feet (250 metres) high on the south and southwestern coasts, while slopes descend to low cliffs and rocky shores on the northern and eastern coasts.
The landscape of the island of Gozo is characterized by broken upper coralline mesas, with the highest point being Ta’ Dbiegi Hill (636 feet [194 metres]). Gozo has a gentle easterly dip, so the lower coralline limestone, which forms high cliffs on the west coast, declines to below sea level but reappears on the east coast at Qala Point. Semicircular bays have formed on coastal cliffs where sinkholes have been invaded by the sea. The rounded bays at Xlendi and Dwejra on the west coast of Gozo originated as underground caverns with roofs that have collapsed.
Drainage
The island of Malta possesses favourable conditions for the percolation and underground storage of water. The impermeable blue clays provide two distinct water tables between the limestone formations—the perched and the mean sea-level aquifer. The principal source for the public supply of water has for several centuries been the main sea-level water table. The absence of permanent streams or lakes and a considerable runoff into the sea, however, have made water supply a problem, which has been addressed with an intensive reverse-osmosis desalination program. About half of Malta’s daily water needs are supplied by desalination plants throughout the islands.
Soils
Mainly young or immature and thin, Maltese soils generally lack humus, and a high carbonate content gives them alkaline properties. Human settlement and construction developments have altered the distribution and composition of soils. The Fertile Soil (Preservation) Act of 1973 requires that, when soils are removed from construction sites, they be taken to agricultural areas, and level stretches in quarries are often covered with carted soil. | ||||
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9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 89 | https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-education-systems/malta/historical-development | en | Historical development | https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/themes/custom/eurydice/images/favicons/ec/favicon.ico | https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/themes/custom/eurydice/images/favicons/ec/favicon.ico | [
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] | null | [] | null | en | /themes/custom/eurydice/images/favicons/ec/favicon.ico | https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-education-systems/malta/historical-development | Malta boasts of a rich historical heritage dating back more than 7,000 years. Malta’s rich and distinct history is linked to its geographical location in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, offering an excellent strategic position both in terms of military and trading objectives. This factor, together with its fine ports, made Malta a sought-after colony to acquire. Consequently, Malta had a succession of powers including the Phoenicians, Arabs, Normans, Romans, Aragonese, French and the British ruled the Maltese Islands. The longest and most recent foreign reigns include those of the Knights of Malta (1530-1798) and the British (1800-1964).
In the Middle Ages formal education was taught by religious orders, focusing mostly on Latin, Italian and numeracy. The Arabs, who ruled Malta between 870 and 1091 A.D., shaped the development of the Maltese language (the only Semitic language written in Latin script and the only Semitic language of the EU) and that of many of modern Maltese place names and surnames. The Knights of Malta, noblemen from various Europe states, profoundly enriched the islands’ architectural and artistic heritage. The University of Malta knows its origins during the Knights’ rule although access to education for the poor in that period was limited since they could not afford it. In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte, leading the French, took over Malta, and among others proposed the introduction of 15 public schools on the island. Nonetheless, this remained a proposal, given that the French rule ended abruptly in 1800 when Malta fell under the British empire following an insurrection by the Maltese.
The Royal Commission of 1836 found that there were just three primary schools in Malta, and suggested establishing more schools, increasing teachers’ pay and doubling the expenditure on education. Nonetheless the commission also found that illiteracy among the working class was rife since these families were too poor to send their children to school. The British rule brought about several educational changes starting in 1850, with the establishment of a model school at Valletta to train teachers. In 1878, the Royal Commission suggested the establishment of a Department of Education, which took place in 1880. The 1946 Compulsory Education Ordinance made primary education compulsory for all Maltese children between the ages of 4 and 14, which led to infrastructural investment in education. However, access to secondary education was reserved for those passing the 11+ admission examinations or by enrolling in a private school. The educational model adopted was largely that of the British system, which in many respects is still the prevalent model today.
The years following World War II, when Malta was under British rule, were a time to adapt Malta's philosophy of education, equipping it to deal with the challenges of a small island facing the future. It was during this period that the idea of education replaced the concept of instruction, thanks to the introduction of pre-service teacher training which was provided by two religious orders.
In the years preceding and following Malta becoming a sovereign State in 1964, there was a new sense of commitment towards Maltese culture and society and to building the Maltese economy. To this end, in 1970, secondary education for all was introduced in the Constitution, as it remains today, followed by the crucial enactment of the Education Act in 1974.
In 1974, Malta became a Republic, founded on work and respect to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, enshrined in the Maltese Constitution established in 1964. Tourism and the manufacturing industry became crucial for Malta, particularly after the end of the British military presence (a major employer and source of government revenue) on the island in 1979. A greater emphasis was therefore placed on tuition of trades in government trade schools and on tuition of subjects relating to the tourism industry which eventually led to the establishment of the Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS) in 1987.
In 1990 Malta lodged its application for membership of the then European Community. In May 2004, after the successful transposition of all EU directives into national legislation and the implementation of the EU Acquis, Malta joined the European Union. This was followed by the successful adoption of the Euro as the National Currency on 1 January 2008. Since 2007 Malta has also been a member of the Schengen area. Maltese economy shifted towards the services industry particularly involving the financial and I-gaming sectors. This brought about more demand for courses leading to degrees in European, Social, IT and Financial studies and to the growth of both the University of Malta (UM) and the Malta College for Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST). | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 33 | https://toosquaretobehip.com/a-guide-to-the-valletta-metropolitan-area-st-julians/ | en | A Guide to the Valletta Metropolitan Area & St. Julian’s | [
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] | null | [] | 2021-08-05T01:40:00+00:00 | The capital of Malta may be one of the youngest in Europe yet the fortified town, founded by the Knights of St. John as recently as the 16th century, has endured a storied life thus far. Today the … | en | Too Square to be Hip | https://toosquaretobehip.com/a-guide-to-the-valletta-metropolitan-area-st-julians/ | The capital of Malta may be one of the youngest in Europe yet the fortified town, founded by the Knights of St. John as recently as the 16th century, has endured a storied life thus far. Today the city is as cosmopolitan as any in Europe, despite the heavy religious observance still practiced in the island. Valletta, like the rest of the island it is located on, is a land of contrasts.
For more information on the island of Malta and the surrounding area read the parent post to Valletta here.
Table of Contents
Geography and Transportation
A Brief History
Knight of Malta, Fort St. Elmo and The Great Siege of Malta
Founding of Valletta
French and British Occupation
A World at War and Independence
What to do in Valletta!
Random Ramblings
Old City of Valletta
Birgu, Senglea and Southern Harbor
Birgu (Vittoriosa)
Senglea
Other Attractions
Northern Harbor
Sliema and Ta’ Xbiex
Manoel Island
St. Julian’s
Floriana and Southern Suburbs
Floriana
Tarxien (Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum and Temples)
Conclusion
Geography and Transportation
The Grand Harbour, the lifeline of the island and its connection to the outside word for so long, glistens in the sun. Being a Mediterranean archipelago, Malta is very much a beneficiary of the comforting cosmic rays! The large sea creature shaped bay stretches its tentacles out offering refuge to the many ships within its grasp. Valletta itself is built on a long thumb shaped peninsula at the center of the harbor. On the south side are the cities of Senglea and Birgu. Those cities are built on small “tentacles”, other peninsulas jutting into the harbour perpendicular to Valletta. On the other side of the harbour, to the north, you will find the town of Sliema/St Julian’s, the neighborhood the heart of the city’s nightlife. Much of the area around the Grand Harbor is now part of the Greater Valletta area and will be discussed in this post.
For a guide to the transportation around the island Malta please consult my parent post Malta (Island). For the region of Greater Valletta specifically, you should know that there are two ways getting around the island. The first is the robust bus system, this is this system that replaced both the trains and trams built by the British. You will find stops in every neighbourhood although bus routes can be quite overcrowded. A 2020 study will examine the possibility of building a cross island metro but no decision has been made so far. The other is the ferry system, allowing you to cross the harbour without having to go all the way around.
A Brief History
It was my surprise to find out that Valletta had not always been the principal city of Malta, although old by New World standards, it is a relatively young city in relation to other capitals cities of Europe. The old capital of the island, Mdina, is located on a hill inland, which makes sense when you are trying to shelter yourself from pirate raids but it does not when transitioning to a maritime power. When the Knights first came to the islands, they had a different vision for the nation. Veterans of the Holy Land (Acre) and Rhodes, they understood that the best strategy against the Turks was an offensive one. But with little manpower they would have to harness the sea instead, piracy, especially along the rich oriental trade routes. They made their capital Birgu, across the Barbour from where Valletta stands today. To man their ships they recruited heavily from the surrounding Maltese villages. This created a seismic shift in the archipelago’s history and the Grand Harbour would become the center of activity instead of the venerable old Mdina.
For a full history of Malta, see my post on Mdina and the rest of Malta here.
Knight of Malta, Fort St. Elmo and The Great Siege of Malta
The peninsula that the city stands on today is called Sceberras in Maltese. During the Aragonese occupation a tower was constructed on its tip. Things would begin to take shape when the knights moved their capital to the city of Birgu in the Grand Harbour. A city was planned to be constructed on the peninsula (1524) but funds lacking those plans were put on pause. Instead the Aragonese tower was replaced by what is called Fort St. Elmo (Italian for St. Erasmus), where St. Elmo is the patron Saint of Sailors for whom the previous tower was named after. This fort was completed in 1552 and for a long time was the only structure standing on the peninsula.
Tiring of the pesky Knights of Malta, the Ottoman Empire commenced the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. It was largely a response to the Knights, who had begun to fight back against the Ottomans by way harassing Turkish shipping including the capture of pilgrims heading towards Mecca (the Turkish pirates finally had a match!). The Great Siege of Malta is considered to be one of the greatest battles between the west and east, unfortunately overshadowed by the Siege of Vienna today, it is also considered one of the greatest upsets in Military history. At the center of this event was the Grand Harbor and its rudimentary defenses, only recently constructed upon by the Knights and very much so a work in progress. The overwhelming mass of fortifications you see today, only came after the siege when Europe poured cold hard cash into the defense of the islands to avert a Turkish return. The need for additional island defenses was underscored in 1551, when the nearby island Gozo was invaded and 5000 prisoners were taken, a number corresponding to most of the island’s population.
The Maltese conquest was precipitated by the successful raids on Turkish shipping, especially those of Romegas, the Order’s most notorious seafarer. Much of the manpower for these expeditions came from the Maltese in the nearby villages. Romegas captured several large merchant ships, including one that belonged to the Chief Eunuch. Of the prisoners he took, one can include the governor of Cairo, the governor of Alexandria, and the former nurse of Sultan Suleiman’s daughter – prizes that would offer steep ransoms. By 1564, the Sultan had made up his mind to end these humiliations.
At first the knights were chased from the Holy land, next Rhodes and finally sizing their donated base in Tripoli Libya, Malta – the stepping stone to Sicily and the rest of Europe was next. Led by a veteran of the Rhodes campaign, the energetic yet greying Grandmaster Jean Parisot De Valette, the knights had a secret weapon. Valletta had spies in Constantinople warning that invasion was imminent, as such the knights did what they could to reinforce Birgu, made provisions as well as called back knights. All there was left to do was to wait… Ignoring Mdina, the Turkish commander landed his troops at the Grand Harbor, the new center of power – it was said that his fleet was the largest armada since antiquity. In 1565 the Turks docked at Marsaxlokk and made their way six miles north towards the Grand Harbor, where he intended to move his fleet when the reduction of Fort St. Elmo was complete – the siege commenced.
The battle for the harbor started at the tip of the Sciberras peninsula where fort St. Elmo Guarded the harbor. Local Maltese and Knights defended the fortress, resupplying it at night by row boats across the harbor Chanel. After over a months of heavy fighting where over 6000 Turks were killed the fort gave way. The fort was but a heap of rubble with only a few of the Maltese men being able to swim across the harbour to safety – the knights armor being to heavy to float. Prisoners were all beheaded and their bodies strewn across the harbor as a stark message – comply or die! Undeterred, the knights did the same. The Turks then turned their attention to the twin cities of Senglea and Birgu which they bombarded mercilessly, breaching the walls several times before being repelled. The cities led by a 70 years old grandmaster refused to give in, reinforcing and shuffling cities by boat across the water when necessary. The key to both towns lay in their major fortifications in the castle of Birgu, the castle of St. Angelo that kept the Turkish navy at bay by way of its powerful cannons and on the landward side the fortress of St Michel in Senglia. By September reinforcements had arrived from Spain and Italy, the Turks were starving and disease ridden… the island was saved
This was the last major battle between a crusading order and the Islamic world, the end of an era. During the siege, charges and raids from the knights in Mdina helped distract the Turks and Gozo for its part provided much needed communications with the outside world.
For more information on the Great Siege of Malta, outside of Valletta, check out my article on the island of Malta here.
Founding of Valletta
With the defeat of the Ottomans, funds poured in for the defense for the island. The construction of Valletta, the long promised city, commenced. Led by the Grandmaster of the order Jean de Valette, he lived thought the most tumultuous period of the Order’s history, but would unfortunately not get to see his creation to fruition, passing in 1568. In 1566, the cornerstone was laid to the city by the Valette himself and it would take his name. It is said that elders watching the scene unfold muttered the following:
Jiġi żmien li fil-Wardija [l-Għolja Sciberras] kull xiber raba’ jiswa uqija“, and in English, “There will come a time when every piece of land on Sciberras Hill will be worth its weight in gold”)
Maltese Elders
Eventually, as the city developed, the knights would move their seat from Fort St Angelo in Birgu to their new Palace in Valletta.
PS: Valette is a fascinating figure of undaunted courage. Although he was a Knight with religious vows of celibacy, it is said that he had a secret lover on the island and that he even fathered children.
French and British Occupation
In 1798, the French entered Valletta due to an elaborate ruse. They stayed two years until pushed out by the British. Under British rule, a plan for modernizing the city by destroying the fortifications was luckily not enacted. Valletta grew rapidly under British rule and they in turn invested large sums of capital in the island, including the construction of a now defunct rail line to Mdina and in maritime installations.
A World at War and Independence
Prior to the Second World War the city was the hub of the British Mediterranean Fleet, yet the proximity to Italy forced its transfer to Egypt in 1929. Malta escaped the First World War unscathed but so much the second. The city, a strategic target, was blown apart and many buildings have not been rebuilt even to this day.
The heavy growth of the British years was sustained through independence, even more so as the country entered the Eurozone. In 2018, Valletta was designated a capital of Culture.
What to do in Valletta!
Random Ramblings
As with any city you can tell a lot about a place by something as simple as its street layout. When exploring the greater Valletta area you will notice a more rational, grid shape, street layout in the old town of Valletta and Floriana while Birgu and Senglea have unplanned windy old streets, indicative of what part of town was built before the other. A curious thing about Malta (and Valletta is no exception to this), is the abundance of fortifications and churches. The number is quite impressive even for Europe. From these one can tell that this island was populated by a war-like monastic order!
Old City of Valletta
From St. Julian’s, the location of my stay, the bus will drop you off at the Triton Fountain. This massive water fixture consists of three Tritons (the son of Poseidon) holding up was conceived in the 1950’s and is considered to be a national symbol. This statue is a fitting tribute to a maritime nation. The large plaza is considered to be a gathering place for national events and at night it is lit up tastefully. To the south of the plaza you will find Floriana and to the north the old town of Valletta.
When you cross over the deep moat and into the old town via the massive and thick fortifications, you will notice that they have remade this city gate in a strange modernist style. To the side you will notice one of the few eyesores in the old city, the modern blank wall that is the parliament building. Off to the side you will find a triangular staircase up to the fortress walls. Although modern, the staircase’s angular look is actually pretty. One of the first things you will see on your way in is the colonnade of the ruined Royal Opera House destroyed during the Second World War. It now hosts exterior performances.
Not far away to the south you will find the Auberge Castille, once the palace of the Knights of Malta before becoming the French command center and letter the British governors house. Since 1972, it has housed the prime minister of Malta.
One of the buildings found near the Auberge is the Our Lady of Victory Church. In 1568, De Valette died from a stroke before seeing the completion of his city and his body at first rested here, a fitting tribute as it was here that the first stone in the founding of Valletta was laid by the Grandmaster himself. His remains were transferred to the St. John’s Co-Cathedral when it was complete, to be placed among the tombs of other Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta.
Speaking of witch this large domed building is a symbol of Malta and dates from 1578. Apart from being the prominent dome of the city it is rather uninteresting architecturally on the outside, the inside however is one of the most stunning in Europe, with ornate detailing and stunning painted frescoes covering it. Just outside the cathedral square you will find the National Museum Of Archaeology, containing the Cippi of Melqart, one of two objects found in Malta used to translate the Punic Language.
Before you venture too far, keep an eye out for the distinctive Valletta balconies, a 17th century addition. The often brightly painted balconies are an architecturally distinct part of the capital landscape.
In the center of the city you will find George’s Square/Republic Square, just outside the picturesque Grandmaster’s courtyard, with its stunning interior public space.
One of my favorite parts of the fortifications is the Victoria Gate, a stunning interchange between pedestrianized old Valletta and the automobile world.
If looking for a brink, stop at the Bridge Bar here for a pint on the patio, the view of the harbor is fantastic.
The fortifications of Valletta are stunning. During the British occupation it was suggested that they demolish them in order to modernize the city. Luckily that plan did not pass and much of it has been turned into a public park. I recommend a visit to the Lower Barrakka Gardens, fashioned as a neoclassical temple with sculptures and exotic palms.
Just past the portico you will find a round rotunda with a tomb of an unknown soldier, fashioned as a second world war memorial. The view of the 17th century Fort Ricasoli from here is fantastic.
At the end of the peninsula you will find the famous Fort St. Elmo. As witnessed in the history section, this defensive structure has spent an eternity in the Maltese zeitgeist for its role in the Great Siege of Malta, although destroyed during the battle it was rebuilt. As such, it now hosts the National War Museum. From its rooftop you will have a wonderful view of the city and Mediterranean sea.
Note: the infamous Strait Street that British sailors would party at and look for prostitutes has cleaned up. That kind of rowdy nightlife has moved from Valletta proper to St. Julian’s.
Birgu, Senglea and Southern Harbor
The south side of the harbour is not as touristy as the old town but it is just as historic, the defence of both peninsulas has historically been part of the same system, sharing the same defensive lines. Come see where it all started for the Knights of Malta.
Birgu (Vittoriosa)
The short lived capital of Malta sits north of the matching peninsula of Senglea, it is here that the Knights made their desperate last stand during the siege of Malta, plugging the crumbling walls with men and rubble, hoping to withstand the enemy crunch. To enter the town you will pass though Notre Dame Gate, an imposing defensive structure. Two museums can be found in the first part of the city, a private history center called Bir Mula and the Malta at War Museum. Inside the main part of the city you will find architecture typical to that of Maltese towns, with stunning limestone buildings and colorful balconies just about everywhere, Buildings of note include the Inquisitors Palace Museum, a colonnaded building from the 16th century that served as the HQ for the Maltese inquisition, an event lasting over 200 years, and the armory. You will also find the old Norman House and many old Knights palaces such as l’Auberge de France. On the water, facing Senglia you will find the Malta Maritime Museum and to the north, before crossing a moat to the tip of the peninsula to Fort St. Angelo, you will find L’Auberge d’Italia another knight’s palace.
Fort St Angelo itself is a massive complex, this was ground zero for the siege of Malta and is where De Valletta was coordinating his forces. The complex is now a museum housing a complex network of tunnels and rooms, The building itself has fantastic harbour views of Valletta.
Senglea
The entrance to Senglea should be done though the historic St. Helen’s gate. Surprisingly, Senglea is just as pretty as Birgu, just a little bit more rundown, and just as worth a stop off. Check out the old fortification where the knights held back the Turks at Fort St. Micheal. Like Birgu, Senglea has an attractive waterfront promenade facing the former, that contains many restaurants.
PS: During the siege of Malta a massive metal chain was pulled between Senglea and Birgu to protect the knights harbor from Turkish sea borne assaults.
Other Attractions
The north shore of the south end contains a plethora of defensive structures facing the sea. I will list a few of these, Fort Ricasoli where you can visit the Malta Bay breakwater and lighthouse – this is the best of the bunch. Then you can visit Fort Rinella, an old British era artillery battery. Another is Fort St. Rocco or even Fort Leonardo further out. For those interested in Military history check out the Kalkara Naval Cemetery, a well maintained lot honouring commonwealth war dead.
Northern Harbor
Just to the North of the Grand Harbour you will find Sliema, along with much of the resort/nightlife spots.
Sliema and Ta’ Xbiex
Across the harbor from the old town of Valletta, this suburb mostly consists of modern construction with the occasional old church thrown into its midst. Many of Valletta’s mid-range resorts can be found here. There is little to do but to visit the parish churches which are surprisingly nice. A particularly great spot is Balluta Bay, where wonderful restaurants overlook a small beach, displaying the wonderful Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at the far end. It is simply stunning! Other worthwhile attractions include Torri ta’ San Ġiljan (St. Julian’s Tower), a 17th century watchtower overlooking the Mediterranean, one of many used by the Knights as part of their system of defense.The rocks by Fort Tigné can also be a great place to catch a sunset on the harbor
In nearby Ta’Xbiex, you will find an older housing stock as well as many of Malta’s higher end marina’s. The best areas to explore include the bay area near the Msida church and the hill-like area around the St. John of the Cross Ta’ Xbiex parish church.
Manoel Island
In between the Sceberras peninsula and Silema, you will find a large diamond shaped island. This island sports a massive star shaped fort of the same name, of a rather generous size. It was constructed in the 18th century by António Manoel de Vilhena, the Grand Master of the order of St. John. Heavily bombed during the Second World War,restoration has come to the baroque styled gem. Inside the walls you will find the St. Anthony of Padua church but even more importantly from its plaza you will get the best panoramic view of Valletta’s old town!
St. Julian’s
St. Julian’s is better known a the party district, but is located unfortunately outside of the old city. It was also the location of my accommodation, Hostel Malti. The first thing I noticed when I arrived in the district was a sign for 72 shorts for 24.5 euro, an incredible price for so many drinks! Something that should be appealing for young party going people everywhere!
To be honest I chose Hostel Malti due to the fact that it had a magnificent rooftop patio and planned activities but also due to its proximity to the bar scene. Most of these establishments are located in the Paceville subdivision of St. Julian’s. Avoid the Casinos, they are probably mob run as the Russian underground has an iron grip on much of the underground activity in Malta (a surprisingly corrupt place). For bars, almost any will do, drinks are cheap and it is easy to meet people. They are mostly located between Paceville and church street. A particularly strong recommendation I can make is the Russian Karaoke Bar, although you will likely feel out of place here. Another is the Bellini bar, more of your traditional nightclub. Just a warning, I loved St. Julian’s but it can get loud out at night and bars are open til the early hours of the morning.
PS: I Strongly recommend a stay at this hostel if you like to party! As mentioned previously they have a fantastic rooftop bar and offer excursions. Furthermore they have a sister hostel offering a more quiet stay for those needing a rest.
Floriana and Southern Suburbs
Floriana
Just south of the old town of Valletta, past the Triton Fountain fountain found at the city gate, you will find Floriana, better known by its title Borgo Vilhen. This suburban extension of the old town was conceived as a fortified town in 1636, with the construction of the Florina lines, a series of fortifications outside of the old town of Valletta.
The main thoroughfare here leads to the St. Publius Church, a landmark basilica building from 1768. Behind the church you will find the Sarria Church, a more intimate venue and the Porte des Bombes, a double stone entry gate to the city.
Inside the city there are many things to do, you can walk the walls or explore the Down on the Argotti Botanic Gardens. The gem of the district is the Valletta Waterfront, hosting restaurants and bars in restored 17th century warehouses. The district sits right outside the city defenses and is host to the cruise port.
Tarxien (Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum and Temples)
Further south in the district of Tarxien, you will find the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum. This stone temple dates from over 3000 B.C and is one of the best preserved of these ancient structures on the island chain, even more so then the stunning temples of Gozo. The UNESCO site contains a museum with access to a three leveled underground Neolithic stone age complex. The necropolis is an impressive religious monument / necropolis, with a surprisingly complex build for when it was constructed. Over 7000 remains have been found buried here. Since this attraction is so popular I recommend getting tickets in advance.
Not far from the Hypogeum you will find the Tarxien Temples, a series of four stone age temples. Surrounded by a stone wall for protection you will be able to see the true scale of the complex when inside.
Conclusion
A single visit to the city of Valletta is never enough! By the time you leave the island you will have already added half a dozen more things you would like to see upon return. During my time prowling the bars and hostels of the island, I encountered many expats and tourists who just kept returning year after year. One such guy in particular told me that he had been over 20 times! Keep this in mind, you will never do it all, even more so in such a special place like Malta, but you can always come back. | |||||
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] | null | [] | null | /the-world-factbook/favicon-32x32.png?v=c3853bf09f084a8b1f66c6c2685054a1 | null | People and Society
Population
total: 469,730
male: 237,023
female: 232,707 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings : female 174; male 174; total 174
Nationality
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Languages
Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 35,034/female 33,181)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 151,836/female 141,248)
65 years and over: 23.1% (2024 est.) (male 50,153/female 58,278)
2023 population pyramid :
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 47.1
youth dependency ratio: 19.3
elderly dependency ratio: 27.7
potential support ratio: 3.6 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 43.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 42.4 years
female: 44.7 years
comparison ranking : total 35
Population growth rate
0.51% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking : 150
Birth rate
9.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking : 193
Death rate
8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking : 67
Net migration rate
4.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking : 21
Population distribution
most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
Urbanization
urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Major urban areas - population
213,000 VALLETTA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
29.3 years (2020 est.)
note: data refers to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births
Maternal mortality ratio
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking : 181
Infant mortality rate
total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking : total 182
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 81.5 years
female: 85.8 years
comparison ranking : total population 12
Total fertility rate
1.51 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking : 201
Gross reproduction rate
0.74 (2024 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
10.8% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
2.86 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Hospital bed density
4.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
28.9% (2016)
comparison ranking : 29
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 8.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking : total 43
Tobacco use
total: 24% (2020 est.)
male: 26.4% (2020 est.)
female: 21.6% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking : total 56
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
63.2% (2023 est.)
Education expenditures
5.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
comparison ranking : 45
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.9%
male: 93.4%
female: 96.4% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2020)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta
etymology: the ancient Greeks called the island "Melite" meaning "honey-sweet" from the Greek word "meli" meaning "honey" and referring to the island's honey production
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: named in honor of Jean de VALETTE, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who successfully led a defense of the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565
Administrative divisions
68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq
Independence
21 September 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
Legal system
mixed legal system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law
Constitution
history: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964
amendments: proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of Acts requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent of the president of the republic; amended many times, last in 2020
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Robert ABELA (13 January 2020)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; election last held on 27 March 2024 (next to be held by March 2029); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
election results:
2024:Â Myriam SPITERI DEBONO (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous
2019: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous
Legislative branch
description: unicameral House of Representatives or Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati, a component of the Parliament of Malta (65 seats statutory, 79 for 2022-2027 term; members directly elected in 5 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 26 March 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
election results: percent of vote by party - PL 55.1%, PN 41.7%, other 3.2%; seats by party - PL 38, PN 29; composition as of February 2024 - men 57, women 22, percentage women 27.9%; note - due to underepresentation by women in the combined general on 26 March and two casual elections on 7 and 12 April (10 seats or 14.9%), an additional 12 seats were awarded because their percentage did not meet the 40% threshold required by the Malta Constitution or the General Elections Amendment Act 2021
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually upon the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65
subordinate courts: Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino)
Political parties
AD+PD or ADPD (formed from the merger of Democratic Alternative or AD and Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD)
Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PLÂ
Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PNÂ
International organization participation
Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO (partner), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Godfrey C. XUEREB (since 19 April 2023)
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (771) 213-4050
FAX: [1] (202) 530-9753â
email address and website:
maltaembassy.washington@gov.mt
The Embassy (gov.mt)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Constance J. MILSTEIN (since October 27, 2022)
embassy: Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000
mailing address: 5800 Valletta Place, Washington DCÂ 20521-5800
telephone: [356] 2561-4000
email address and website:
ACSMalta@state.gov
https://mt.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the UK awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field
National symbol(s)
Maltese eight-pointed cross; national colors: red, white
National anthem
name: "L-Innu Malti" (The Maltese Anthem)
lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
note: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, EU-member European economy; diversified portfolio; euro user; dependent on food and energy imports; strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors; high North African immigration; large welfare system; educated workforce
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$31.661 billion (2023 est.)
$29.978 billion (2022 est.)
$27.738 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking : 146
Real GDP growth rate
5.61% (2023 est.)
8.08% (2022 est.)
12.51% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking : 36
Real GDP per capita
$57,200 (2023 est.)
$56,400 (2022 est.)
$53,500 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking : 32
GDP (official exchange rate)
$20.957 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.09% (2023 est.)
6.15% (2022 est.)
1.5% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking : 111
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: A+ (2017)
Moody's rating: A2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: A- (2016)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.)
industry: 10.2% (2017 est.)
services: 88.7% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings : services 11; industry 204; agriculture 195
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 45.2% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 15.3% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 136.1% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -117.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, cauliflower/broccoli, pork, chicken, cabbages, pumpkins/squash, grapes (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
Industrial production growth rate
4.3% (2014 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking : 63
Labor force
313,000 (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking : 167
Unemployment rate
3.13% (2023 est.)
2.93% (2022 est.)
3.4% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking : 52
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 9.3% (2023 est.)
male: 13.8% (2023 est.)
female: 4.3% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking : total 141
Population below poverty line
16.7% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
31.4 (2020 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking : 115
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.1% (2020 est.)
highest 10%: 25.1% (2020 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
1.11% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.23% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.49% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $5.661 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $5.586 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central, state, and local governments, and social security funds
comparison ranking : 103
Taxes and other revenues
23.37% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking : 58
Current account balance
-$1.02 billion (2022 est.)
$214.463 million (2021 est.)
$348.601 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking : 141
Exports
$25.417 billion (2022 est.)
$25.533 billion (2021 est.)
$22.735 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking : 85
Exports - partners
Germany 12%, Italy 6%, France 6%, Japan 5%, Singapore 5% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
integrated circuits, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, fish, postage stamps/documents (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$23.883 billion (2022 est.)
$22.958 billion (2021 est.)
$20.164 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking : 88
Imports - partners
Italy 14%, China 11%, South Korea 11%, Germany 10%, Canada 5% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, integrated circuits, packaged medicine (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.223 billion (2023 est.)
$1.199 billion (2022 est.)
$1.149 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking : 144
Debt - external
$98.179 billion (2019 est.)
$104.467 billion (2018 est.)
comparison ranking : 57
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
Military and Security
Military and security forces
the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) is a joint force with land, maritime, and air elements, plus a Volunteer Reserve Force (2024)
note: the Malta Police Force maintains internal security; both the Police and the AFM report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Security, and Law Enforcement
Military expenditures
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022)
0.5% of GDP (2021)
0.6% of GDP (2020)
0.5% of GDP (2019)
comparison ranking : 138
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 2,000 active-duty personnel (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military has a small inventory that consists of equipment from a mix of European countries, particularly Italy and the US (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2024)
Military - note
the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are responsible for external security but also have some domestic security responsibilities; the AFMâs primary roles include maintaining the countryâs sovereignty and territorial integrity, monitoring and policing its territorial waters, participating in overseas peacekeeping and stability operations, and providing search and rescue and explosive ordnance disposal capabilities; secondary missions include assisting civil authorities during emergencies, supporting the police and other security services, and providing ceremonial and other public support duties
Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality but contributes to EU and UN military missions and joined NATOâs Partnership for Peace program in 1995 (suspended in 1996, but reactivated in 2008); it also participates in various bilateral and multinational military exercises; Malta cooperates closely with Italy on defense matters; in 1973, Italy established a military mission in Malta to provide advice, training, and search and rescue assistance (2023) | |||||||
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] | null | [] | 2023-11-03T23:33:50+00:00 | Valletta, Malta is an awe-inspiring city that is a must visit on any Mediterranean cruise. The city is a cultural hub for Baroque art, museums, and historic | en | 2024 Dave Koz Cruise | https://davekozcruise.com/2024/valletta-malta/ | Valletta, Malta is an awe-inspiring city that is a must visit on any Mediterranean cruise. The city is a cultural hub for Baroque art, museums, and historic sites, surrounded by the year-round temperate sun of the Mediterranean Sea. Valletta is the perfect place to relax and unwind, while also being intellectually stimulating. In 2018, the EU named Valletta a “European Capital of Culture,” a well-deserved recognition of its rich heritage.
Despite there being more than a day’s worth of activities, the historic downtown is easily walkable, allowing you to get a sense of Valletta’s elegance in a short time. One of the must-visit sites is the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, an intricate structure built between 1572-1577 that still maintains its elaborate Baroque architecture. For breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea, take a walk along the Grand Harbor. There you can also find outdoor cafes and wine bars where you can enjoy some refreshments. Another great option is to take a ferry to the island of Gozo, where you can enjoy hiking, swimming, and sunbathing along the area’s striking red-sand beaches.
If you’re looking for great places to eat and drink near the Valletta cruise port, you’re in luck. Valletta is home to some of the best restaurants and bars in Malta. Below are some of the top food and drink spots to explore.
If you want to relax and enjoy a glass of wine in cozy surroundings, Legligin is the perfect place for you. The bar is known for its unmatched wine selection and ever-changing menu. It offers a wide range of dishes, including octopus and steamed mussels.
For a quick lunch with an Italian twist, Piadina Caffe is a must-visit. Although seating is limited, the restaurant offers a quick turnaround time. You can also take your food to go and enjoy it while admiring St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
Zero Sei Trattoria offers no-frills Italian food. It’s a great place to try classic dishes like carbonara, cacio e pepe, and veal. The restaurant aims to bring a taste of Rome to Malta.
If you’re looking for a romantic bar to enjoy wine and cocktails, The Rootz Bar is the place to be. Although it doesn’t offer a full dinner menu, the bar has a variety of cheese and charcuterie boards to satisfy your appetite.
Finally, Noni is perfect for a fancy night out. The restaurant is known for revitalizing classic Mediterranean dishes in exciting new ways. You’ll find plenty of creativity on the menu, including local rabbit with roasted garlic puree, slow-cooked octopus tagine, and chocolate and orange mousse.
Valletta, the capital city of Malta, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its government, music, and public art. Despite its small population of under 7,000 residents, Valletta boasts of a rich history that attracts visitors from all over the world. The city was founded in 1566 by the Knights of Malta, who introduced a new grid plan that still stands today. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Valletta witnessed numerous occupations by the Ottomans, French, and British, each leaving their unique mark on the city’s culture.
Unfortunately, Valletta also suffered significant damage during World War II from German and Italian air attacks, which destroyed several buildings, including the Royal Opera House. Nevertheless, the city’s architecture still exudes its heavy Baroque influence, and today, Malta is a major art destination, boasting of numerous museums, including the National Museum of Fine Arts. Every January, the city celebrates the annual Valletta International Baroque Festival, which attracts music lovers from around the globe.
During your visit to Valletta, Malta, you can explore an array of charming boutiques in the city center which are mostly owned and operated by families. The stores offer a wide variety of products including leather, gold and silver jewelry, and souvenirs for tourists. However, do note that most of the shops remain closed on Sundays. Moreover, lace is one of the most popular goods in Malta and you can easily find them in the local shops. If you are looking for shopping centers and malls, you may have to travel a bit further from the city center and plan your trip by bus or car accordingly.
When traveling to Valletta, Malta, it’s important to note that the primary currency used is the Euro. To easily access cash during your trip, there are numerous ATMs located throughout the city for your convenience. In terms of tipping, it’s customary to leave anywhere between 5-10% at restaurants, bars, and hotels. If a service charge is already included in your bill, it’s not necessary to leave an additional tip. When taking a guided tour, it’s encouraged to tip 10% for their service, and for porters or bellhops, it’s best practice to tip one or two euros per bag. For taxi rides, rounding up to the nearest euro is sufficient, but if your driver provides you with recommendations, it’s thoughtful to tip a little more. Valletta is a wonderful destination, and following these tipping customs will ensure a positive experience for both you and the locals. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 23 | https://myislandtoursmalta.com/activities/valletta-maltas-capital-city/ | en | Malta's Capital City Valletta Tour | [
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] | null | [] | 2018-02-21T11:26:54+00:00 | Sightseeing tours of Valletta. Book online for an excursion of the Maltese capital city with a local guide for a great price! | en | https://myislandtoursmalta.com/favicon.ico | My Island Tours Malta | https://myislandtoursmalta.com/activities/valletta-maltas-capital-city/ | There is no capital in the world like Valletta and nowhere that has more to offer a visitor in such a small space. Described by British Prime minister Disraeli as “a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen,” and remarked that “Valletta equals in its noble architecture, if it does not excel, any capital in Europe”. We want to show you this most fascinating of cities. Valletta is a truly fortified city, once the bulwark of Europe with the most impressive bastions to be found anywhere in the world.
Malta’s capital city teems with shoppers, strollers and business activity during the day, making it alive and exciting, but as the late afternoon arrives the city slows to a saunter and takes on more of the noble charm it is famous for. Valletta abounds in architectural gems from churches to palaces and fountains. Every corner will volunteer a new visual delight. There is a myriad of styles of balconies from different centuries, votive statues and niches everywhere. Many narrow descending streets hide quaint little shops, craft businesses, cafés and eateries, some of which have been there for generations.
The city itself is built on the steep slopes and summits of Mount Sciberras (which was in fact a hill) and has now been totally covered by the city. On both sides of Valletta there are deep harbours which provide stunning vistas from many vantage points around the city.
There are so many things to do in Valletta that a single visit will not be enough but we will give you the best there is to offer and then give you some time you soak in the city and enkindle in you the certain desire to return.
If you are a lone traveller, you can choose to book a Hop-on Hop-off bus for both Malta & Gozo with us. View details and book your Hop-on Hop-off North and South of Malta ticket here. | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 80 | https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2013/09/04/the-surrender-of-french-troops-occupying-malta-a-dispatch-written-on-5-september-1800/ | en | The Surrender of French Troops Occupying Malta – a Dispatch Written on 5 September 1800 | [
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] | 2013-09-04T00:00:00 | The French garrison in Valletta signed the surrender (or 'capitulation', to use the language in this dispatch) on 5 December 1800, and Malta then became a UK protectorate. Malta had been occupied by the French in May 1798, when an invasion fleet of 30,000 men led by Napoleon sailed from Toulon. Here is a dispatch, | en | https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/wp-content/themes/bna-blog-theme/favicon.ico | The British Newspaper Archive Blog | Amazing finds and news from over 300 years of historical newspapers | https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2013/09/04/the-surrender-of-french-troops-occupying-malta-a-dispatch-written-on-5-september-1800/ | The French garrison in Valletta signed the surrender (or ‘capitulation’, to use the language in this dispatch) on 5 December 1800, and Malta then became a UK protectorate.
Malta had been occupied by the French in May 1798, when an invasion fleet of 30,000 men led by Napoleon sailed from Toulon.
Here is a dispatch, written on 5 September 1800 by Major General Pigot to General Sir R. Abercrombie, which describes the surrender of the French forces at Valletta.
Hampshire Chronicle – Monday 13 October 1800
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 76 | https://www.ellucian.com/ | en | Unifying Campus Technology Solutions to Power Higher Ed | [
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] | null | [] | null | Flexible campus technology solutions to boost agility & efficiency, enabling deeper engagement, smarter insights & better outcomes for your institution. | en | /themes/custom/elluciantheme/favicon.ico | Ellucian | https://www.ellucian.com/ | What's New in the Ellucian SaaS Platform
Discover the latest product innovations to help you work smarter, create engaging experiences, and act on data-driven insights.
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We were lucky we rolled Recruit out when we did because it's so user-friendly, and it’s web-based. My team had to work from home—everything my recruiters needed was in the cloud. That was huge.
Heather Bjorgan
Dean of Enrollment Management, Black Hawk College | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 79 | https://www.infoplease.com/atlas/europe/malta-map | en | Malta Map: Regions, Geography, Facts & Figures | [
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] | 2017-03-03T12:22:57-05:00 | Discover Malta's diverse landscape and rich history with Infoplease's Malta map atlas. Explore major cities, geographic features, and tourist attractions. | en | /themes/ip/favicon.ico | InfoPlease | https://www.infoplease.com/atlas/europe/malta-map | Malta is an island country located in the Mediterranean Sea, and is also known as Repubblikka ta’ Malta, or the Republic of Malta. It is situated south of Sicily and north of Tunisia. The island nation is one of the smallest countries in the world and a member of the European Union. The official languages spoken are Maltese and English.
The Maltese Islands have a fascinating history and culture that dates back to prehistoric times. The country has been inhabited by various civilizations throughout history, including the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the Knights of St. John, the French, and the British.
To see the physical layout and roadways of Malta, you can refer to the physical and road map of Malta below!
If you want to discover more in-depth information on Malta as a country, check out our Malta Profile!
Plus, test your country knowledge with our world geography quiz on European Flags.
Malta Facts: History
Malta's strategic location in the Mediterranean and within the map of Europe has made it a crucial point for trade and military operations throughout history. The island country has seen numerous conflicts and conquests over the years, and its rulers have left their mark on the country's architecture, language, and culture.
Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a republic in 1974. Today, the country is known for its thriving economy, rich culture, and welcoming people.
Malta Facts: Geography
Malta is located in southern Europe and is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. The Maltese Islands consist of three islands: Malta, Gozo (or Għawdex), and Comino (or Kemmuna). The island of Malta is the largest and most populated of the three islands, while Gozo is known for its scenic landscapes and beaches. The largest localities in Malta include Birkirkara, Qormi, Mosta, Zabbar, and St. Paul's Bay.
The capital city, Valletta, is located in the eastern part of the main island of Malta. Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its stunning architecture, museums, and cultural events. The Malta International Airport is also located on the main island of Malta, making it easily accessible for visitors from around the world.
Malta Facts: Tourist Attractions
Malta is a popular tourist destination that offers a wide variety of attractions. The island is home to numerous historical sites, including Mdina, the former capital of Malta, and the Grand Harbour, which has played a significant role in the country's history. Visitors can also enjoy the beautiful Blue Lagoon on the island of Comino and the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk.
Sliema is another popular tourist destination that offers a bustling nightlife and incredible views of the Mediterranean Sea. The island of Gozo is known for its stunning natural beauty, including the Azure Window and the Ggantija Temples, which are among the oldest free-standing structures in the world. Mellieha Bay is another popular destination for tourists, with its sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters.
People Also Ask...
If you're inspecting the Malta country map, you may have some queries about the region. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, along with their answers.
What Is Malta Known For?
Malta is known for its rich history, beautiful beaches, and warm climate. The country is also famous for its traditional cuisine, including rabbit stew, pastizzi, and ftira.
What Language Do They Speak in Malta?
The official languages spoken in Malta are Maltese and English. Maltese is a Semitic language that evolved from Arabic, and it is the only Semitic language that is written in the Latin alphabet.
Is Malta Part of the European Union?
Yes, Malta is a member of the European Union. It joined the EU in 2004 and has since become an important member of the organization, and is featured on the world map as part of it.
What Is the Population of Malta?
As of 2023, the population of Malta is approximately 467,138, according to research by the CIA Factbook. The majority is Roman Catholic, and the country has a diverse population with influences from the Middle East, Greece, Italy, and other parts of Europe.
Is Malta Part of Spain or Italy? | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 7 | https://storymaps.com/stories/25433dcd52dc4c43a2caffc6f691e858 | en | Valletta & the Knights of St. John | https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1584348059301-bb1d44173050?ixid=MnwyNjI3MjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMnx8dmFsbGV0dGF8ZW58MXx8fHwxNjU0MjAyMjg0&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&quality=80&w=400 | https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1584348059301-bb1d44173050?ixid=MnwyNjI3MjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMnx8dmFsbGV0dGF8ZW58MXx8fHwxNjU0MjAyMjg0&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&quality=80&w=400 | [] | [] | [] | [
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"Tara Anbudaiyan"
] | 2022-06-02T20:35:54+00:00 | A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Malta | en | /static/images/favicon.png | StoryMaps | https://storymaps.com/stories/25433dcd52dc4c43a2caffc6f691e858 | |||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 94 | http://www.grandharbourhotel.com/en_US/valletta-history/ | en | Grand Harbour Hotel | [
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] | null | [] | null | Valletta is a city rich in history and etched in the blood of our forefathers who struggled against all odds to protect their homeland. Knowing its origins back to 1570, the city was built on the barren peninsula... | en | http://www.grandharbourhotel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/square_logo_16.png | http://www.grandharbourhotel.com/en_US/valletta-history/ | Valletta is a city rich in history and etched in the blood of our forefathers who struggled against all odds to protect their homeland. Knowing its origins back to 1570, the city was built on the barren peninsula that was the main battleground of the Turkish attempted takeover of the island in the famous Great Siege of Malta in 1565. Back then the defenders of the island, namely the Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem had established themselves in the 3 Cities on the opposite shore. The defence of the island consisted of the forts of St. Angelo and St. Michael at the tip of the 2 of the cities and the Fort of St. Elmo at the tip of the then barren peninsula.
Under the apt leadership of the Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette, the defenders consisted of around 500 knights, approximately 2,000 footsoldiers of mainly Italian and Spanish origins, and the Maltese population of about 3000 men whilst the attacking force consisted of around 48,000 strong who arrived in over a 100 ships. After holding strong for weeks, St. Elmo fell first to the enemy at a high price with around 9000 lives lost , the majority of which belonged to the attacking force.
Following fierce bloodied battles and severe casualties the Turks finally abandoned their hopes and left the island in disarray. Having checked the Muslim onslaught of Malta which would have threatened the southern borders of Europe, La Valette received great praise, gifts and funds from the European nobility and as a result he decided to build a new stronger fortified city on the then barren peninsula to prepare for any future invasions.
The result is the magnificent walled city of Valletta, a city “built for gentleman by gentleman” and a city which was to see the invasion of the French, another Siege by the very Maltese to out throw the French and after many years the brunt of 2 world wars. The second world war was to take its toll on this historic city with both its inhabitants and its magnificent buildings paying a high cost. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 0 | 41 | https://www.bayareadesignandlandscape.com/maltas-capital-city-valletta | en | Malta’s Capital City Valletta | [
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] | 2016-08-03T12:15:00 | We are an award-winning landscape design and installation company with over 30 years of experience. We have custom-built and designed over 2000 spectacular gardens, pools, and outdoor living spaces. We work for some of the most discerning clients and luxurious properties in Houston and the surrounding areas. | en | https://www.bayareadesignandlandscape.com/maltas-capital-city-valletta | Valletta, a UNESCO world heritage site, is nothing short of an open air museum. This capital city is the brainchild of Grandmaster Jean de la Valette, who wanted a fortified city to protect the island from Turkish invasion. The architect Francesco Laparelli, who was Michelangelo’s assistant, was sent to Malta by the Pope to design this fortified city atop Mount Sciberras– a barren peninsula between two natural harbors. Fort St. Elmo and Fort Ricasoli protect the entrance to the harbor with bastion walls. Fort St. Angelo and the bastion walls of Birgu and Senglea shield its flanks.
Valletta is one the first cities in Europe to be developed entirely by plan and on a rectangular parallel grid, allowing the sea breezes to cool the summer heat.
Towards the end of 1568, a Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar took charge of designing and building many of the buildings in the city.
The beautiful baroque style St. John co-cathedral designed by Girolamo Cassar 1573-1578. This cathedral also has one of the largest Caravaggio paintings in the world.
The Auberge de Castille was designed by Girolamo Cassar in 1570,due to lack of funding it was not completed until 1745 under Grandmaster Pinto. It now houses the offices of the Maltese Prime Minster.
This is the fifth entrance of Valletta since 1566 designed by the internationally recognized Italian architect Renzo Piano who also designed the Whitney Museum in New York City.
Typical streets in Valletta, houses adorned with wooden balconies called “gallarija”. Yellow limestone gleaming in the summer sun.
Sacra Infermeria is now the Mediterranean conference center. Built by the Knights of Malta in 1574, this was one of the first hospitals in Europe. This building was also designed by Girolamo Cassar.
Valletta is full of history, art and culture. This is just a small sample of what you can see in this city, no wonder it has been designated as the European Capital of Culture 2018! | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 5 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta | en | Wikipedia | [
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This article is about the country. For other uses, see Malta (disambiguation).
Malta ( MOL-tə, MAWL-tə, Maltese: [ˈmɐːltɐ]), officially the Republic of Malta,[14] is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago 80 km (50 mi) south of Italy, 284 km (176 mi) east of Tunisia,[15] and 333 km (207 mi) north of Libya.[16][17] The two official languages are Maltese and English. The country's capital is Valletta, which is the smallest capital city in the EU by both area and population. With a population of about 542,000[8] over an area of 316 km2 (122 sq mi),[7] Malta is the world's tenth-smallest country by area[18][19] and the fifth most densely populated. Various sources consider the country to consist of a single urban region,[20][21] for which it is often described as a city-state.[22][23][24]
Malta has been inhabited since about 5900 BC.[25] Its location in the centre of the Mediterranean has historically given it great geostrategic importance, with a succession of powers having ruled the islands and shaped its culture and society.[26] These include the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and Romans in antiquity; the Arabs, Normans, and Aragonese during the Middle Ages; and the Knights Hospitaller, French, and British in the modern era.[27][28] Malta came under British rule in the early 19th century and served as the headquarters for the British Mediterranean Fleet. It was besieged by the Axis powers during World War II and was an important Allied base for North Africa and the Mediterranean.[29][30] Malta achieved independence in 1964,[31] and established its current parliamentary republic in 1974. It has been a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations since independence; it joined the European Union in 2004 and the eurozone monetary union in 2008.
Malta's long history of foreign rule and close proximity to both Europe and North Africa have influenced its art, music, cuisine, and architecture. Malta has close historical and cultural ties to Italy and especially Sicily; between 62 and 66 percent of Maltese people speak or have significant knowledge of the Italian language, which had official status from 1530 to 1934.[32][33] Malta was an early centre of Christianity, and Catholicism is the state religion, although the country's constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religious worship.[34][35]
Malta is a developed country with an advanced high-income economy. It is heavily reliant on tourism, attracting both travelers and a growing expatriate community with its warm climate, numerous recreational areas, and architectural and historical monuments, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum,[36] Valletta,[37] and seven megalithic temples which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world.[38][39][40]
Name
[edit]
The English name Malta derives from Italian and Maltese Malta, from medieval Arabic Māliṭā (مَالِطَا), from classical Latin Melita,[41] from latinised or Doric forms[42] of the ancient Greek Melítē (Μελίτη) of uncertain origin. The name Melítē—shared by the Croatian island Mljet in antiquity—literally means "place of honey" or "sweetness", derived from the combining form of méli (μέλι, "honey" or any similarly sweet thing)[43] and the suffix -ē (-η). The ancient Greeks may have given the island this name after Malta's endemic subspecies of bees.[44] Alternatively, other scholars argue for derivation of the Greek name from an original Phoenician or Punic Maleth (𐤌𐤋𐤈, mlṭ), meaning "haven"[45] or "port"[46] in reference to the Grand Harbour and its primary settlement at Cospicua following the sea level rise that separated the Maltese islands and flooded its original coastal settlements in the 10th century BC.[47] The name was then applied to all of Malta by the Greeks and to its ancient capital at Mdina by the Romans.[47]
Malta and its demonym Maltese are attested in English from the late 16th century.[48] The Greek name appears in the Book of Acts in the Bible's New Testament.[49] English translations including the 1611 King James Version long used the Vulgate Latin form Melita, although William Tyndale's 1525 translation from Greek sources used the transliteration Melite instead. Malta is widely used in more recent versions. The name is attested earlier in other languages, however, including some medieval manuscripts of the Latin Antonine Itinerary.[50]
History
[edit]
Main article: History of Malta
Prehistory
[edit]
Malta has been inhabited from circa 5900 BC,[51] since the arrival of settlers originating from European Neolithic agriculturalists.[52] Pottery found by archaeologists at the Skorba Temples resembles that found in Italy, and suggests that the Maltese islands were first settled in 5200 BC by Stone Age hunters or farmers who had arrived from Sicily, possibly the Sicani. The extinction of the dwarf hippos, giant swans and dwarf elephants has been linked to the earliest arrival of humans on Malta.[53] Prehistoric farming settlements dating to the Early Neolithic include Għar Dalam.[54] The population on Malta grew cereals, raised livestock and, in common with other ancient Mediterranean cultures, worshipped a fertility figure.[55]
A culture of megalithic temple builders then either supplanted or arose from this early period. Around 3500 BC, these people built some of the oldest existing free-standing structures in the world in the form of the megalithic Ġgantija temples on Gozo;[56] other early temples include those at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra.[40][57][58] The temples have distinctive architecture, typically a complex trefoil design, and were used from 4000 to 2500 BC. Tentative information suggests that animal sacrifices were made to the goddess of fertility, whose statue is now in the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.[59] Another archaeological feature of the Maltese Islands often attributed to these ancient builders is equidistant uniform grooves dubbed "cart tracks" or "cart ruts" which can be found in several locations throughout the islands, with the most prominent being those found in Misraħ Għar il-Kbir. These may have been caused by wooden-wheeled carts eroding soft limestone.[60][61] The culture apparently disappeared from the islands around 2500 BC, possibly due to famine or disease.
After 2500 BC, the Maltese Islands were depopulated for several decades until an influx of Bronze Age immigrants, a culture that cremated its dead and introduced smaller megalithic structures called dolmens.[62] They are claimed to belong to a population certainly different from that which built the previous megalithic temples. It is presumed the population arrived from Sicily because of the similarity of Maltese dolmens to some small constructions found there.[63]
Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans
[edit]
Phoenician traders[64] colonised the islands under the name Ann (𐤀𐤍𐤍, ʾNN)[47] sometime after 1000 BC[15] as a stop on their trade routes from the eastern Mediterranean to Cornwall.[67] Their seat of government was apparently at Mdina, which shared the island's name; the primary port was at Cospicua on the Grand Harbour, which they called Maleth.[47] After the fall of Phoenicia in 332 BC, the area came under the control of Carthage.[15][68] During this time, the people on Malta mainly cultivated olives and carob and produced textiles.[68]
During the First Punic War, the island was conquered after harsh fighting by Marcus Atilius Regulus.[69] After the failure of his expedition, the island fell back in the hands of Carthage, only to be conquered again during the Second Punic War in 218 BC by the Roman consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus.[69] After that, Malta became a Foederata Civitas, a designation that meant it was exempt from paying tribute or the rule of Roman law, and fell within the jurisdiction of the province of Sicily.[44] Its capital at Mdina was renamed Melita after the Greek and Roman name for the island. Punic influence, however, remained vibrant on the islands with the famous Cippi of Melqart, pivotal in deciphering the Punic language, dedicated in the second century BC.[70][71] Local Roman coinage, which ceased in the first century BC,[72] indicates the slow pace of the island's Romanisation: the last locally minted coins still bear inscriptions in Ancient Greek and Punic motifs, showing the resistance of the Greek and Punic cultures.[73]
In the second century, Emperor Hadrian (r. 117–38) upgraded the status of Malta to a municipium or free town: the island's local affairs were administered by four quattuorviri iuri dicundo and a municipal senate, while a Roman procurator living in Mdina represented the proconsul of Sicily.[69] In AD 58, Paul the Apostle and Luke the Evangelist were shipwrecked on the islands.[69] Paul remained for three months, preaching the Christian faith.[69] The island is mentioned at the Acts of the Apostles as Melitene (Greek: Μελιτήνη).[74]
In 395, when the Roman Empire was divided for the last time at the death of Theodosius I, Malta, following Sicily, fell under the control of the Western Roman Empire.[75] During the Migration Period as the Western Roman Empire declined, Malta was conquered or occupied a number of times.[72] From 454 to 464 the islands were subdued by the Vandals, and after 464 by the Ostrogoths.[69] In 533, Belisarius, on his way to conquer the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa, reunited the islands under Imperial (Eastern) rule.[69] Little is known about the Byzantine rule in Malta: the island depended on the theme of Sicily and had Greek Governors and a small Greek garrison.[69] While the bulk of population continued to be constituted by the old, Latinized dwellers, during this period its religious allegiance oscillated between the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople.[69] The Byzantine rule introduced Greek families to the Maltese collective.[76] Malta remained under the Byzantine Empire until 870, when it was conquered by the Arabs.[69][77]
Arab period and the Middle Ages
[edit]
See also: Arab–Byzantine wars and Islam in Malta
Malta became involved in the Arab–Byzantine wars, and the conquest of Malta is closely linked with that of Sicily that began in 827 after Admiral Euphemius' betrayal of his fellow Byzantines, requesting that the Aghlabids invade the island.[78] The Muslim chronicler and geographer al-Himyari recounts that in 870, following a violent struggle against the defending Byzantines, the Arab invaders, first led by Halaf al-Hadim, and later by Sawada ibn Muhammad,[79] pillaged the island, destroying the most important buildings, and leaving it practically uninhabited until it was recolonised by the Arabs from Sicily in 1048–1049.[79] It is uncertain whether this new settlement resulted from demographic expansion in Sicily, a higher standard of living in Sicily (in which case the recolonisation may have taken place a few decades earlier), or a civil war which broke out among the Arab rulers of Sicily in 1038.[80] The Arab Agricultural Revolution introduced new irrigation, cotton, and some fruits. The Siculo-Arabic language was adopted on the island from Sicily; it would eventually evolve into the Maltese language.[81]
Norman conquest
[edit]
Main article: Norman invasion of Malta
The Normans attacked Malta in 1091, as part of their conquest of Sicily.[82] The Norman leader, Roger I of Sicily, was welcomed by Christian captives.[44] The notion that Count Roger I reportedly tore off a portion of his checkered red-and-white banner and presented it to the Maltese in gratitude for having fought on his behalf, forming the basis of the modern flag of Malta, is founded in myth.[44][83]
Malta became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Sicily, which also covered the island of Sicily and the southern half of the Italian Peninsula.[44] The Catholic Church was reinstated as the state religion, with Malta under the See of Palermo, and some Norman architecture sprang up around Malta, especially in its ancient capital Mdina.[44] King Tancred made Malta a fief of the kingdom and installed a Count of Malta in 1192. As the islands were much desired due to their strategic importance, it was during this time that the men of Malta were militarised to fend off attempted conquest; early Counts were skilled Genoese privateers.[44]
The kingdom passed on to the Hohenstaufen dynasty from 1194 until 1266. As Emperor Frederick II began to reorganise his Sicilian kingdom, Western culture and religion started to exert their influence more intensely.[84] Malta was declared a county and a marquisate, but its trade was totally ruined. For a long time it remained solely a fortified garrison.[85]
A mass expulsion of Arabs occurred in 1224, and the entire Christian male population of Celano in Abruzzo was deported to Malta in the same year.[44] In 1249 Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, decreed that all remaining Muslims be expelled from Malta[86] or compelled to convert.[87][88]
For a brief period, the kingdom passed to the Capetian House of Anjou,[89] but high taxes made the dynasty unpopular in Malta, due in part to Charles of Anjou's war against the Republic of Genoa, and the island of Gozo was sacked in 1275.[44]
Crown of Aragon, the Knights of Malta and Portuguese Rule
[edit]
Malta was ruled by the House of Barcelona, the ruling dynasty of the Crown of Aragon, from 1282 to 1409,[90] with the Aragonese aiding the Maltese insurgents in the Sicilian Vespers in the naval battle in Grand Harbour in 1283.[91]
Relatives of the kings of Aragon ruled the island until 1409 when it formally passed to the Crown of Aragon. Early on in the Aragonese ascendancy, the sons of the monarchs received the title Count of Malta. During this time much of the local nobility was created. By 1397, however, the bearing of the comital title reverted to a feudal basis, with two families fighting over the distinction. This led King Martin I of Sicily to abolish the title. The dispute over the title returned when the title was reinstated a few years later and the Maltese, led by the local nobility, rose up against Count Gonsalvo Monroy.[44] Although they opposed the Count, the Maltese voiced their loyalty to the Sicilian Crown, which so impressed King Alfonso that he did not punish the people for their rebellion. Instead, he promised never to grant the title to a third party and incorporated it back into the crown. The city of Mdina was given the title of Città Notabile.[44]
On 23 March 1530,[92] Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, gave the islands to the Knights Hospitaller under the leadership of Frenchman Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam,[93][94] in perpetual lease for which they had to pay an annual tribute of a single Maltese Falcon.[95][96][97][98][99][100][101] These knights, a military religious order also known as the Order of St John and later as the Knights of Malta, had been driven out of Rhodes by the Ottoman Empire in 1522.[102]
The Knights Hospitaller ruled Malta and Gozo between 1530 and 1798.[103] During this period, the strategic and military importance of the island grew greatly as the small yet efficient fleet of the Order of Saint John launched their attacks from this new base targeting the shipping lanes of the Ottoman territories around the Mediterranean Sea.[103][104]
In 1551, the population of the island of Gozo (around 5,000 people) were enslaved by Barbary pirates and taken to the Barbary Coast in North Africa.[105]
The knights, led by Frenchman Jean Parisot de Valette, withstood the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottomans in 1565.[94] The knights, with the help of Portuguese, Spanish and Maltese forces, repelled the attack.[106][107] After the siege they decided to increase Malta's fortifications, particularly in the inner-harbour area, where the new city of Valletta, named in honour of Valette, was built. They also established watchtowers along the coasts – the Wignacourt, Lascaris and De Redin towers – named after the Grand Masters who ordered the work. The Knights' presence on the island saw the completion of many architectural and cultural projects, including the embellishment of Città Vittoriosa (modern Birgu) and the construction of new cities including Città Rohan (modern Ħaż-Żebbuġ). However, by the late 1700s the power of the Knights had declined and the Order had become unpopular.
French period and British conquest
[edit]
The Knights' reign ended when Napoleon captured Malta on his way to Egypt during the French Revolutionary Wars in 1798. During 12–18 June 1798, Napoleon resided at the Palazzo Parisio in Valletta.[108][109][110] He reformed national administration with the creation of a Government Commission, twelve municipalities, a public finance administration, the abolition of all feudal rights and privileges, the abolition of slavery and the granting of freedom to all Turkish and Jewish slaves.[111][112] On the judicial level, a family code was framed and twelve judges were nominated. Public education was organised along principles laid down by Bonaparte himself, providing for primary and secondary education.[112][113] He then sailed for Egypt, leaving a substantial garrison in Malta.[114]
The French forces left behind became unpopular with the Maltese, due particularly to the French forces' hostility towards Catholicism and pillaging of local churches to fund war efforts. French financial and religious policies so angered the Maltese that they rebelled, forcing the French to depart. Great Britain, along with the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Sicily, sent ammunition and aid to the Maltese, and Britain also sent its navy, which blockaded the islands.[112]
On 28 October 1798, Captain Sir Alexander Ball successfully completed negotiations with the French garrison on Gozo for a surrender and transfer of the island to the British. The British transferred the island to the locals that day, and it was administered by Archpriest Saverio Cassar on behalf of Ferdinand III of Sicily. Gozo remained independent until Cassar was removed by the British in 1801.[115]
General Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois surrendered his French forces in 1800.[112] Maltese leaders presented the main island to Sir Alexander Ball, asking that the island become a British Dominion. The Maltese people created a Declaration of Rights in which they agreed to come "under the protection and sovereignty of the King of the free people, His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland". The Declaration also stated that "his Majesty has no right to cede these Islands to any power...if he chooses to withdraw his protection, and abandon his sovereignty, the right of electing another sovereign, or of the governing of these Islands, belongs to us, the inhabitants and aborigines alone, and without control."[112][116]
British Empire and the Second World War
[edit]
In 1814, as part of the Treaty of Paris,[112][117] Malta officially became a part of the British Empire and was used as a shipping way-station and fleet headquarters. After the Suez Canal opened in 1869, Malta's position halfway between the Strait of Gibraltar and Egypt proved to be its main asset, and it was considered an important stop on the way to India, a central trade route for the British.
A Turkish Military Cemetery was commissioned by Sultan Abdul Aziz and built between 1873 and 1874 for the fallen Ottoman soldiers of the Great Siege of Malta.
Between 1915 and 1918, during the First World War, Malta became known as the Nurse of the Mediterranean due to the large number of wounded soldiers who were accommodated there.[118] In 1919, British troops fired into a crowd protesting against new taxes, killing four. The event, known as Sette Giugno ("7 June"), is commemorated every year and is one of five National Days.[119][120] Until the Second World War, Maltese politics was dominated by the Language Question fought out by Italophone and Anglophone parties.[121]
Before the Second World War, Valletta was the location of the Royal Navy's Mediterranean fleet headquarters; however, despite Winston Churchill's objections,[122] the command was moved to Alexandria, Egypt, in 1937 out of fear that it was too susceptible to air attacks from Europe.[122][123][124] During the war Malta played an important role for the Allies; being a British colony, situated close to Sicily and the Axis shipping lanes, Malta was bombarded by the Italian and German air forces. Malta was used by the British to launch attacks on the Italian Navy and had a submarine base. It was also used as a listening post, intercepting German radio messages including Enigma traffic.[125] The bravery of the Maltese people during the second siege of Malta moved King George VI to award the George Cross to Malta on a collective basis on 15 April 1942. Some historians argue that the award caused Britain to incur disproportionate losses in defending Malta, as British credibility would have suffered if Malta had surrendered, as British forces in Singapore had done.[126] A depiction of the George Cross now appears on the Flag of Malta and the country's arms.
Independence and Republic
[edit]
See also: State of Malta
Malta achieved its independence as the State of Malta on 21 September 1964 (Independence Day). Under its 1964 constitution, Malta initially retained Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Malta and thus head of state, with a governor-general exercising executive authority on her behalf. In 1971, the Malta Labour Party led by Dom Mintoff won the general elections, resulting in Malta declaring itself a republic on 13 December 1974 (Republic Day) within the Commonwealth. A defence agreement was signed soon after independence, and after being re-negotiated in 1972, expired on 31 March 1979 (Freedom Day).[127] Upon its expiry, the British base closed and lands formerly controlled by the British were given to the Maltese government.[128]
In the aftermath of the departure of the remaining British troops in 1979, the country intensified its participation in the Non-Aligned Movement. Malta adopted a policy of neutrality in 1980.[129] In that same year, three of Malta's sites, including the capital Valletta, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 1989, Malta was the venue of a summit between US President George H. W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, their first face-to-face encounter, which signalled the end of the Cold War.[130] Malta International Airport was inaugurated and became fully operational on 25 March 1992, boosting the local aircraft and tourism industry. A referendum on joining the European Union was held on 8 March 2003, with 53.65% in favour.[131] Malta joined the European Union on 1 May 2004[132] and the eurozone on 1 January 2008.[133]
Politics
[edit]
Malta is a republic[34] whose parliamentary system and public administration are closely modelled on the Westminster system.
The unicameral Parliament is made up of the President of Malta and the House of Representatives (Maltese: Kamra tad-Deputati). The President of Malta, a largely ceremonial position, is appointed for a five-year term by a resolution of the House of Representatives carried by a simple majority. The House of Representatives has 65 members, elected for a five-year term in 13 five-seat electoral divisions, called distretti elettorali, with constitutional amendments that allow for mechanisms to establish strict proportionality amongst seats and votes of political parliamentary groups. Members of the House of Representatives are elected by direct universal suffrage through single transferable vote every five years, unless the House is dissolved earlier by the president either on the advice of the prime minister or through a motion of no confidence. Malta had the second-highest voter turnout in the world (and the highest for nations without mandatory voting), based on election turnout in national lower house elections from 1960 to 1995.[134] Since Malta is a republic, the head of state in Malta is the President of the Republic. The current President of the Republic is Myriam Spiteri Debono, who was elected on 27 March, 2024 by members of parliament in an indirect election.[135] The 80th article of the Constitution of Malta provides that the president appoint as prime minister "the member of the House of Representatives who, in his judgment, is best able to command the support of a majority of the members of that House".[34] Maltese politics is a two-party system dominated by the Labour Party (Maltese: Partit Laburista), a centre-left social democratic party, and the Nationalist Party (Maltese: Partit Nazzjonalista), a centre-right Christian democratic party. The Labour Party has been the governing party since 2013 and is currently led by Prime Minister Robert Abela, who has been in office since 13 January 2020. There are a number of small political parties in Malta which have no parliamentary representation.
Administrative divisions
[edit]
Malta has had a system of local government since 1993,[136] based on the European Charter of Local Self-Government. The country is divided into six regions (one of them being Gozo), with each region having its own Regional Council, serving as the intermediate level between local government and national government.[137] The regions are divided into local councils, of which there are currently 68 (54 in Malta and 14 in Gozo). The six districts (five on Malta and the sixth being Gozo) serve primarily statistical purposes.[138]
Each council is made up of a number of councillors (from 5 to 13, depending on and relative to the population they represent). A mayor and a deputy mayor are elected by and from the councillors. The executive secretary, who is appointed by the council, is the executive, administrative and financial head of the council. Councillors are elected every four years through the single transferable vote. Due to system reforms, no elections were held before 2012. Since then, elections have been held every two years for an alternating half of the councils.
Local councils are responsible for the general upkeep and embellishment of the locality (including repairs to non-arterial roads), allocation of local wardens, and refuse collection; they also carry out general administrative duties for the central government such as the collection of government rents and funds and answer government-related public inquiries. Additionally, a number of individual towns and villages in the Republic of Malta have sister cities.
Military
[edit]
Main article: Armed Forces of Malta
The objectives of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are to maintain a military organisation with the primary aim of defending the islands' integrity according to the defence roles as set by the government in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This is achieved by emphasising the maintenance of Malta's territorial waters and airspace integrity.[139]
The AFM also engages in combating terrorism, fighting against illicit drug trafficking, conducting anti-illegal immigrant operations and patrols, and anti-illegal fishing operations, operating search and rescue (SAR) services, and physical or electronic security and surveillance of sensitive locations. Malta's search-and-rescue area extends from east of Tunisia to west of Crete, an area of around 250,000 km2 (97,000 sq mi).[140]
As a military organisation, the AFM provides backup support to the Malta Police Force (MPF) and other government departments/agencies in situations as required in an organised, disciplined manner in the event of national emergencies (such as natural disasters) or internal security and bomb disposal.[141]
In 2020, Malta signed and ratified the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.[142][143]
Human rights
[edit]
Malta is regarded as one of the most LGBT-supportive countries in the world,[144][145] and was the first nation in the European Union to prohibit conversion therapy.[146] Malta also constitutionally bans discrimination based on disability.[147] Maltese legislation recognises both civil and canonical (ecclesiastical) marriages. Annulments by the ecclesiastical and civil courts are unrelated and are not necessarily mutually endorsed. Malta voted in favour of divorce legislation in a referendum held on 28 May 2011.[148]
In Malta, life from conception is protected, and as such abortion in Malta is illegal. It is the only European Union member state with a total ban on the procedure. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.[149] On 21 November 2022, the government led by the Labour Party proposed a bill that "introduces a new clause into the country's criminal code allowing for the termination of a pregnancy if the mother's life is at risk or if her health is in serious jeopardy".[150] As of 2023, an exception was added to allow abortion only if the mother's life is at risk.[151]
Geography
[edit]
Main article: Geography of Malta
Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean (in its eastern basin), some 80 km (50 mi) from southern Italy across the Malta Channel. Only the three largest islands—Malta (Maltese: Malta), Gozo (Għawdex), and Comino (Kemmuna)—are inhabited. The islands of the archipelago lie on the Malta plateau, a shallow shelf formed from the high points of a land bridge between Sicily and North Africa that became isolated as sea levels rose after the last ice age.[152] The archipelago is located on the African tectonic plate.[153][154] Malta was considered an island of North Africa for centuries.[155]
Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The landscape consists of low hills with terraced fields. The highest point in Malta is Ta' Dmejrek, at 253 m (830 ft), near Dingli. Although there are some small rivers at times of high rainfall, there are no permanent rivers or lakes on Malta. However, some watercourses have fresh water running all year round at Baħrija near Ras ir-Raħeb, at l-Imtaħleb and San Martin, and at Lunzjata Valley in Gozo.
Phytogeographically, Malta belongs to the Liguro-Tyrrhenian province of the Mediterranean region within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF, the territory of Malta belongs to the terrestrial ecoregion of Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests.[156]
The following uninhabited minor islands are part of the archipelago:
Barbaġanni Rock (Gozo)
Cominotto (Kemmunett)
Dellimara Island (Marsaxlokk)
Filfla (Żurrieq)/(Siġġiewi)
Fessej Rock
Fungus Rock (Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral), (Gozo)
Għallis Rock (Naxxar)
Ħalfa Rock (Gozo)
Large Blue Lagoon Rocks (Comino)
Islands of St. Paul/Selmunett Island (Mellieħa)
Manoel Island, which connects to the town of Gżira, on the mainland via a bridge
Mistra Rocks (San Pawl il-Baħar)
Taċ-Ċawl Rock (Gozo)
Qawra Point/Ta' Fraben Island (San Pawl il-Baħar)
Small Blue Lagoon Rocks (Comino)
Sala Rock (Żabbar)
Xrobb l-Għaġin Rock (Marsaxlokk)
Ta' taħt il-Mazz Rock
Climate
[edit]
Main article: Climate of Malta
Malta has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa),[35][157] with mild winters and hot summers, hotter in the inland areas. Rain occurs mainly in autumn and winter, with summer being generally dry.
The average yearly temperature is around 23 °C (73 °F) during the day and 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) at night. In the coldest month – January – the typical maximum temperature ranges from 12 to 18 °C (54 to 64 °F) during the day and minimum 6 to 12 °C (43 to 54 °F) at night. In the warmest month – August – the typical maximum temperature ranges from 28 to 34 °C (82 to 93 °F) during the day and minimum 20 to 24 °C (68 to 75 °F) at night. Amongst all capitals in the continent of Europe, Valletta – the capital of Malta has the warmest winters, with average temperatures of around 15 to 16 °C (59 to 61 °F) during the day and 9 to 10 °C (48 to 50 °F) at night in the period January–February. In March and December average temperatures are around 17 °C (63 °F) during the day and 11 °C (52 °F) at night.[158] Large fluctuations in temperature are rare. Snow is very rare, although snowfalls have been recorded in the last century, the last one in 2014.[159]
The average annual sea temperature is 20 °C (68 °F), from 15–16 °C (59–61 °F) in February to 26 °C (79 °F) in August. In the 6 months – from June to November – the average sea temperature exceeds 20 °C (68 °F).[160][161][162]
The annual average relative humidity is high, averaging 75%, ranging from 65% in July (morning: 78% evening: 53%) to 80% in December (morning: 83% evening: 73%).[163]
Sunshine duration hours total around 3,000 per year, from an average 5.2 hours of sunshine duration per day in December to an average above 12 hours in July.[161][164] This is about double that of cities in the northern half of Europe,[original research?] for comparison: London – 1,461;[165] however, in winter it has up to four times more sunshine; for comparison: in December, London has 37 hours of sunshine[165] whereas Malta has above 160.
Urbanisation
[edit]
According to Eurostat, Malta is composed of two larger urban zones nominally referred to as "Valletta" (the main island of Malta) and "Gozo". The main urban area covers the entire main island, with a population of around 400,000.[168][169] The core of the urban area, the greater city of Valletta, has a population of 205,768.[170] According to the data from 2020 by Eurostat, the Functional Urban Area and metropolitan region covered the whole island and has a population of 480,134.[171][172] According to the United Nations, about 95 percent of the area of Malta is urban and the number grows every year.[20] According to ESPON and EU Commission studies, "the whole territory of Malta constitutes a single urban region".[21]
Malta, with area of 316 km2 (122 sq mi) and population of over 0.5 million, is one of the most densely populated countries worldwide. It is in some sources[22][23][24][173][174] referred to as a city-state. Sometimes Malta is listed in rankings concerning cities[175] or metropolitan areas.[176]
Flora
[edit]
Main article: Flora of Malta
The Maltese islands are home to a wide diversity of indigenous, sub-endemic and endemic plants.[177] They feature many traits typical of a Mediterranean climate, such as drought resistance. The most common indigenous trees on the islands are olive (Olea europaea), carob (Ceratonia siliqua), fig (Ficus carica), holm oak (Quericus ilex) and Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), while the most common non-native trees are eucalyptus, acacia and opuntia. Endemic plants include the national flower widnet il-baħar (Cheirolophus crassifolius), sempreviva ta' Malta (Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. melitense), żigland t' Għawdex (Hyoseris frutescens) and ġiżi ta' Malta (Matthiola incana subsp. melitensis) while sub-endemics include kromb il-baħar (Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula) and xkattapietra (Micromeria microphylla).[178] The biodiversity of Malta is severely endangered by habitat loss, invasive species and human intervention.[179]
Economy
[edit]
Main article: Economy of Malta
Malta is classified as an advanced economy according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).[180] Malta's major resources are limestone, a favourable geographic location and a productive labour force. Malta produces only about 20 percent of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies because of the drought in the summer, and has no domestic energy sources, aside from the potential for solar energy from its plentiful sunlight. The economy is dependent on foreign trade (serving as a freight trans-shipment point), manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism.[181] Film production has contributed to the Maltese economy.[182]
Access to biocapacity in Malta is below the world average. In 2016, Malta had 0.6 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, contrasted with a global average of 1.6 hectares per person.[184] Additionally, residents of Malta exhibited an ecological footprint of consumption of 5.8 global hectares of biocapacity per person, resulting in a sizable biocapacity deficit.
In preparation for Malta's membership in the European Union, which it joined on 1 May 2004, it privatised some state-controlled firms and liberalised markets.[185][186][187][188] Malta has a financial regulator, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), with a strong business development mindset, and the country has been successful in attracting gaming businesses, aircraft and ship registration, credit-card issuing banking licences and also fund administration. Malta has made strong headway in implementing EU Financial Services Directives including UCITs IV and Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMs). As a base for alternative asset managers who must comply with new directives, Malta has attracted a number of key players including IDS, Iconic Funds, Apex Fund Services and TMF/Customs House.[189]
As of 2015, Malta did not have a property tax. Its property market, especially around the harbour area, was booming, with the prices of apartments in some towns like St Julian's, Sliema and Gzira skyrocketing.[190]
According to Eurostat data, Maltese GDP per capita stood at 88 per cent of the EU average in 2015 with €21,000.[191]
The National Development and Social Fund from the Individual Investor Programme, a citizenship by investment programme also known as the "citizenship scheme", became a significant income source for the government of Malta, adding 432,000,000 euro to the budget in 2018.[192]
Banking and finance
[edit]
The two largest commercial banks are Bank of Valletta and HSBC Bank Malta. Digital banks such as Revolut have also increased in popularity.[193] The Central Bank of Malta (Bank Ċentrali ta' Malta) has two key areas of responsibility: the formulation and implementation of monetary policy and the promotion of a sound and efficient financial system. The Maltese government entered ERM II on 4 May 2005, and adopted the euro as the country's currency on 1 January 2008.[194]
Currency
[edit]
Maltese euro coins feature the Maltese cross on €2 and €1 coins, the coat of arms of Malta on the €0.50, €0.20 and €0.10 coins, and the Mnajdra Temples on the €0.05, €0.02 and €0.01 coins.[195]
Malta has produced collectors' coins with face value ranging from 10 to 50 euros. These coins continue an existing national practice of minting of silver and gold commemorative coins. Unlike normal issues, these coins are not accepted in all the eurozone.
From its introduction in 1972 until the introduction of the Euro in 2008, the currency was the Maltese lira, which had replaced the Maltese pound. The pound replaced the Maltese scudo in 1825.
Tourism
[edit]
Main article: Tourism in Malta
Malta is a popular tourist destination, with 1.6 million tourists per year.[196] Three times more tourists visit than there are residents. Tourism infrastructure has increased dramatically over the years and a number of hotels are present on the island, although overdevelopment and the destruction of traditional housing is of growing concern. In 2019, Malta had a record year in tourism, recording over 2.1 million tourists in one single year.[197]
In recent years, Malta has advertised itself as a medical tourism destination,[198] and a number of health tourism providers are developing the industry. However, no Maltese hospital has undergone independent international healthcare accreditation. Malta is popular with British medical tourists,[199] pointing Maltese hospitals towards seeking UK-sourced accreditation, such as with the Trent Accreditation Scheme.
Tourism in Malta contributes around 11.6 percent of the country's gross domestic product.[200]
Science and technology
[edit]
Malta signed a co-operation agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) for more-intensive co-operation in ESA projects.[201] The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) is the civil body responsible for the development of science and technology on an educational and social level. Most science students in Malta graduate from the University of Malta and are represented by S-Cubed (Science Student's Society), UESA (University Engineering Students Association) and ICTSA (University of Malta ICT Students' Association).[202][203] Malta was ranked 25th in the Global Innovation Index in 2023.[204]
Demographics
[edit]
Main article: Demographics of Malta
As of the 2021 census, Maltese-born natives make up the majority of the island with 386,280 people out of a total population of 519,562.[206] However, there are minorities, the largest of which by birthplace were: 15,082 from the United Kingdom, Italy (13,361), India (7,946), Philippines (7,784) and Serbia (5,935). Among racial origins for the non-Maltese, 58.1% of all identified as Caucasian, 22.2% Asian, 6.3% Arab, 6.0% African, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino and 2.9% more than one race.[207]
As of 2005 , 17 percent were aged 14 and under, 68 percent were within the 15–64 age bracket whilst the remaining 13 percent were 65 years and over. Malta's population density of 1,282 per square km (3,322/sq mi) is by far the highest in the EU and one of the highest in the world.
The Maltese-resident population for 2004 was estimated to make up 97.0 per cent of the total resident population.[208] All censuses since 1842 have shown a slight excess of females over males. Population growth has slowed down, from +9.5 per cent between the 1985 and 1995 censuses, to +6.9 per cent between the 1995 and 2005 censuses (a yearly average of +0.7 per cent). The birth rate stood at 3860 (a decrease of 21.8 per cent from the 1995 census) and the death rate stood at 3025. Thus, there was a natural population increase of 835 (compared to +888 for 2004, of which over a hundred were foreign residents).[209] The population's age composition is similar to the age structure prevalent in the EU. Malta's old-age-dependency-ratio rose from 17.2 percent in 1995 to 19.8 percent in 2005, reasonably lower than the EU's 24.9 percent average; 31.5 percent of the Maltese population is aged under 25 (compared to the EU's 29.1 percent); but the 50–64 age group constitutes 20.3 percent of the population, significantly higher than the EU's 17.9 percent. Malta's old-age-dependency-ratio is expected to continue rising steadily in the coming years.
In 2021, the population of the Maltese Islands stood at 519,562.[8]
The total fertility rate (TFR) as of 2016 was estimated at 1.45 children born/woman, which is below the replacement rate of 2.1.[210] In 2012, 25.8 per cent of births were to unmarried women.[211] The life expectancy in 2018 was estimated at 83.[212]
Languages
[edit]
Main article: Languages of Malta
See also: § Education
The Maltese language (Maltese: Malti) is one of the two constitutional languages of Malta and is considered the national language. The second official language is English and hence laws are enacted both in Maltese and English. However, article 74 of the Constitution states that "if there is any conflict between the Maltese and the English texts of any law, the Maltese text shall prevail."[34]
Maltese is a Semitic language descended from the now extinct Sicilian-Arabic (Siculo-Arabic) dialect (from southern Italy) that developed during the Emirate of Sicily.[213] The Maltese alphabet consists of 30 letters based on the Latin alphabet.
In 2022, Malta National Statistics Office states that 90 percent of the Maltese population has at least a basic knowledge of Maltese, 96 percent of English, 62 percent of Italian, and 20 percent of French.[33] This widespread knowledge of second languages makes Malta one of the most multilingual countries in the European Union. A study collecting public opinion on what language was "preferred" discovered that 86 percent of the population preferred Maltese, 12 percent English, and 2 percent Italian.[214] Italian television channels from Italy-based broadcasters, such as Mediaset and RAI, reach Malta and remain popular.[214][215][216]
Maltese Sign Language is used by signers in Malta.[217]
Religion
[edit]
Main article: Religion in Malta
The predominant religion in Malta is Catholicism. The second article of the Constitution of Malta establishes Catholicism as the state religion and it is also reflected in various elements of Maltese culture, although there are entrenched provisions for the freedom of religion.[34] There are more than 360 churches in Malta, Gozo, and Comino, or one church for every 1,000 residents. The parish church (Maltese: "il-parroċċa", or "il-knisja parrokkjali") is the architectural and geographic focal point of every Maltese town and village.
Malta is an Apostolic See; the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 28) tells of how St. Paul was shipwrecked on the island of "Melite", which many Bible scholars identify with Malta, an episode dated around AD 60.[219] The first Maltese saint, Saint Publius is said to have been made Malta's first bishop. Further evidence of Christian practices and beliefs during the period of Roman persecution appears in catacombs that lie beneath various sites around Malta, including St. Paul's Catacombs. There are also a number of cave churches, including the grotto at Mellieħa, which is a Shrine of the Nativity of Our Lady where, according to legend, St. Luke painted a picture of the Madonna. It has been a place of pilgrimage since the medieval period.
For centuries, the Church in Malta was subordinate to the Diocese of Palermo, except when it was under Charles of Anjou, who appointed bishops for Malta, as did – on rare occasions – the Spanish and later, the Knights. Since 1808 all bishops of Malta have been Maltese. The patron saints of Malta are Saint Paul, Saint Publius, and Saint Agatha. Although not a patron saint, St George Preca (San Ġorġ Preca) is greatly revered as the second canonised Maltese saint after St. Publius. Various Catholic religious orders are present in Malta, including the Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites and Little Sisters of the Poor.
There is a small minority of Eastern Orthodox Christians in Malta, of which there are 16,457, according to the 2021 census;[220] although the number may also include Oriental Orthodox Christians. There are a small number of parishes belonging to each autocephalous Church, typically one for each. There are Greek, Russian, Serbian, Romanian, and Bulgarian Orthodox parishes located around Malta.[221][222][223][224]
Most congregants of the local Protestant churches are not Maltese; their congregations draw on vacationers and British retirees living in the country. There are also a Seventh-day Adventist church in Birkirkara, and a New Apostolic Church congregation founded in 1983 in Gwardamangia.[225] There are approximately 600 Jehovah's Witnesses.[226] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is also represented.
The Jewish population of Malta reached its peak in the Middle Ages under Norman rule. In 1479, Malta and Sicily came under Aragonese rule and the Alhambra Decree of 1492 forced all Jews to leave the country. Today, there are two Jewish congregations.[225] In 2019 the Jewish community in Malta gathered around 150 persons, slightly more than the 120 (of which 80 were active) estimated in 2003, and mostly elderly. Many among the newer generations decided to settle abroad, including in England and Israel. Most contemporary Maltese Jews are Sephardi, however, an Ashkenazi prayer book is used. In 2013 the Chabad Jewish Center in Malta was founded.
There is one Muslim mosque, the Mariam Al-Batool Mosque. Of the estimated 3,000 Muslims in Malta, approximately 2,250 are foreigners, approximately 600 are naturalised citizens, and approximately 150 are native-born Maltese.[227] Zen Buddhism and the Baháʼí Faith claim some 40 members.[225]
In a survey held by Malta Today, the overwhelming majority of the Maltese population adheres to Christianity (95.2%) with Catholicism as the main denomination (93.9%); 4.5% of the population declared themselves either atheist or agnostic, one of the lowest figures in Europe.[228] According to a 2019 Eurobarometer survey, 83% of the population identified as Catholic.[229] The number of atheists has doubled from 2014 to 2018. Non-religious people have a higher risk of suffering from discrimination. In the 2015 edition of the annual Freedom of Thought Report from the International Humanist and Ethical Union, Malta was in the category of "severe discrimination". In 2016, following the abolishment of blasphemy law, Malta was shifted to the category of "systematic discrimination" (same as most EU countries).[230]
Migration
[edit]
Main articles: Immigration to Malta and Emigration from Malta
Foreign population in Malta Year Population % total 2005 12,112 3.0% 2011 20,289 4.9% 2019 98,918 21.0% 2020 119,261 23.17%
Historically a land of emigration, since the early 21st century Malta has seen a significant increase in net migration; the foreign-born population has grown nearly eightfold between 2005 and 2020. Most of the foreign community in Malta consists of active or retired British nationals and their dependents, centred on Sliema and surrounding suburbs. Other smaller foreign groups include Italians, Libyans, and Serbians, many of whom have assimilated into the Maltese nation over the decades.[231]
Malta is also home to a large number of foreign workers who migrated to the island for economic opportunity. This migration was driven predominantly in the early 21st century, when the Maltese economy was steadily booming yet the cost and quality of living on the island remained relatively stable. In recent years however the local Maltese housing index has doubled[232] pushing property and rental prices to very high and almost unaffordable levels. Consequently, some expats in Malta have seen their relative financial fortunes decline, with others relocating to other European countries altogether.
Since the late 20th century, Malta has become a transit country for migration routes from Africa towards Europe.[233] As a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement, Malta is bound by the Dublin Regulation to process all claims for asylum by those asylum seekers that enter EU territory for the first time in Malta.[234] However, irregular migrants who land in Malta are subject to a compulsory detention policy, being held in several camps organised by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM), including those near Ħal Far and Ħal Safi. The compulsory detention policy has been denounced by several NGOs, and in July 2010, the European Court of Human Rights found that Malta's detention of migrants was arbitrary, lacking in adequate procedures to challenge detention, and in breach of its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.[235][236] On 8 September 2020, Amnesty International criticized Malta for "illegal tactics" in the Mediterranean, against immigrants who were attempting to cross from North Africa. The reports claimed that the government's approach might have led to avoidable deaths.[237]
In January 2014, Malta started granting citizenship for a €650,000 contribution plus investments, contingent on residence and criminal background checks.[238] This "golden passport" citizenship scheme has been criticized as a fraudulent act by the Maltese Government.[clarification needed][239] Concerns as to whether the Maltese citizenship scheme is allowing an influx of such individuals into the greater European Union have been raised by both the public as well as the European Council on multiple occasions.[240]
In the 19th century, most emigration from Malta was to North Africa and the Middle East, although rates of return migration to Malta were high.[241] In the 20th century, most emigrants went to destinations in the New World, particularly to Australia, Canada, and the United States. Post Second World War, Malta's Emigration Department would assist emigrants with the cost of their travel. Between 1948 and 1967, 30 percent of the population emigrated.[241] Between 1946 and the late-1970s, over 140,000 people left Malta on the assisted passage scheme, with 57.6% migrating to Australia, 22% to the UK, 13% to Canada and 7% to the United States.[242] Emigration dropped dramatically after the mid-1970s and has since ceased to be a social phenomenon of significance. However, since Malta joined the EU in 2004 expatriate communities emerged in a number of European countries, particularly in Belgium and Luxembourg.
Education
[edit]
Main article: Education in Malta
Primary schooling has been compulsory since 1946; secondary education up to the age of sixteen was made compulsory in 1971. The state and the Church provide education free of charge, both running a number of schools in Malta and Gozo. As of 2006 , state schools are organised into networks known as Colleges and incorporate kindergarten schools, primary and secondary schools. A number of private schools are run in Malta. St. Catherine's High School, Pembroke offers an International Foundation Course for students wishing to learn English before entering mainstream education. As of 2008 , there are two international schools, Verdala International School and QSI Malta. The state pays a portion of the teachers' salary in Church schools.[243]
Education in Malta is based on the British model. Primary school lasts six years. Pupils sit for SEC O-level examinations at the age of 16, with passes obligatory in mathematics, a minimum of one science subject, English and Maltese. Pupils may opt to continue studying at a sixth form college for two years, at the end of which students sit for the matriculation examination. Subject to their performance, students may then apply for an undergraduate degree or diploma.
The adult literacy rate is 99.5 per cent.[244]
Maltese and English are both used to teach pupils at the primary and secondary school level, and both languages are also compulsory subjects. Public schools tend to use both Maltese and English in a balanced manner. Private schools prefer to use English for teaching, as is also the case with most departments of the University of Malta; this has a limiting effect on the capacity and development of the Maltese language.[214] Most university courses are in English.[245][213] The College of Remote and Offshore Medicine based in Malta teaches exclusively in English.
Of the total number of pupils studying a first foreign language at secondary level, 51 per cent take Italian whilst 38 per cent take French. Other choices include German, Russian, Spanish, Latin, Chinese and Arabic.[214][246]
Malta is also a popular destination to study the English language, attracting over 83,000 students in 2019.[247]
Infrastructure
[edit]
Transport
[edit]
Main articles: Transport in Malta and Buses in Malta
Owing to the British colonial rule, traffic in Malta drives on the left. Car ownership in Malta is exceedingly high, considering the very small size of the islands; it is the fourth-highest in the European Union. There were 182,254 registered cars in 1990, giving an automobile density of 577/km2 (1,494/sq mi).[248] Malta has 2,254 kilometres (1,401 miles) of road, 1,972 km (1,225 mi) (87.5 per cent) of which are paved (as of December 2003).[249]
Buses (xarabank or karozza tal-linja) are the primary method of public transport, established in 1905. Malta's vintage buses operated in the Maltese islands up to 2011 and became popular tourist attractions.[250] To this day they are depicted on many Maltese advertisements and merchandise for tourists.
The bus service underwent extensive reform in July 2011. The management structure changed from having self-employed drivers driving their own vehicles to a service being offered by a single company through a public tender.[251] The public tender was won by Arriva Malta, which introduced a fleet of brand new buses, built by King Long especially for service by Arriva Malta and including a smaller fleet of articulated buses brought in from Arriva London. It also operated two smaller buses for an intra-Valletta route only and 61 nine-metre buses, which were used to ease congestion on high-density routes. Overall Arriva Malta operated 264 buses. On 1 January 2014 Arriva ceased operations in Malta due to financial difficulties, having been nationalised as Malta Public Transport.[252][253] The government chose Autobuses Urbanos de León (Alsa subsidiary) as its preferred bus operator for the country in October 2014.[254] From October 2022, the bus system is free of charge for residents of Malta.[255]
As of 2021, an underground Malta Metro is being planned, with a projected total cost of €6.2 billion.[256]
Malta has three large natural harbours on its main island:
The Grand Harbour (or Port il-Kbir), located at the eastern side of the capital city of Valletta, has been a harbour since Roman times. It has several extensive docks and wharves, as well as a cruise liner terminal. A terminal at the Grand Harbour serves ferries that connect Malta to Pozzallo & Catania in Sicily.
Marsamxett Harbour, located on the western side of Valletta, accommodates a number of yacht marinas.
Marsaxlokk Harbour (Malta Freeport), at Birżebbuġa on the south-eastern side of Malta, is the islands' main cargo terminal. Malta Freeport is the 11th busiest container ports in continent of Europe and 46th in the World with a trade volume of 2.3 million TEU's in 2008.[257]
There are also two human-made harbours that serve a passenger and car ferry service that connects Ċirkewwa Harbour on Malta and Mġarr Harbour on Gozo.
Malta International Airport (Ajruport Internazzjonali ta' Malta) is the only airport serving the Maltese islands. It is built on the land formerly occupied by the RAF Luqa air base. A heliport is also located there. The heliport in Gozo is at Xewkija. A former airfield at Ta' Qali houses a national park, stadium, the Crafts Village visitor attraction and the Malta Aviation Museum.
From 1 April 1974 to 30 March 2024, the national airline was Air Malta, which was based at Malta International Airport and operated services to 22 destinations in Europe and North Africa. The owners of Air Malta were the Government of Malta (98 percent) and private investors (2 percent).
On 31 March 2024, KM Malta Airlines took over as the national airline of Malta. All former Air Malta Airplanes and other assets were transferred to the new airline, together with the staff. KM Malta Airlines is based at Malta International Airport and operates services to 18 destinations in Europe.
In June 2019, Ryanair has invested into a fully-fledged airline subsidiary, called Malta Air, operating a low-cost model. The Government of Malta holds one share in the airline.[258]
Communications
[edit]
The mobile penetration rate in Malta exceeded 100% by the end of 2009.[259] Malta uses the GSM900, UMTS(3G) and LTE(4G) mobile phone systems, which are compatible with the rest of the European countries, Australia and New Zealand.[citation needed]
In early 2012, the government called for a national Fibre to the Home (FttH) network to be built, with a minimum broadband service being upgraded from 4 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s.[260]
Healthcare
[edit]
Main article: Healthcare in Malta
Malta has a long history of providing publicly funded health care. The first hospital recorded in the country was already functioning by 1372.[261] Today, Malta has both a public healthcare system, where healthcare is free at the point of delivery, and a private healthcare system.[262][263] Malta has a strong general practitioner-delivered primary care base and the public hospitals provide secondary and tertiary care. The Maltese Ministry of Health advises foreign residents to take out private medical insurance.[264]
Malta also boasts voluntary organisations such as Alpha Medical (Advanced Care), the Emergency Fire & Rescue Unit (E.F.R.U.), St John Ambulance and Red Cross Malta who provide first aid/nursing services during events involving crowds, Malta's primary hospital, opened in 2007. It has one of the largest medical buildings in Europe.
The University of Malta has a medical school and a Faculty of Health Sciences. The Medical Association of Malta represents practitioners of the medical profession. The Foundation Program followed in the UK has been introduced in Malta to stem the 'brain drain' of newly graduated physicians to the British Isles.
Culture
[edit]
Main article: Culture of Malta
The culture of Malta reflects the various cultures, that have come into contact with the Maltese Islands throughout the centuries.[265]
Music
[edit]
Main article: Music of Malta
While Maltese music today is largely Western, traditional Maltese music includes what is known as għana. This consists of background folk guitar music, while a few people, generally men, take it in turns to argue a point in a sing-song voice. Music plays an important part in Maltese culture as each locality parades its own band club, on various occasions these being multiple per locality, and function to establish the thematic musical background to the various village feasts. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra is recognized as Malta's foremost musical institution and is notable for being called to participate in important state events.
Contemporary music in Malta spans a variety of styles and sports international classical talents such as Miriam Gauci and Joseph Calleja, as well as non-classical music bands such as Winter Moods, and Red Electric, and singers like Ira Losco, Fabrizio Faniello, Glen Vella, Kevin Borg, Kurt Calleja, Chiara Siracusa, and Thea Garrett.
Literature
[edit]
Main article: Maltese literature
Documented Maltese literature is over 200 years old. However, a recently unearthed love ballad testifies to literary activity in the local tongue from the Medieval period. Malta followed a Romantic literary tradition, culminating in the works of Dun Karm Psaila, Malta's national poet. Subsequent writers like Ruzar Briffa and Karmenu Vassallo tried to estrange themselves from the rigidity of formal themes and versification.[266]
The next generation of writers, including Karl Schembri and Immanuel Mifsud, widened the tracks further, especially in prose and poetry.[267]
Architecture
[edit]
Main article: Architecture of Malta
Maltese architecture has been influenced by many different Mediterranean cultures and British architecture over its history.[268] The first settlers on the island constructed Ġgantija, one of the oldest manmade freestanding structures in the world. The Neolithic temple builders (3800–2500 BC) endowed the numerous temples of Malta and Gozo with intricate bas-relief designs.
The Roman period introduced highly decorative mosaic floors, marble colonnades, and classical statuary, remnants of which are beautifully preserved and presented in the Roman Domus, a country villa just outside the walls of Mdina. The early Christian frescoes that decorate the catacombs beneath Malta reveal a propensity for eastern, Byzantine tastes. These tastes continued to inform the endeavours of medieval Maltese artists, but they were increasingly influenced by the Romanesque and Southern Gothic movements. Malta is currently undergoing several large-scale building projects, while areas such as the Valletta Waterfront and Tigné Point have been or are being renovated.[269]
Art
[edit]
Towards the end of the 15th century, Maltese artists, like their counterparts in Sicily, came under the influence of the School of Antonello da Messina, which introduced Renaissance ideals and concepts to the decorative arts in Malta.[270]
The artistic heritage of Malta blossomed under the Knights of St. John, who brought Italian and Flemish Mannerist painters to decorate their palaces and the churches of these islands, most notably, Matteo Perez d'Aleccio, whose works appear in the Magisterial Palace and in the Conventual Church of St. John in Valletta, and Filippo Paladini, who was active in Malta from 1590 to 1595. For many years, Mannerism continued to inform the tastes and ideals of local Maltese artists.[270]
The arrival in Malta of Caravaggio, who painted at least seven works during his 15-month stay on these islands, further revolutionised local art. Two of Caravaggio's most notable works, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Jerome Writing, are on display in the Conventual Church of St. John. His legacy is evident in the works of local artists Giulio Cassarino and Stefano Erardi. However, the Baroque movement that followed was destined to have the most enduring impact on Maltese art and architecture. The vault paintings of the Calabrese artist Mattia Preti transformed the Conventual Church St. John into a Baroque masterpiece. Melchior Gafà emerged as one of the top Baroque sculptors of the Roman School.[271]
During the 17th and 18th century, Neapolitan and Rococo influences emerged in the works of the Italian painters Luca Giordano and Francesco Solimena, and these developments can be seen in the work of their Maltese contemporaries such as Gio Nicola Buhagiar and Francesco Zahra. The Rococo movement was greatly enhanced by the relocation to Malta of Antoine de Favray, who assumed the position of court painter to Grand Master Pinto in 1744.[272]
Neo-classicism made some inroads among local Maltese artists in the late-18th century, but this trend was reversed in the early 19th century, as the local Church authorities – perhaps in an effort to strengthen Catholic resolve against the perceived threat of Protestantism during the early days of British rule in Malta – favoured and avidly promoted the religious themes embraced by the Nazarene movement. Romanticism, tempered by the naturalism introduced to Malta by Giuseppe Calì, informed the "salon" artists of the early 20th century, including Edward and Robert Caruana Dingli.[273]
Parliament established the National School of Art in the 1920s. During the reconstruction period that followed the Second World War, the emergence of the "Modern Art Group", whose members included Josef Kalleya, George Preca, Anton Inglott, Emvin Cremona, Frank Portelli, Antoine Camilleri, Gabriel Caruana and Esprit Barthet greatly enhanced the local art scene. This group came together forming an influential pressure group known as the Modern Art Group, which played a leading role in the renewal of Maltese art. Most of Malta's modern artists have in fact studied in Art institutions in England, or on the continent, leading to a diversity of artistic expression that has remained characteristic of contemporary Maltese art. In Valletta, the National Museum of Fine Arts featured work from artists such as H. Craig Hanna.[274] In 2018 the national collection of fine arts was put on display in the new National Museum of Art, MUŻA, at Auberge d'Italie in Valletta.[275]
Cuisine
[edit]
Main articles: Maltese cuisine and List of Maltese dishes
Maltese cuisine shows strong Sicilian and Italian influences as well as influences of English, Spanish, Maghrebin and Provençal cuisines. A number of regional variations can be noted as well as seasonal variations associated with the seasonal availability of produce and Christian feasts (such as Lent, Easter and Christmas). Food has been important historically in the development of a national identity in particular the traditional fenkata (i.e., the eating of stewed or fried rabbit). Potatoes are a staple of the Maltese diet as well.[276]
A number of grapes are endemic to Malta, including Girgentina and Ġellewża. There is a strong wine industry, with significant production of wines using these native grapes, as well as locally grown grapes of other more common varietals. A number of wines have achieved Protected Designation of Origin, with wines produced from grapes cultivated in Malta and Gozo designated as "DOK" wines, that is Denominazzjoni ta' l-Oriġini Kontrollata.[277]
Customs
[edit]
Main article: Maltese folklore
A 2010 Charities Aid Foundation study found that the Maltese were the most generous people in the world, with 83% contributing to charity.[278]
Maltese folktales include various stories about mysterious creatures and supernatural events. These were most comprehensively compiled by the scholar (and pioneer in Maltese archaeology) Manwel Magri[279] in his core criticism "Ħrejjef Missirijietna" ("Fables from our Forefathers"). This collection of material inspired subsequent researchers and academics to gather traditional tales, fables and legends from all over the Archipelago.[269] While giants, witches, and dragons feature in many of the stories, some contain entirely Maltese creatures like the Kaw kaw, Il-Belliegħa and L-Imħalla among others.
Traditions
[edit]
Traditional Maltese proverbs reveal cultural importance of childbearing and fertility: "iż-żwieġ mingħajr tarbija ma fihx tgawdija" (a childless marriage cannot be a happy one). This is a belief that Malta shares with many other Mediterranean cultures. In Maltese folktales the local variant of the classic closing formula, "and they all lived happily ever after" is "u għammru u tgħammru, u spiċċat" (and they lived together, and they had children together, and the tale is finished).[280]
Rural Malta shares in common with the Mediterranean society a number of superstitions regarding fertility, menstruation, and pregnancy, including the avoidance of cemeteries leading up to childbirth, and avoiding the preparation of certain foods during menses. Pregnant women are encouraged to satisfy their food cravings, out of fear that their unborn child will bear a representational birth mark (Maltese: xewqa, literally "desire" or "craving"). Maltese and Sicilian women also share certain traditions that are believed to predict the sex of an unborn child.[citation needed]
Traditionally, Maltese newborns were baptised as promptly as possible. Traditional Maltese delicacies served at a baptismal feast include biskuttini tal-magħmudija (almond macaroons), it-torta tal-marmorata (a spicy, heart-shaped tart of chocolate-flavoured almond paste), and a liqueur known as rożolin, made with rose petals, violets, and almonds.[citation needed]
On a child's first birthday, in a tradition that still survives today, Maltese parents would organise a game known as il-quċċija, where a variety of symbolic objects would be randomly placed around the seated child. These may include a hard-boiled egg, a Bible, crucifix or rosary beads, a book, and so on. Whichever object the child shows the most interest in is said to reveal the child's path and fortunes in adulthood.[281]
Traditional Maltese weddings featured the bridal party walking in procession beneath an ornate canopy, from the home of the bride's family to the parish church, with singers trailing behind (il-ġilwa). New wives would wear the għonnella, a traditional item of Maltese clothing. Today's couples are married in churches or chapels in the village or town of their choice, usually followed by a lavish wedding reception. Occasionally, couples will try to incorporate elements of the traditional Maltese wedding in their celebration. A resurgent interest in the traditional wedding was evident in May 2007, when thousands of Maltese and tourists attended a traditional Maltese wedding in the style of the 16th century, in Żurrieq.[citation needed]
Festivals and events
[edit]
Local festivals, similar to those in Southern Italy, are commonplace in Malta and Gozo, celebrating weddings, christenings and, most prominently, saints' days. On saints' days, in the morning, the festa reaches its apex with a High Mass featuring a sermon on the life and achievements of the patron saint. In the evening, a statue of the religious patron is taken around the local streets in solemn procession, with the faithful following in prayer. The atmosphere of religious devotion is preceded by several days of celebration and revelry: band marches, fireworks, and late-night parties.
Carnival (Maltese: il-karnival ta' Malta) has had an important place on the cultural calendar after Grand Master It is held during the week leading up to Ash Wednesday, and typically includes masked balls, fancy dress and grotesque mask competitions, lavish late-night parties, a colourful, ticker-tape parade of allegorical floats presided over by King Carnival (Maltese: ir-Re tal-Karnival), marching bands and costumed revellers.[282]
Holy Week (Maltese: il-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa) starts on Palm Sunday (Ħadd il-Palm) and ends on Easter Sunday (Ħadd il-Għid).
Mnarja, or l-Imnarja (pronounced lim-nar-ya) is one of the most important dates on the Maltese cultural calendar. Officially, it is a national festival dedicated to the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Its roots can be traced back to the pagan Roman feast of Luminaria (literally, "the illumination"), when torches and bonfires lit up the early summer night of 29 June.[283] The festivities still commence today with the reading of the "bandu", an official governmental announcement, which has been read on this day in Malta since the 16th century. It is said that under the Knights, this was the one day in the year when the Maltese were allowed to hunt and eat wild rabbit, which was otherwise reserved for the hunting pleasures of the Knights. The close connection between Mnarja and rabbit stew (Maltese: "fenkata") remains strong today.[284]
Isle of MTV is a one-day music festival produced and broadcast on an annual basis by MTV. The festival has been arranged annually in Malta since 2007, with major pop artists performing each year. 2012 saw the performances of worldwide acclaimed artists Flo Rida, Nelly Furtado and Will.i.am. Over 50,000 people attended, which marked the biggest attendance so far.[285]
The Malta International Fireworks Festival has been arranged annually in the Grand Harbour of Valletta since 2003.[286]
Media
[edit]
The most widely read and financially the strongest newspapers are published by Allied Newspapers Ltd., mainly The Times of Malta (27 percent) and its Sunday edition The Sunday Times of Malta (51.6 percent).[citation needed] Due to bilingualism half of the newspapers are published in English and the other half in Maltese. The Sunday newspaper It-Torċa ("The Torch") published by a subsidiary of the General Workers' Union, is the widest Maltese language paper. Its sister paper, L-Orizzont ("The Horizon"), is the Maltese daily with the biggest circulation. There is a high number of daily or weekly newspapers—one for every 28,000 people. Advertising, sales, and subsidies are the three main methods of financing.[287]
There are nine terrestrial television channels in Malta: TVM, TVMNews+, Parliament TV, One, NET Television, Smash Television, F Living, TVMSport+ and Xejk.[288] The state and political parties subsidise most of the funding of these channels. TVM, TVMNews+, and Parliament TV are operated by Public Broadcasting Services, the national broadcaster, and members of the EBU. Media.link Communications Ltd., the owner of NET Television, and One Productions Ltd., the owner of One, are affiliated with the Nationalist and Labour parties, respectively. The rest are privately owned. The Malta Broadcasting Authority has authority to supervise all local broadcasting stations and ensurestheir compliance with legal and licence obligations as well as the preservation of due impartiality.[289]
The Malta Communications Authority reported that there were 147,896 pay TV subscriptions active at the end of 2012.[290] For reference the 2011 census counts 139,583 households in Malta.[291] Satellite reception is available to receive other European television networks.[292]
Sport
[edit]
Main article: Sport in Malta
Football (soccer) is one of the most popular sports in Malta. Other popular sports include boċċi, horse racing, gostra, regatta, water polo, clay pigeon shooting, and motorsports.[293]
In 2018 Malta hosted its first Esports tournament, 'Supernova CS:GO Malta',[294] a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament.[295] Also since 2018, Malta has become the primary location for hosting ESL Pro League.[296]
See also
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Malta portal
EU portal
Europe portal
Outline of Malta
Index of Malta-related articles
Notes
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References
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Citations
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Sources
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Cramer, John Anthony (1828). Geographical and Historical Description of Ancient Greece. Clarendon Press. pp. 45–46.
"Map of Malta and Gozo". Street Map of Malta and Gozo. Archived from the original on 16 July 2009 .
"Photos of Gozo sister island of Malta". Photos of Gozo. Archived from the original on 23 October 2008 .
"Photos of Malta". Archived from the original on 30 June 2008 .
"Malta". The World Factbook. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021 .
"Gov.mt". Government of Malta. Archived from the original on 16 May 2001 .
Omertaa, Journal for Applied Anthropology – Volume 2007/1, Thematic Issue on Malta
Antonio Lafreri map of Malta, 1565 Archived 9 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine.. Eran Laor Cartographic Collection. The National Library of Israel
Attribution
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"Malta". MSN Encarta. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009 .
Bibliography
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"1942: Malta gets George Cross for bravery". BBC "On this day". 15 April 1942. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018 .
Bowen-Jones, Howard; et al. (1962). Malta Background for Development. University of Durham. OCLC 204863.
Cassar, Carmel (2000). A Concise History of Malta. Mireva Publications. ISBN 978-1-870579-52-0.
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Malta" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 507–514.
Francesco Balbi di Correggio 1568 translated Ernle Bradford (2003) [1965]. "chapter II". The Siege of Malta 1565. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-101202-5.
Carolyn Bain (2004). Malta. Lonely Planet Publication. ISBN 978-1-74059-178-2.
Charles Mifsud, The Climatological History of The Maltese Islands, Minerva 1984
Paul Williams (2009). Malta – Island Under Siege. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-84884-012-6.
Rudolf, Uwe Jens; Berg, W. G. (2010). Historical Dictionary of Malta. Scarecrow Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-8108-5317-1.
United Nations Development Programme (2006). Human Development Report 2005 – International cooperation at a crossroads: Aid, trade and security in an unequal world. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-522146-6.
Atauz, Ayse Devrim (2008). Eight Thousand Years of Maltese Maritime History: Trade, Piracy, and Naval Warfare in the Central Mediterranean. University Press of Florida. ISBN 978-0-8130-3179-8.
Hardman, William (1909). "Chapter VII – Attack and Capture of Malta by the French". A history of Malta during the period of the French and British occupations, 1798–1815. Longmans, Green & Co.
Culican, William (1992), "Phoenicia and Phoenician Colonization", The Cambridge Ancient History, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 461–546 .
Filigheddu, Paolo (2007), "Die Ortsnamen des Mittelmeerraums in der Phönizischen und Punischen Überlieferung", Ugarit-Forschungen: Internationales Jahrbuch für die Altertumskunde Syrien-Palästinas, vol. 38 2006, Munster: Ugarit Verlag, pp. 149–266 . (in German)
Further reading
[edit]
Hastings, Max (2021). Operation Pedestal: The Fleet that Battled to Malta, 1942. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780008364960 | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 34 | https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-siege-of-malta-holding-on-to-the-island-fortress/ | en | The Siege of Malta in WWII: Holding on to the Island Fortress | [
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] | null | [] | 2023-11-28T13:00:56+00:00 | Allied success during the grueling Siege of Malta paved the way for an eventual Allied success in North Africa. | en | Warfare History Network | https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-siege-of-malta-holding-on-to-the-island-fortress/ | By John Brown
When World War II began in September 1939, just nine months before the Siege of Malta, its three small islands in the central Mediterranean were still considered part of the British Commonwealth. Soon, Malta’s geographical position would prove to be one of the most decisive factors of the war in the Mediterranean. It lay 985 miles from the British base at Gibraltar and 820 miles from the base at Alexandria, astride Britain’s sealanes to Egypt and the Middle East and through the Suez Canal to India, Asia, and Australia. From Malta’s harbors it was possible for the entire Mediterranean to be dominated by warships and submarines, and from its three airfields and seaplane base by fighters, bombers, torpedo, and reconnaissance aircraft.
In June 1940, Mussolini’s Italy allied itself with Hitler’s Germany and declared war on Britain and Malta, 95 square miles in extent, smaller than London, found itself surrounded by enemy territory and bases. Sicily was only 60 miles to the north, and Italian-ruled Libya 180 miles to the south. Italy’s navy and air force were large, modern, and strategically placed at bases on Sicily, Sardinia, Pantellaria, and the Dodecanese group of islands. A week after Italy’s declaration of war, France’s Marshal Petain ordered the French to stop fighting and sued for peace. Malta was left threatened by a potential German takeover of the powerful French fleet and its bases in the Mediterranean and North Africa. (Subscribe to WWII History magazine to get a more in-depth look at the North Africa campaign.)
Often Outgunned by the Italian War Machine
Malta’s air defense consisted of 42 antiaircraft guns, five antiquated Fairey Swordfish torpedo planes of the Fleet Air Arm, a Queen Bee target drone, and four Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters. Early on the day after Italy’s declaration of war, 25 Savoia Marchetti SM-79 bombers of the Regia Aeronautica, escorted by 12 Macchi C.200 fighters, came in from Sicily to bomb the Maltese capital of Valletta and the installations around Grand Harbor. The four Gladiators went up to intercept them, and the Siege of Malta had begun.
The Gladiators, older and slower than the Italian planes, were able only to slightly damage one of the bombers before they flew away, leaving smoking ruins behind them. The Italians came back in increasing numbers, six times in the next nine days, and the Gladiators failed to shoot down any of them. Then, on June 22 an SM-79 on reconnaissance was intercepted and shot down by a Gladiator. During the same week, two more bombers were shot down. One Gladiator was so badly damaged in the actions it had to be written off, leaving the remaining three to be nicknamed “Faith, Hope and Charity.”
Daily Air Raids
Air raids continued every day, but on June 28 four Hawker Hurricane fighters were flown to Malta from North Africa to reinforce the Gladiators, with 12 additional Swordfish torpedo planes intended to attack Italian shipping. With their arrival, air raids became less frequent. When more Hurricanes were ferried to Malta by aircraft carrier in August there were enough to form a squadron. Other aircraft filtered in to create a small strike force consisting of the 12 Swordfish torpedo aircraft and a few Vickers-Armstrong Wellington bombers and Short Sunderland flying boats.
Malta was not self-supporting. There was no way it could survive without outside help, and this meant convoys of ships bringing in food for the 250,000 Maltese and the British garrison along with oil and military supplies of all kinds.
To end the threat of the French fleet being used by the Germans against convoys for Malta, the British navy sent some of its warships to Oran and Mers-el-Kebir in Vichy-French occupied Algeria to negotiate the future of French naval forces. When the French refused to negotiate, a number of their ships were sunk and damaged, and French naval forces at other ports were disarmed. Convoys from the eastern and western ends of the Mediterranean could now supply Malta more freely, easing the pressure on British submarines that had been bringing in essential military personnel, urgent stores, and oil. During September, two heavily escorted convoys docked in Grand Harbor with aviation fuel, ammunition, and food.
Taranto: Precursor to Pearl Harbor
In November, reconnaissance aircraft from Malta photographed a large portion of the powerful Italian fleet anchored at the naval base at Taranto. Using the photos obtained by the reconnaissance pilots, planes from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious disabled three battleships, two cruisers, and several other ships, bombed the seaplane base, and started fires in an oil storage depot. The raid crippled the Italian fleet and made Mussolini reluctant to risk a direct confrontation with the British Royal Navy, lessening the threat against Malta.
In December, Malta-based reconnaissance planes discovered a force of 350 Luftwaffe bombers and fighters based in Sicily. In early January 1941, some of the German bombers attacked the Illustrious, but battered, smoking, and listing badly she managed to limp into Valletta’s Grand Harbor.
On January 16 more than 70 German Junkers Ju-88 twin-engined medium bombers and Ju-87 Stuka dive bombers, escorted by Italian CR42 fighters, attacked Valletta. Three Fulmars and four Hurricanes, the only serviceable British planes at the time, and an antiaircraft barrage from the shore and ships in the harbor, met them. The Italian fighters held off the British planes while the Junkers bombed the city and installations, leaving smoking ruins behind. Luckily, the Illustrious survived the bombing and, repaired, sailed out of Grand Harbor a week later.
Rommel Arrives in Tripoli
In February, German armor under the command of General Erwin Rommel, later to gain fame in North Africa as the Desert Fox, arrived in Tripoli to reinforce the Italians and stabilize the Axis position in Libya as both Germany and Italy began to massively reinforce their North African front. Malta was astride their supply routes across the Mediterranean, a constant danger to their shipping, so the British bastion had to be neutralized. In addition to stepping up the bombing of Malta’s airfields, dockyards, and other military targets, the Luftwaffe dropped parachute mines at night into the approaches to Grand Harbor and other anchorages. These sank and damaged a number of British ships, but in the first four months of 1941 submarines from Malta, avoiding the mines, sank 25 Axis supply ships bound for North Africa.
At the end of May, the Luftwaffe was withdrawn from Sicily to support the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa. The following month, Malta was reinforced with a squadron of Bristol Blenheim twin-engined bombers, tasked to sink Axis ships carrying supplies for Rommel’s forces.
“The sinking of any one ship,” Air Vice Marshal Hugh Lloyd, commander of the Royal Air Force on Malta, wrote later, “might have meant the loss to the enemy in the desert of at least ten tanks, two or three batteries of artillery, one hundred motor vehicles, perhaps sufficient spares for one hundred or more aeroplanes, food for a month for one hundred thousand men and ammunition for one hundred guns for a battle.” Between May and October, planes from Malta sank nearly 100,000 tons of Axis shipping.
In July, a convoy of six merchant ships under strong Royal Navy escort sailed from Gibraltar for Malta and, despite continuous air and surface attack, reached Malta with only one merchantman damaged.
On the night of July 25, a group of Italian motorboats loaded with explosives and escorted by German E-boats (fast torpedo boats) arrived off Grand Harbor as dawn was breaking. However, they were detected, and as the motorboats entered the harbor they were met with a barrage of fire that destroyed all of them. Cannon-firing Hurricanes pursued the retreating E-boats, sinking several.
In September, another convoy got through to Malta, and in early November destroyers from Malta sank six Axis merchantmen off Libya. But then, in December, the Luftwaffe returned to the Mediterranean. Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, commander of the German Navy, had had his way.
Raeder had been advocating an offensive in the Mediterranean that would take Axis forces from North Africa through the Middle East to link up with a German drive through the Ukraine. He stressed that to achieve this objective Malta must be taken. Hitler agreed with him and in November issued a directive that withdrew a complete Air Corps from Russia for use in the Mediterranean. He also appointed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring commander-in-chief of operations. His orders were to secure mastery of the air and sea in the central Mediterranean to allow free communication with North Africa, to keep Malta under bombardment, to help Axis forces in their drive on Egypt, and to close the Mediterranean to British shipping. He had 2,000 frontline aircraft to use in Sicily, Greece, and Crete.
Luftflotte (Air Group) II was based in Sicily. It numbered 325 aircraft, Ju-88s, Ju-87s, Heinkel torpedo bombers, Messerschmitt Me-109 fighters and Me-110 twin-engined fighter escorts and interceptors. It included units specially trained in anti-shipping tactics. Massive attacks on Malta began, sharply reducing RAF anti-shipping missions and allowing better resupply of Rommel’s forces. The Desert Fox counterattacked in Libya, and, with Libya’s airfields in Axis hands, convoys from Alexandria to Malta had to run the gauntlet of “Bomb Alley” between Crete and Cyrenaica.
In February 1942, three modern, fast merchant ships with an escort of eight Royal Navy warships, reinforced by six warships from Malta, tried to dash through Bomb Alley. None of the merchant ships made it. In March, it was tried again, this time with diversions to draw off attacks, and three out of four merchant ships, one badly damaged, got through to Malta. For two days and nights servicemen and civilians worked to unload their cargoes under sustained Luftwaffe attack, but the three freighters were sunk with only 5,000 tons of supplies saved. The German onslaught continued with such ferocity that the Royal Navy had to withdraw its surface ships from Malta or lose them. The same happened with the Wellington and Blenheim bombers; they were flown to safety in Egypt.
Toward the end of March, the RAF commander on Malta advised London, “ … The Battle of Britain is nothing compared with this, certainly as regards being outnumbered and in having no reserves whatsoever.” On April 1, the Governor General of Malta, Lord Gort, warned the British government of “a dangerous shortage of flour, fodder, oil, coal, and ammunition.” That month Malta averaged an air raid every two and a half hours with 7,000 tons of bombs falling on the island, killing 300 civilians and destroying or badly damaging 10,000 buildings. With the bombers came the Me-109s to hover over the bomb-cratered airfields and swoop down to attack when an RAF plane landed to refuel and rearm.
The Maltese people, always hungry, lived below ground in Malta’s many natural catacombs and caves or in air raid shelters blasted from the rock. A soldier noted, “I’ve never seen people like the Maltese for stamina and fortitude. You would see them weep and wail, but immediately after they were marvellous. Everyone would come out after the raids to see if the neighbors were alright and then they would get on with their lives.”
On April 15, at the height of the bombing, Malta was awarded the George Cross, the civilian award equivalent to the military Victoria Cross. Britain’s King George VI made the award saying, “To honor her brave people I award the George Cross to the island fortress of Malta, to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history.”
On April 20, a contingent of 47 Supermarine Spitfire fighters arrived on Malta after being ferried by the U.S. aircraft carrier Wasp. Virtually out of fuel, they were caught on the ground by German dive bombers, and only 17 were left serviceable. During April, with bombing continuous all day and every day, 80 Spitfires and Hurricanes were lost and 48 damaged. Most of these were hit while trying to land to refuel and rearm. Despite the odds, nearly 200 Axis planes were shot down during the month. The British submarine flotilla, which the numerous air raids had forced to dive at their berths during the day, was withdrawn at the end of the month, and Malta ceased to be a naval base.
On May 9, another 62 Spitfires landed from the carriers HMS Eagle and Wasp, but this time refueling was worked out in detail and every serviceable plane was in the air again within 30 minutes of landing on the airstrips. A newly arrived pilot wrote: “The tempo of life here is indescribable. The morale of all is magnificent—pilots, ground crews, and army—but it is certainly tough. The bombing is continuous on and off all day.”
Another wrote: “One lives here only to destroy the Hun … living conditions, sleep, food, have gone by the board … It makes the Battle of Britain seem like child’s play.” The pilots and aircrews were a mix of British, Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders. Probably the most colorful of them was a Canadian, George “Screwball” Beurling; he shot down nine Axis bombers during his first week of operations on Malta, and in the following four months his tally rose to 29.
On May 10, a fast minesweeper, HMS Welshman, made a dash from Gibraltar and arrived safely in Grand Harbor with urgently needed food and ammunition. In June, two convoys, one from Gibraltar and the other from Alexandria, left simultaneously for Malta. The one from Gibraltar was attacked from the air and by Italian warships. Only two of the freighters reached Malta with 15,000 tons of supplies. Torpedo-carrying aircraft and E-boats attacked the convoy from Alexandria, and then, confronted by a fleet of Italian warships, it turned back to Alexandria.
In early July, Rommel’s North African advance was halted at El Alamein just 150 miles from Cairo, and Field Marshal Kesselring, believing that Malta was the key to Rommel’s supply problems, called in 600 planes to begin a final assault that would obliterate Malta as a base. But Malta’s fighter force had been strengthened, and 100 Spitfires went up against the Axis air fleet. The assault lasted two weeks until, with 50 Axis bombers and fighters shot down, Kesselring called off the assault. RAF torpedo planes returned to Malta to resume daylight attacks on Rommel’s supply ships, and Wellington bombers adapted to carry torpedoes attacked them at night.
Two tankers crossing the Mediterranean with oil for Rommel’s tanks and vehicles were sunk, and Rommel, desperate for oil for the battle which he knew was coming at El Alamein, appealed for more. A tanker carrying 5,000 tons of oil, the San Andrea, left Italy at once escorted by two destroyers and German and Italian aircraft. An RAF reconnaissance plane from Malta spotted the tanker and radioed back its course and speed.
RAF Squadron Leader Pat Gibbs led nine Beaufort torpedo bombers and nine Beaufighters over the Italian mainland then swung around to come in behind the high priority target and its escort. The Beaufighters shot a passage through the air escort for the Beauforts, and the torpedo bombers, led by Gibbs, dived through. Gibbs dropped his torpedo at 500 yards, and as he pulled out of his dive the San Andrea exploded in a ball of flame and smoke. Deprived of his fuel, Rommel had to call off an offensive that had already begun at El Alamein.
Despite this reversal of fortune, Malta was starving.
At the beginning of August, Lord Gort advised London that by September 7 Malta would have to surrender due to starvation and lack of military supplies. A major convoy was quickly organized; it was codenamed Pedestal.
In Britain, 14 merchant ships were filled to capacity with food, ammunition, and other supplies. Together with the huge, American-built tanker Ohio, filled with 11,500 tons of kerosene, petrol, and aviation fuel, they sailed for Gibraltar. There, a covering escort met them; it was commanded by Vice Admiral E.N. Syfret and comprised of the battleships Nelson and Rodney, the aircraft carriers Eagle, Indomitable, and Victorious (together carrying 73 aircraft), three cruisers, and 14 destroyers. There was also a close escort, commanded by Rear Admiral H.M. Burrough, comprised of three cruisers, one antiaircraft cruiser, and 11 destroyers.
In the Mediterranean, two submarines patrolled north of Sicily and six more south of Pantelleria where the Sicilian Narrows would be a particular threat to the convoy. Another aircraft carrier, HMS Furious, was 600 miles east of Gibraltar on its way to deliver 38 Spitfires to Malta.
Impressive as the escort was, the danger to the convoy was just as impressive. Along the North African coast, Algeria and Tunisia were in Vichy-French (pro-German) hands with whatever dangers could emanate from there. However, the greatest danger was the 540 Axis aircraft on Sicily, Sardinia, and Pantelleria together with 23 German and Italian E-boats and 21 submarines. Behind them lurked the Italian fleet with its formidable collection of battleships and heavy cruisers.
The convoy left Gibraltar on the morning of August 11, and by lunchtime had suffered its first casualty when the German submarine U-73 penetrated the protective destroyer screen and put four torpedos into the Eagle. The carrier turned on her side, sliding her aircraft into the sea. She went down, but 900 of her crew were saved.
Thirty-six Luftwaffe bombers attacked in the last light of day, but they were driven off by antiaircraft fire and the night was peaceful for the convoy as RAF bombers pounded Axis airfields.
The following day, Axis bombers and fighters came back over the convoy at noon. The carrier Victorious was hit, though not seriously, and one of the merchant ships was severely damaged and later sank. During the afternoon enemy submarines were detected but evasive action saved the convoy. One of the submarines, an Italian, was brought to the surface by depth charges and rammed and sunk by a destroyer. The destroyer, its bow crushed, made its way back to Gibraltar.
That evening, near Cape Bon, Tunisia, Stuka dive bombers and Savoia Marchetti torpedo bombers struck, sinking a destroyer and damaging the Indomitable’s flight deck so badly it was unusable. At nightfall five Axis submarines and 19 motor torpedo boats struck the convoy, torpedoing a cruiser and so badly damaging it that it had to return to Gibraltar. The antiaircraft cruiser was torpedoed and hopelessly damaged; it was sunk by British gunfire. The tanker Ohio had a hole 27 feet by 24 feet blown in her port side by a torpedo. The kerosene tanks were set on fire, but the rushing sea helped control the fire and she kept going. An attack by 20 Ju-88s sank two merchantmen, and at the same time another cruiser and merchantman were damaged by torpedoes.
The Pedestal convoy rounded Cape Bon at midnight, and 10 E-boats struck. A cruiser was crippled by torpedoes and scuttled by her crew, two merchantmen were sunk, and two others so badly damaged their crews had to abandon them. By dawn on the 13th, less than half the merchantmen remained, but the vital tanker Ohio, terribly battered, with her deck split across the center and in danger of breaking in half, kept going. The beleaguered convoy was now a mere 100 miles from Malta.
An hour later, the German bombers and dive bombers were back, sinking a destroyer and setting fire to a merchantman that completely burned. The Ohio was damaged again when a bullet riddled Ju-88 crashed into her forecastle and a Ju-87 onto her poop deck. Incredibly, she survived, but her engines gave up and she was left behind. The three remaining merchantmen, protected by two cruisers (one of them damaged) and seven destroyers, raced for Malta.
The prior evening, a reconnaissance plane from Malta had detected two Italian cruiser squadrons northwest of Ustica, presumably preparing for a dawn attack on what was left of the convoy. The new air officer commanding Malta, Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, a New Zealander who had fought at Gallipoli during World War I and led 11 Fighter Group in the Battle of Britain, had no resources to attack the Italian squadrons.
Park sent a few Wellington bombers during the night to drop flares and bombs on and around the Italians to confuse them into thinking a more serious threat awaited them. Before dawn on the 13th, he sent messages to the Wellingtons referring to large Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers and cruisers approaching the Italian squadrons. It was a fiction, there were no Liberators or cruisers, but the Italian commander picked up the messages and ordered the cruisers back to port. A British submarine torpedoed and so severely damaged two of the Italian cruisers that they were never used again.
Air attacks on the Pedestal convoy petered out as it came within range of Spitfires and Beaufighters from Malta. From then on, 16 Spitfires kept constant patrol over the Ohio, during which they shot down several Ju-87s and Italian fighters. At 6 pm on the 13th, the three remaining merchantmen of the convoy reached Grand Harbor to the great relief of cheering crowds on shore. Later, another merchantman made its way in with 10 feet of water in its No. 1 hold. The food these ships delivered would stave off starvation, at least for a while, and the ammunition would keep the island’s guns firing.
While the crowds cheered, 70 miles away the tanker Ohio was still fighting for her life. Throughout the day she had fought off repeated air attacks, helped by the guns of the destroyer that stood by her. Two bombs had fallen so close to her that they exploded under her hull, lifting her out of the water. Riding dangerously low in the water and almost impossible to steer, the tanker was taken in tow by a minesweeper. Then, a tandem tow was attempted with the destroyer, but both failed.
After more damage from air attack, the crew abandoned the Ohio. However, sailors from the destroyer boarded her and kept her afloat during the night. When dawn broke the captain and crew returned to their ship. Another destroyer turned up to help, and more minesweepers were on the way from Malta when the Germans made another desperate attempt to finish off the Ohio. Five Stukas escorted by fighters attacked. One of the Stukas dived through the covering Spitfires and dropped a 1,000-pound bomb in the Ohio’s wake, so close its explosion propelled the ship forward, twisting her screws and holing her stern.
By afternoon, two of the destroyers had secured themselves on either side of the Ohio, holding her up while the third destroyer sailed around them dropping depth charges to discourage U-boats. By dawn the next day, August 15, with Malta a smudge on the horizon, two tugs appeared. One attached itself to the bow of the Ohio, the other to the stern, and supported by the tugs and the destroyers she was brought into Grand Harbor. The massed crowds cheered themselves hoarse. When the last gallon of oil was pumped from her, the gallant Ohio was towed to a quiet backwater of the harbor where she broke in half.
In terms of losses, the convoy battle was a victory for the Axis, but for the British it was a strategic success. The arrival in Grand Harbor of the four merchant ships and particularly the Ohio ensured that Malta would battle on; without the Ohio’s oil the defensive capability of the garrison would have come to a standstill. Within weeks Malta would have fallen.
In August, Malta’s planes and submarines destroyed 35 percent of the total Axis supplies intended for North Africa. In September, more than 100,000 tons of supplies for Rommel’s Afrika Korps were sent to the bottom of the Mediterranean, and the losses were even greater in October. Malta’s bombers, torpedo bombers, and submarines were so worrying the Axis that some of their ships would sail from Italian ports three or four times only to turn back when they spotted British reconnaissance planes.
The continued threat of attack from Malta forced Axis planners to begin routing convoys by way of Greece and the Corinth Canal and Crete, adding many days to their journeys. When General Bernard Montgomery launched a British offensive at El Alamein on October 23, the Afrika Korps was gravely short of supplies.
Air attacks on Malta became less fierce as Axis planes were diverted to help Rommel, but on October 11 the blitz resumed in an attempt to protect Axis shipping. For eight days the fighting was savage, 42 Axis planes were shot down for the loss of 27 RAF planes, and then the Germans and Italians had had enough. Daylight raids against the island were called off.
By mid-November there were only two weeks’ food left on the island. Four merchantmen, escorted by cruisers and destroyers, sailed from Alexandria and arrived in Grand Harbor without loss, signalling the end of Malta’s ordeal. The price paid for her part in the war was heavy—1,540 Maltese civilians killed and 1,846 wounded along with heavy losses among the military garrison and naval and merchant seamen. Approximately 700 planes were lost in the defense of Malta, along with dozens of ships.
After the war, an official Italian report stated, “Malta was the rock on which our hopes in the Mediterranean foundered.” If Malta had not held out, the Mediterranean would have become an Axis sea, giving the Germans and Italians free rein. The consequences of such an outcome are too serious to contemplate.
Author John Brown last contributed to WWII History with a story on the coastwatchers in the Pacific theater. He hails from Minyama, Queensland, Australia. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 95 | https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Venezuela.html | en | Venezuela International Travel Information | [
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] | null | [] | null | Venezuela international travel information and Travel Advisory | /apps/tsg-rwd/components/content/resources/favicon.ico | null | Reissued after routine periodic review with minor edits pursuant to Department of State standard processes.
Do not travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Reconsider travel due to wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure.
Country Summary: In March 2019, the U.S. Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from U.S. Embassy Caracas and suspended operations. All consular services, routine and emergency, remain suspended until further notice. The U.S. government has no ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela. U.S. citizens in Venezuela who require consular assistance should try to leave the country as soon as safely possible to do so and should contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in another country.
Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela. Political rallies and demonstrations occur, often with little notice. Anti-Maduro demonstrations have elicited a strong police and security force response, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against participants, and occasionally devolve into looting and vandalism. Shortages of gasoline, electricity, water, medicine, and medical supplies continue throughout much of Venezuela.
The Department has determined there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Venezuela. Security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years. The U.S. government is not generally notified of the detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela or granted access to U.S. citizen prisoners there.
Colombian terrorist groups operate in Venezuela’s border areas with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Venezuela.
If you decide to travel to Venezuela:
Avoid all land border crossings into Venezuela on the Colombian border.
Ensure you have a valid Venezuelan visa. Visas are not available upon arrival.
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Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
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Avoid travel between cities, or between Simón Bolívar International Airport and Caracas at night.
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Consider hiring a professional security organization.
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Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
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Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends U.S. citizens do not travel to Venezuela. If you must travel to Venezuela, we recommend you avoid all land border crossings into Venezuela on the Colombian border. Detentions of U.S. citizens at formal or informal border crossings into Venezuela are common.
To enter Venezuela, you must have:
A valid U.S. passport in good condition with at least six months of validity, and
A valid Venezuelan visa. Visas are not available upon arrival.
Visas: The Venezuelan embassy and consulates in the United States are not open for visa processing. Contact the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington at 202-342-2214 for updates about the future availability of visa services. You must have the proper visa class and appropriate accreditation before traveling to Venezuela or face refusal of admission, expulsion, or detention.
Immigration officials often require proof of accommodation while in Venezuela, adequate means of support, and an onward departure itinerary. Use only official crossing points when entering Venezuela. You must obtain an entry stamp upon entry.
If you reside in Venezuela as a non-citizen, you must obtain legitimate Venezuelan residency documentation and renew your residency visa well in advance of expiration. Do not use intermediaries to purchase resident visas and/or work permits.
Traveling with Children: Venezuela’s child protection law mandates that minors (under 18) of any nationality who are traveling alone, with only one parent, or with a third party, must present extensive, specific, and notarized documentation granting permission for travel. Consult the nearest Venezuelan embassy or consulate for further information.
Dual Nationality: Venezuelan law requires Venezuelan citizens to enter and depart Venezuela using Venezuelan passports. If you hold dual U.S. and Venezuelan nationality, you must plan to travel between the United States and Venezuela with valid U.S. and Venezuelan passports. Dual-national minors are only allowed to depart Venezuela with both parents present or with a legal authorization signed by the absent parent in a family court.
Immunizations: Visit the CDC Traveler website for vaccination information, including Yellow Fever vaccination requirements. Carry your International Certificate of Vaccination (or yellow card) with you upon arrival or departure.
HIV/AIDS: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Venezuela. Be aware that HIV/AIDS medications, like other medications, are often not available in Venezuela.
Find further information on dual nationality, prevention of international child abduction, and customs regulations on our websites.
Terrorism: Terrorist groups and those inspired by such organizations are intent on attacking U.S. citizens abroad. Terrorists are increasingly using less sophisticated methods of attack – including knives, firearms, and vehicles – to more effectively target crowds. Frequently, their aim is focused on unprotected or vulnerable targets, such as:
High-profile public events (sporting contests, political rallies, demonstrations, holiday events, celebratory gatherings, etc.)
Hotels, clubs, and restaurants frequented by tourists
Places of worship
Schools
Parks
Shopping malls and markets
Public transportation systems (including subways, buses, trains, and scheduled commercial flights)
Terrorist groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP), Segunda Marquetalia, and the Colombian-origin National Liberation Army (ELN) have expanded in Venezuela in recent years. We are aware of reports of cooperation between FARC dissidents and the ELN in the areas of road/border checkpoints, forced displacement of communities, and narcotics trafficking.
For more information, see our Terrorism page.
Crime: Violent crime is pervasive throughout Venezuela. Venezuela has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, and kidnappings are a serious concern. Be alert of your surroundings at all times and take personal security precautions to avoid becoming a victim of crime. Maintain a low profile, travel in groups of five or more, and provide family or friends with your itineraries prior to departure.
Avoid police activity. Corruption within the police forces is a concern, and criminals may be posing as police officers or National Guard members. National Guard members may target U.S. citizens, especially at remote land border crossings, for bribery, extortion, or detention, possibly in collusion with criminal organizations.
Criminal gangs operate openly and with little repercussion, often setting up fake police checkpoints. Armed robberies, including with grenades and assault rifles, take place throughout the country, including in tourist areas and institutions such as banks and ATMs, national parks, shopping malls, public transportation stations, and universities.
Drugs: Do not attempt to bring any narcotics or controlled substances into Venezuela, or substances that may be confused with illegal drugs. Do not accept packages from anyone and always keep your luggage with you. U.S. citizens have been actively recruited to act as narcotics couriers or “drug mules.” Arrestees can expect extended jail terms under extremely difficult prison conditions.
Transportation: Do not use any taxis hailed on the street. Some taxi drivers in Caracas are known to overcharge, rob, injure, and even kidnap passengers. Use only radio-dispatched taxis from taxi services, hotels, restaurants, and airline staff. Do not use public transportation such as city buses and the metro (subway) in Caracas. If you drive, be aware of attacks in tunnels and avoid obstacles in the road.
Maiquetía International Airport: Only travel to and from Maiquetía International Airport near Caracas in daylight hours. Kidnappings, robberies at gunpoint, thefts, and muggings are common. Do not pack valuable items or documents in checked luggage. Individuals wearing seemingly official uniforms and displaying airport or police credentials have been involved in crimes inside the airport, including extortion and robberies. Make advance plans for transportation from the airport to your hotel or destination using a trusted party or dispatch taxi service.
ATMs: Most ATMs do not accept U.S. debit or credit cards, and malfunctions are common. Use only those located in well-lit, public places. ATM data is often hacked and used to make unauthorized withdrawals. Criminals target ATM users for robberies. Many ATMs do not have cash.
Demonstrations occur occasionally. They may take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events.
Demonstrations can be unpredictable; avoid areas around protests and demonstrations.
Past demonstrations have turned violent.
Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.
International Financial Scams: See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information.
Internet romance and financial scams are prevalent in Venezuela. Scams are often initiated through Internet postings/profiles or by unsolicited emails and letters. Scammers almost always pose as U.S. citizens who have no one else to turn to for help. Common scams include:
Romance/online dating
Money transfers
Grandparent/relative targeting
Victims of Crime: The U.S. government has extremely limited means of providing consular services to U.S. citizen crime victims in Venezuela. U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Bogota. Report crimes to the local police at 171, and contact the U.S. Embassy in Bogota by emailing ACSBogota@state.gov or dialing +57 (1) 275-2000 or +57 (1) 275-4021 after hours. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime.
See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crimes overseas.
We can:
Help you find appropriate medical care
Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion
Provide a list of local attorneys
Provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
If you are able to travel to a U.S. Embassy, we can replace a stolen or lost passport and provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Bogota for assistance.
Colombian Border: The area within a 50-mile radius along the entire Venezuela and Colombian border is extremely dangerous. U.S. citizens near the border are at risk of detention by Maduro regime authorities. U.S. citizens must obtain a visa to enter Venezuela legally. Visas are not available upon arrival. U.S. citizens attempting to enter Venezuela without a visa have been charged with terrorism and other serious crimes and detained for long periods. The Maduro regime does not notify the U.S. government of the detention of U.S. citizens and the U.S. government is not granted access to those citizens. Additionally, cross-border violence, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and smuggling are common. Some kidnapping victims are released after ransom payments, while others are murdered. Do not attempt to cross the land border.
Tourism: No formal tourism industry infrastructure is in place on any level. Tourists participate in activities at their own risk. Emergency response and subsequent appropriate medical treatment is not available in-country. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage. Serious medical issues require costly medical evacuation complicated by restrictions on air travel to and from Venezuela. Air evacuations to the United States from Venezuela may not be possible.
Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities prior to practicing or operating a business. Application of local laws can at times be arbitrary and/or politically motivated.
In Venezuela, it is illegal to take pictures of sensitive buildings, including the presidential palace, military bases, government buildings, and airports.
Drug trafficking is a serious problem in Venezuela and treated as such by Venezuelan authorities. Convicted traffickers receive lengthy prison sentences.
Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.
Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, attempt to have someone notify the U.S. Embassy in Bogota immediately. See our webpage for further information.
Please note that the U.S. Department of State may not be informed of your detention, particularly if you also hold Venezuelan citizenship. Due to the suspension of operations of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, consular visits to detained U.S. citizens are not possible. There have been instances of U.S. citizens in recent years who have been detained without being afforded due process or fair trial guarantees, or as a pretext for an illegitimate purpose, often due to their U.S. citizenship.
Currency and Exchange: Venezuela has started to allow dollarized commercial transactions and shopping, but policies and availability are subject to change. Some local businesses accept U.S. credit cards and electronic transfers through certain online vendors. “Black market” currency exchanges – often offering significantly favorable exchange rates – are technically prohibited under Venezuelan foreign exchange controls. Violators may be detained by Venezuelan authorities and face criminal penalties.
Wire Transfers: Wire transfers cannot be used reliably as a source of emergency funds, and receipt of funds is generally restricted to Venezuelan citizens and residents.
Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Although counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries, they may still be illegal according to local laws. You may also pay fines or have to give them up if you bring them back to the United States. See the U.S. Department of Justice website for more information.
Faith-Based Travelers: See the following webpages for details:
Faith-Based Travel Information
International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
Human Rights Report – see country reports
Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad
LGBTQI+ Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTIQ+ events in Venezuela.
See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.
Travelers with Disabilities: The law in Venezuela prohibits discrimination against persons with physical and mental disabilities, but the law is not enforced. Social acceptance of persons with disabilities in public is not as prevalent as in the United States. Expect accessibility to be limited in public transportation, lodging, communication/information, and general infrastructure. Accessibility is more prevalent in the capital city of Caracas than in the rest of the country.
The availability of rental, repair, and replacement parts for aids/equipment/devices as well as service providers, such as sign language interpreters or personal assistants, is limited.
Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.
Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers. | ||||||
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This article is about the Maltese capital. For other uses, see Valletta (disambiguation).
Capital city and local council in Port Region, Malta
Valletta ( , Maltese: il-Belt Valletta, Maltese pronunciation: [vɐlˈlɛt.tɐ]) is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157.[3] As Malta’s capital city, it is a commercial centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the southernmost capital of Europe,[4][note 1] and at just 0.61 square kilometres (0.24 sq mi), it is the European Union's smallest capital city.[5][6]
Valletta's 16th-century buildings were constructed by the Knights Hospitaller. The city was named after the Frenchman Jean Parisot de Valette, who succeeded in defending the island against an Ottoman invasion during the Great Siege of Malta. The city is Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture, though the Second World War left major scars on the city, particularly the destruction of the Royal Opera House. The city was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.[7] The city has 320 monuments, all within an area of 0.55 square kilometres (0.21 sq mi), making it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.[7] [8] Sometimes called an "open-air museum",[9] Valletta was chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2018. Valletta was also listed as the sunniest city in Europe in 2016.[10][11]
The city is noted for its fortifications, consisting of bastions, curtains and cavaliers, along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches.
History
[edit]
See also: Mount Sciberras and Sciberras Peninsula
The peninsula was previously called Xagħret Mewwija (Mu' awiya – Meuia; named during the Arab period[12])[13][14] or Ħal Newwija.[15] Mewwija refers to a sheltered place.[16] Some authors state that the extreme end of the peninsula was known as Xebb ir-Ras (Sheb point), of which name origins from the lighthouse on site.[17][18] A family which surely owned land became known as Sceberras, now a Maltese surname as Sciberras.[19] At one point the entire peninsula became known as Sceberras.
Recent scholarly studies have however shown that the Xeberras phrase is of Punic origin and means 'the headland' and 'the middle peninsula' as it actually is.[20]
Order of Saint John
[edit]
The building of a city on the Sciberras Peninsula had been proposed by the Order of Saint John as early as 1524.[21] Back then, the only building on the peninsula was a small watchtower[22] dedicated to Erasmus of Formia (Saint Elmo), which had been built in 1488.[23]
In 1552, the Aragonite watchtower was demolished and the larger Fort Saint Elmo was built in its place.[24]
In the Great Siege of 1565, Fort Saint Elmo fell to the Ottomans, but the Order eventually won the siege with the help of Sicilian reinforcements. The victorious Grand Master, Jean de Valette, immediately set out to build a new fortified city on the Sciberras Peninsula to fortify the Order's position in Malta and bind the Knights to the island. The city took his name and was called La Valletta.[25]
The Grand Master asked the European kings and princes for help, receiving a lot of assistance due to the increased fame of the Order after their victory in the Great Siege. Pope Pius V sent his military architect, Francesco Laparelli, to design the new city, while Philip II of Spain sent substantial monetary aid. The foundation stone of the city was laid by Grand Master de Valette on 28 March 1566. He placed the first stone in what later became Our Lady of Victories Church.[26]
In his book Dell'Istoria della Sacra Religione et Illustrissima Militia di San Giovanni Gierosolimitano (English: The History of the Sacred Religion and Illustrious Militia of St John of Jerusalem), written between 1594 and 1602, Giacomo Bosio writes that when the cornerstone of Valletta was placed, a group of Maltese elders said: "Iegi zimen en fel wardia col sceber raba iesue uquie" (Which in modern Maltese reads, "Jiġi żmien li fil-Wardija [l-Għolja Sciberras] kull xiber raba' jiswa uqija", and in English, "There will come a time when every piece of land on Sciberras Hill will be worth its weight in gold").[27]
De Valette died from a stroke on 21 August 1568 at age 74 and never saw the completion of his city. Originally interred in the church of Our Lady of the Victories, his remains now rest in St. John's Co-Cathedral among the tombs of other Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta.[26]
Francesco Laparelli was the city's principal designer and his plan departed from medieval Maltese architecture, which exhibited irregular winding streets and alleys. He designed the new city on a rectangular grid plan, and without any collacchio (an area restricted for important buildings). The streets were designed to be wide and straight, beginning centrally from the City Gate and ending at Fort Saint Elmo (which was rebuilt) overlooking the Mediterranean; certain bastions were built 47 metres (154 ft) high. His assistant was the Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar, who later oversaw the construction of the city himself after Laparelli's death in 1570.[26]
The Ufficio delle Case regulated the building of the city as a planning authority.[28]
The city of Valletta was mostly completed by the early 1570s, and it became the capital on 18 March 1571 when Grand Master Pierre de Monte moved from his seat at Fort St Angelo in Birgu to the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta.
Seven Auberges were built for the Order's Langues, and these were complete by the 1580s.[29][30] An eighth Auberge, Auberge de Bavière, was later added in the 18th century.[31]
In Antoine de Paule's reign, it was decided to build more fortifications to protect Valletta, and these were named the Floriana Lines after the architect who designed them, Pietro Paolo Floriani of Macerata.[32] During António Manoel de Vilhena's reign, a town began to form between the walls of Valletta and the Floriana Lines, and this evolved from a suburb of Valletta to Floriana, a town in its own right.[33]
In 1634, a gunpowder factory explosion killed 22 people in Valletta.[34] In 1749, Muslim slaves plotted to kill Grandmaster Pinto and take over Valletta, but the revolt was suppressed before it even started due to their plans leaking out to the Order.[35] Later on in his reign, Pinto embellished the city with Baroque architecture, and many important buildings such as Auberge de Castille were remodeled or completely rebuilt in the new architectural style.[36]
In 1775, during the reign of Ximenes, an unsuccessful revolt known as the Rising of the Priests occurred in which Fort Saint Elmo and Saint James Cavalier were captured by rebels, but the revolt was eventually suppressed.[37]
French occupation and British rule
[edit]
In 1798, the French invaded the island and expelled the Order.[38] After the Maltese rebelled, French troops continued to occupy Valletta and the surrounding harbour area, until they capitulated to the British in September 1800. In the early 19th century, the British Civil Commissioner, Henry Pigot, agreed to demolish the majority of the city's fortifications.[39] The demolition was again proposed in the 1870s and 1880s, but it was never carried out and the fortifications have survived largely intact.[21]
Eventually building projects in Valletta resumed under British rule. These projects included widening gates, demolishing and rebuilding structures, widening newer houses over the years, and installing civic projects. The Malta Railway, which linked Valletta to Mdina, was officially opened in 1883.[40] It was closed down in 1931 after buses became a popular means of transport.
In 1939, Valletta was abandoned as the headquarters of the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet due to its proximity to Italy and the city became a flash point during the subsequent two-year long Siege of Malta.[41] German and Italian air raids throughout the Second World War caused much destruction in Valletta and the rest of the harbor area. The Royal Opera House, constructed at the city entrance in the 19th century, was one of the buildings lost to the raids.[24]
Valletta harbour c. 1850, photo by Calvert Jones
King's Gate c. 1884–1905
Royal Opera House in 1911
Bomb damage in Valletta during the Second World War
Contemporary
[edit]
In 1980, the 24th Chess Olympiad took place in Valletta.[42]
The entire city of Valletta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980, along with Megalithic Temples of Malta and the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni.[7][43] On 11 November 2015, Valletta hosted the Valletta Summit on Migration in which European and African leaders discussed the European migrant crisis.[44] After that, on 27 November 2015, the city also hosted part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015.[45]
Valletta was the European Capital of Culture in 2018.[46]
Detail of the Parliament House (2015)
Mediterranean Conference Centre, former Sacra Infermeria (2016)
Renovated Tritons' Fountain (2018)
Auberge d'Italie, renovated in 2016 to host the new MUŻA (Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti)
Renovated covered market Is-Suq tal-Belt, 2018
Government
[edit]
Local government
[edit]
The Valletta Local Council was established by the Local Councils Act of 1993, along with the other local councils of Malta.[47] The first election was held on 20 November 1993. Other elections were held in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2013,[48] 2017.[49] The present local council was elected in 2019.[50] The local council is housed in a building in South Street.
The following people have served as Mayors of Valletta:[51]
Hector Bruno (1993–1999) (PN)
Paul Borg Olivier (1999–2008) (PN)
Alexei Dingli (2008–2019) (PN) [52]
Christian Micallef (2019) (PN) [53]
Alfred Zammit (2019–) (PL) [54]
National government
[edit]
Valletta is the capital city of Malta,[55] and is the country's administrative and commercial hub.[56] The Parliament of Malta has been housed at the Parliament House near the city's entrance since 2015: it was previously housed at the Grandmaster's Palace in the city centre.[57] The latter palace still houses the Office of the President of Malta,[58] while the Auberge de Castille houses the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta. The courthouse and many government departments are also located in Valletta.[59]
Geography
[edit]
The Valletta peninsula has two natural harbours, Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour.[43] The Grand Harbour is Malta's major port, with unloading quays at nearby Marsa. A cruise-liner terminal is located along the old seawall of the Valletta Waterfront that Portuguese Grandmaster Manuel Pinto da Fonseca built.[60]
Climate
[edit]
Main article: Climate of Malta
Valletta features a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) with very mild, wet winters and warm to hot, slightly long, dry summers, with an average annual temperature above 23 °C (73 °F) during the day and 16 °C (61 °F). Valletta experiences a lack of precipitation during the summer months and most of the precipitation happens during the winter months. Winter temperatures are moderated by the surrounding sea, as a result, the city has very mild winters and a long seasonal lag. The official climate recording station in Malta is at Luqa Airport, which is a few miles inland from Valletta. Average high temperatures range from around 16 °C (61 °F) in January to about 32 °C (90 °F) in August, while average low temperatures range from around 10 °C (50 °F) in January to 23 °C (73 °F) in August.
Cityscape
[edit]
The architecture of Valletta's streets and piazzas ranges from mid-16th century Baroque to Modernism. The city is the island's principal cultural center and has a unique collection of churches, palaces and museums and act as one of the city's main visitor attractions. When Benjamin Disraeli, future British Prime Minister, visited the city in 1830, he described it as "a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen," and remarked that "Valletta equals in its noble architecture, if it does not excel, any capital in Europe," and in other letters called it "comparable to Venice and Cádiz" and "full of palaces worthy of Palladio."[63][64]
Buildings of historic importance include St John's Co-Cathedral, formerly the Conventual Church of the Knights of Malta. It has the only signed work and largest painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.[65] The Auberge de Castille et Leon, formerly the official seat of the Knights of Malta of the Langue of Castille, Léon and Portugal, is now the office of the Prime Minister of Malta.[59] The Grandmaster's Palace, built between 1571 and 1574 and formerly the seat of the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, used to house the Maltese Parliament, now situated in a purpose-built structure at the entrance to the city, and now houses the offices of the President of Malta.[66]
Admiralty House is a Baroque palace dating to the late 1570s. It was the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet during the British era from the 1820s onwards. From 1974 until 2016, it was the site of the National Museum of Fine Arts.
The Manoel Theatre (Maltese: Teatru Manoel) was constructed in just ten months in 1731, by order of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, and is one of the oldest working theatres in Europe. The Mediterranean Conference Centre was formerly the Sacra Infermeria. Built in 1574, it was one of Europe's most renowned hospitals during the Renaissance. The fortifications of the port, built by the Knights as a magnificent series of bastions, demi-bastions, cavaliers and curtains, approximately 100 metres (330 ft) high, all contribute to the unique architectural quality of the city.
Neighbourhoods
[edit]
Valletta contains a number of unofficial neighbourhoods, including:[67]
Strada Rjali – the main thoroughfare, Triq ir-Repubblika
l-Arċipierku – an area close to the Sacra Infermeria. Its name possibly derives from archipelago since it contains a number of lanes which break up the area into many "islands" of houses, or from archi-borgo since the area is located just outside Fort Saint Elmo.[68]
il-Baviera – an area around the English Curtain, bounded by Old Bakery, Archbishop, Marsamxett and St. Sebastian Streets. It is named after Auberge de Bavière.[68]
il-Biċċerija – an area close to il-Baviera, named after the slaughterhouse which was formerly located there.[68]
il-Kamrata – an area close to the Sacra Infermeria. It is named after the Camerata, a spiritual retreat which was demolished in the 19th century and replaced by social housing.[68]
Deux Balles (Maltese: Duwi Balli) – an area close to il-Baviera. The name probably originates from the French occupation.[68]
il-Fossa – an area close to the Jews' Sally Port and Fort Saint Elmo. It is regarded as the worst maintained area of Valletta.[69]
Manderaggio (Maltese: il-Mandraġġ) – an area behind Manderaggio Curtain, bounded by St. Mark, St. Lucia, St. Patrick and Marsamxett Streets. This was meant to be a small harbour (mandracchio) but it was never completed, and a slum area developed instead. The slums were demolished in the 1950s and were rebuilt as housing estates.[68]
Economy
[edit]
Eurostat estimates the labour force in 2015 for the greater Valletta area at around 91,000 people. This corresponds to a share of just under 50 percent of Malta. As in Malta as a whole, tourism is an important economic sector. The most important tourist zone is the area surrounding the Grand Harbour. For the cruise industry, after several years of planning, work began in 2002 to build the Valletta Waterfront Project, a cruise terminal, in the Grand Harbour.[70] There is also a publishing house in Valletta, Allied Newspapers Ltd., a media company. This company publishes the two market-leading newspapers, Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta.
Education
[edit]
The Valletta Campus of the University of Malta is situated in the Old University Building. It serves as an extension of the Msida Campus, especially offering international masters programmes.[71]
A church school, "St. Albert the Great", is also situated in Valletta. The Headmaster is Alternattiva Demokratika politician Mario Mallia.[72][73]
Culture
[edit]
Valletta was designated European Capital of Culture for 2018.[74] The year was inaugurated with an event called Erba' Pjazez (Four Squares), with shows focused in 4 plazas in the city – Triton Square, St. George's Square, St. John's Square, and Castille Square – along with other shows in other points.[75] This was followed by the unveiling of a public art installation, Kif Jgħid il-Malti (Maltese Sayings), which featured a number of Maltese language proverb figured in gypsum, in order to engage linguistic heritage.[76][77]
Saint James Cavalier
[edit]
Saint James Cavalier, originally a raised gun platform, was converted into a Centre of Creativity in the year 2000 as part of Malta's Millennium Project. It now houses a small theatre, a cinema, music rooms and art galleries. Various exhibitions are regularly held there. It has welcomed over a million visitors since opening.[78]
Music
[edit]
The Valletta International Baroque Festival is held every year in January. Jazz music in Malta was introduced in the Strait Street area, frequented by Allied sailors during both World Wars.[79] Malta's Jazz Festival took place here. Strait Street is also known as The Gut. This area is undergoing a programme of regeneration. The city's dual band clubs are the "King's Own Band Club" (Maltese: L-Għaqda Mużikali King's Own) and "La Valette National Philharmonic Society" (Maltese: Is-Soċjetà Filarmonika Nazzjonali La Valette).[citation needed]
Carnival
[edit]
Valletta is the scene of the Maltese Carnival, held in February each year, leading up to Lent.[80] There were no carnival trucks in 2020 or 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but trucks returned in 2022.[citation needed]
In 1823 the Valletta carnival was the scene of a human crush tragedy in which at least 110 boys perished.[81]
Feasts
[edit]
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on 16 July
Saint Paul's feast is celebrated on 10 February
Saint Dominic's feast is celebrated in Valletta on 4 August or before
The feast of Saint Augustine is celebrated on the third Sunday after Easter
The city's residents also conduct an annual procession in honour of St. Rita
In literature and the arts
[edit]
The poetical illustrations "Valetta, Capital of Malta". (painted by T. C. Dibden, engraved by J. Tingle)[82] and "Strada St. Ursola,—Malta". (painted by Samuel Prout, engraved by J, Carter)[83] by Letitia Elizabeth Landon were both published in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837. A further poem Jesuits in Procession—Valetta, Malta. illustrates a painting of the procession in the Strada St Giovanni painted by Samuel Prout and engraved by E. Challis is in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1838.[84]
Twin towns – sister cities
[edit]
Valletta is twinned with:[85]
Palermo, Italy
Pisa, Italy
Cortona, Italy, since August 26, 2022
Rhodes, Greece
Byblos, Lebanon
Piran, Slovenia
Transport
[edit]
Malta International Airport is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the city in the town of Luqa.
Malta's public transport system, which uses buses, operates mostly on routes to or from Valletta, with their central terminus just outside the city gate. Traffic within the city itself is restricted, with some principal roads being completely pedestrian areas. In 2006, a park and ride system was implemented in order to increase the availability of parking spaces in the city. People can leave their vehicles in a nearby Floriana car park and transfer to a van for the rest of the trip.
In 2007, a congestion pricing scheme was implemented to reduce long-term parking and traffic while promoting business in the city.[86][87] An ANPR-based automated system takes photos of vehicles as they enter and exit the charging zone and vehicle owners are billed according to the duration of their stay.[86]
Valletta is served by a fleet of electric taxis which transport riders from 10 points in Valletta to any destination in the city.[88]
As of 2021, an underground Malta Metro is being planned, with a projected total cost of €6.2 billion,[89] centred on the Valletta urban area.
Notable people
[edit]
Main page: Category:People from Valletta
Sports
[edit]
Valletta F.C. Association Football team and Futsal team
Valletta Lions RFC Rugby Football Union team
Valletta's Marsamxett Harbour a "Regatta" (Rowing) Team, which takes part in the annual traditional Regatta on Victory Day (8 September).
Valletta United W.P.C., a Water Polo Club hailing from Marsamxett side
Valletta V.C., a Volleyball club.
Marsamxett Boċċi, a ''Boċċi'' Club from Marsamxett, Valletta.
Valletta St. Paul's Boċċi, a ''Boċċi'' Club from L-Arċipierku side, Valletta.
Further reading
[edit]
Bianco, Lino (2009). "Valletta: A city in history" (PDF). Melita Theologica. 60 (2). University of Malta: Department of Architecture and Urban Design – Faculty for the Built Environment: 1–20. ISSN 1012-9588. OCLC 1587122. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2018.
References
[edit]
Notes
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] | null | [] | 2016-12-04T00:00:00 | What to see and do in the captivating Mediterranean city of Valletta, Malta. | en | Travels with Tricia | https://triciaannemitchell.com/2016/12/04/things-to-do-in-valletta-malta-attractions-hotels-guide/ | Malta’s capital, Valletta, is a grande dame undergoing rapid change. With more than 300 monuments crammed into the city’s small peninsular borders, Valletta has one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world. This means that there are lots of things to do in Valletta, whether you’re an architecture aficionado, military-history buff or passionate wanderer eager to see a city reawakening from a long slumber.
Shawn and I called Valletta home for one year. We lived on Strada Stretta, which was once one of the city’s most infamous streets. It’s a narrow lane that used to form part of Valletta’s red-light district—a magnet for sailors.
When we first learned we’d be moving to Malta for Shawn’s studies, we thought we might develop island fever by spending so much time in a tiny island nation. Surprisingly though, there was so much to experience in and out of Valletta that our weekend calendar was consistently filled with activities. We left at the end of 2016.
A decade before actually moving to Valletta, I also played tourist in the capital city, making it my home base for a long-weekend visit. Back in 2006, Valletta was eerily quiet. Half of the city’s buildings were boarded up and abandoned. Accommodation in Valletta was so scarce that I literally had to sleep in a spacious maid’s closet for one night, until a proper room became available. Coincidentally, ten years later, my future in-laws would choose to stay at a boutique hotel located just across the street from the same guesthouse in which I stayed as a solo female traveler in 2006. It’s funny how life comes full circle like that.
As a solo traveler on a four-day adventure, I loved exploring Valletta’s streets and their characteristic golden-limestone buildings, radiant wooden balconies, and vintage storefronts. Fast-forward a decade and Shawn and I were elated to have that impressive architecture, history, and culture just outside our doorstep for an entire year.
Drawing upon my experience as a visitor and one-year resident of Malta, I’ve created this guide to Valletta. It highlights some of the Maltese capital’s top sites, plus a smattering of lesser-visited ones.
Along with overviews of Valletta’s gardens, museums, churches, and palaces, I’ve thrown in generic logistical details to help with issues about transportation, groceries, and accommodation. I’ve also included a few photo-taking spots and a personalized map to help you plan your visit.
Valletta’s History
The Knights of Malta (also known as the Knights of the Order of St. John, or the Knights Hospitaller) started building Valletta in 1566, following the Great Siege of 1565. After this legendary fight against the Ottoman Turks, the Knights wanted to construct a fortified stronghold to protect against future attacks.
A Pope sent Italian architect Francesco Laparelli to Malta to oversee Valletta’s construction. Laparelli, who had once been Michelangelo’s assistant, designed Valletta in a grid-pattern fashion. Massive bastions, moats, and narrow streets were created, all with the intent of making the new city of Valletta easier to defend. An added advantage of the city’s grid pattern was that Valletta’s high walls helped shade streets on sizzling summer days, while ushering in refreshing sea breezes. Having lived on one of the city’s streets for a year, I can attest that this is still a good form of natural air conditioning.
The Knights of Malta remained in power until Napoleon seized the island in 1798. The French occupation was short-lived, only lasting about two years. Shortly thereafter, Malta became part of the British Empire. The country ended its colonial relationship with the United Kingdom in the 1960s.
Since 1980, Valletta has been a UNESCO World Heritage city. It was also the 2018 European Capital of Culture. This designation was instrumental in fostering Valletta’s economic rebirth.
Architecture: Baroque to British Flair
From stately baroque buildings and classic old storefronts to ornate brass door knockers, devotional statues, and enclosed wooden balconies, Valletta’s narrow streets are full of character. Historians are unsure when the first of the distinctive balconies (gallariji) appeared on the island’s buildings. The suspicion is that this architectural feature made its debut on Valletta’s Grandmaster’s Palace, and then other homeowners simply followed suit.
Since Malta was a British colony from 1813-1964, you’ll see remnants of that chapter of history in the form of cherry-red phone booths, rounded mail boxes, and the grand Victoria Gate. The city’s Catholic influence is equally evident in the devotional saint’s statues which rest in corner niches throughout the city. Some even have a donation slot built into the wall below the figure.
Finally, though it’s not as common in Valletta as it is in Maltese villages, you’ll notice a few name plates adorning the front of buildings. These little signs bear the name of the home given to it by its residents. Common house names honor religious figures or meld a husband’s and wife’s first names. (Shawn and I resisted the urge to dub our apartment ‘Trishawn’!)
More –
The Doors of Valletta (my blog post collage)
The Door Knockers of Valletta (my blog post collage)
Contents of This Guide:
General Information
Festivals and Holidays
Hotels & Apartments
Groceries
Long-Term Accommodation
Maltese Newspapers
Pharmacies
Post Offices
Restaurants
Safety
Souvenirs
Tourist Information Offices
Transportation
Valletta Map
Additional Links and Resources
Churches
St. John’s Co-Cathedral
St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral
The Carmelite Church
Our Lady of Victories Church
Gardens
Hastings Gardens
Lower Barrakka Gardens
Upper Barrakka Gardens
Landmarks
Auberge de Castille
City Gate
De Valette Square
Former Victory Kitchen
Nelson’s Hook
Parliament
Saluting Battery
Siege Bell War Memorial
Queen Victoria Statue and Victoria Gate
Museums
Fort St. Elmo and the National War Museum
Fortifications Interpretation Centre
Grandmaster’s Palace: State Rooms & Palace Armoury
Lascaris War Rooms
National Library of Malta
National Museum of Archaeology
National Museum of Fine Arts
Sacra Infermeria (The Knights’ Hospital)
Entertainment & Theaters
Manoel Theatre
Pjazza Teatru Rjal
St. James Cavalier (Malta’s National Centre for Creativity)
Strada Stretta
Misc.
Walking Circuit Around the Exterior of Valletta’s Fortifications
Watch: Scenes from Valletta
De Valette Square
The year 2016 marked 450 years since Valletta’s foundation stone was laid by the city’s namesake, Jean Parisot de Valette. Having led the Knights of Malta to victory during the Great Siege of 1565 (as a 70-something warrior!), Grandmaster de Valette was seen as a heroic figure within the order.
Not long after their arrival on the island of Malta, the Knights had contemplated building a city on the then-barren Sciberras Peninsula. First came Fort St. Elmo, and later the fortified city of Valletta that we know today, both designed to help defend the island against attack.
Though the Knights officially took chastity vows, it’s interesting that de Valette himself is said to have covertly fathered at least two children: a son that would be ‘legitimized’ by the King of France, and a daughter that was tragically murdered by her husband.
Since he died in 1568, de Valette did not live to see Valletta’s completion. His ornate sarcophagus is located in St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral
&
The Carmelite Church
Two buildings punctuate Valletta’s skyline: the enormous dome of the Carmelite Church, and the pointy steeple of St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral.
Malta is overwhelmingly Roman-Catholic but St. Paul’s stands as a remnant of Malta’s British colonial past. Groundbreaking for the neo-classical structure began in 1839, at the request of a visiting queen who lamented that there was no place of worship for Anglican parishioners. Originally, the Auberge d’Allemagne (quarters for the German branch of the Knights of Malta) stood here.
Surprisingly, the Carmelite Church was not constructed until the 20th century. The original structure was built in the 16th century, but because it was decimated during World War II bombings, it was reconstructed during the 1950s to 1980s.
Photo tip: Splendid places to photograph the Valletta skyline at sunset are either from the promenade in the city of Sliema (a short ferry ride across the Marsamxett Harbour from Valletta) or from this Valletta parking lot on St. Michael’s Bastion (map here). Both vantage points will allow you to capture these iconic buildings in your photograph. During our year in Valletta, we often strolled past this spot just before sunset, watching the neighborhood children play soccer in a nearby parking lot, as a scrappy Chihuhua ran about.
More –
Carmelite Church (official website) & Carmelite Church (Facebook page)
St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral (official website)
Our Lady of Victories Church
This dainty church is Valletta’s oldest building, and is best known for being the first resting place of Grandmaster de Valette. After the colossal St. John’s Co-Cathedral was built, his remains were transferred from Our Lady of Victories to St. John’s.
The Grandmaster himself is said to have financed Our Lady of Victories Church, which was designed to express gratitude for the Knights’ victory over the Ottoman Turks in 1565.
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Admission free.
Our Lady of Victories Church (Wikipedia)
Our Lady of Victories Church (National Trust of Malta – Din l-Art Ħelwa)
Saluting Battery
Each day, without fail, visitors cram themselves onto the terrace of the Upper Barrakka Gardens, for the twelve o’clock cannon salute in the Saluting Battery below. To escape the garden’s crowds at midday, you can enter the Saluting Battery just below the gardens, which has the same commanding perspective over the Grand Harbour. (Note: the Upper Barrakka Gardens are free to enter, while the Saluting Battery has a small admission fee.)
The Knights built the Saluting Battery in the 1500s, near the site of a battery earlier established by the Ottomans during the Great Siege of 1565. This 16th-century map shows the Ottoman’s battery as it would’ve looked then.
Gun salutes have historically been fired here to commemorate anniversaries and religious feast days, to welcome dignitaries, and to help ships with their time-keeping.
Photo tip: If you stroll along the walls facing Valletta’s Grand Harbour, you will find a bounty of photo-snapping spots. St. Barbara’s Bastions (map here) offer some of the nicest panoramas of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities, and this area generally has less crowds than the Upper Barrakka Gardens. The Lower Barrakka Gardens also have commanding views across the Grand Harbour.
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Saluting Battery (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
City Gate
Adorning a wall in our Valletta apartment was a turn-of-the century photograph of one of Valletta’s former city gates. At the time, the entrance was dressed in bunting and a huge ‘welcome’ sign. Since the black and white image hung over our kitchen sink, I looked at it whenever I did dishes, and analyzed the faces of the people frozen in time. Most of the passersby were dressed in black, with some wearing formal, big hats. Others wore the attire of laborers. What the two groups shared was a curiosity of the camera, which would have been a novel contraption at the time.
In the past 450 years, there have been five different versions of gates installed on this spot, each doing its part to help secure Valletta’s primary entrance. This most recent rendition was designed by celebrated Italian architect Renzo Piano (of London Shard fame), and inaugurated in 2015. Because of its minimalist design, the City Gate, as well as Piano’s adjacent Parliament building, remain controversial additions to this largely baroque city.
If you’d like to see what’s thought to be the gate’s original wooden drawbridge, you can find it at the Fortifications Interpretation Center (listed below).
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The evolution of Valletta’s City Gates, from 1566 to the present (Wikipedia)
Parliament
Malta’s Parliament Building was controversially unveiled in 2015, receiving mixed reviews. Some lauded its contemporary design and how it incorporates the island’s traditional limestone, while others thought its abstract look was incompatible with Valletta’s baroque buildings. For a time, there was even concern that UNESCO might strip Valletta of its World Heritage Site status because of this addition. To this day, some displeased locals describe it as a ‘cheese grater’ on stilts. As you walk past the Parliament, note the fossilized remains in the limestone under your feet.
More –
Parliament of Malta (official website)
Fortifications Interpretation Centre
Housed in a 16th-century era building that was once a warehouse for the Knights, the Fortifications Interpretation Center describes itself as part museum, and part resource center. If you’re remotely interested in military architecture, or simply want to better understand Valletta’s prominent fortifications, then the Centre is a worthwhile stop. It’s just a two-minute walk from the Valletta – Sliema Ferry.
One of the star attractions in the museum is a segment of a drawbridge that’s believed to date back to around 1645. Much of the weathered wood has been chipped off or devoured by woodworms. However, it still helps to paint a picture of what life in Valletta was like during times of insecurity.
Another exhibit displays a sampling of tools that would’ve been used by laborers to quarry and shape Malta’s rugged limestone into uniform blocks. In another wing, informational boards highlight how fortifications around the world have evolved over the millennia.
Other exhibits that help illustrate the island’s extensive fortifications include: models of Valletta, Malta’s coastal watchtowers, the medieval city of Mdina, and the Gozo Citadel. Shawn and I easily whiled away about two hours here.
More –
Admission free.
Fortifications Interpretation Centre (official website) lists opening hours.
Walking Circuit Around the Exterior of Valletta’s Fortifications
While it is common for visitors to traipse along the top of Valletta’s fortifications, not as many tourists realize that it’s possible to explore them around the outside too. Shawn discovered this walking circuit while scouting out jogging spots. This route soon became one of our favorite early-evening walks.
Starting from the Valletta – Sliema Ferry and ending at the Sacra Infermeria, or vice versa, the walk takes you past the Breakwater, a cluster of boat houses, fishing spots, and WWII-era sites.
The war-related structures are the most notable sites and include a Boom Defence, lookout towers, and bomb shelters. The cave-like bomb shelters were carved by Valletta residents to offer refuge during the air raids of 1940 to 1942. The shelters have since been transformed for more peaceful purposes, and are now utilized as spaces to house boats, tools, and picnic furniture. Owing to the number of men that we saw flocking to them on a routine basis, Shawn and I joked that they are Malta’s version of a ‘man cave.’
Please wear sensible footwear and tread carefully as parts of this walk take you over uneven rock and metal bridges. In other words, this area is blissfully devoid of hordes of tourists, and there’s not a paved sidewalk. This is a prime spot to enjoy a picnic too! I’ve created a walking route map here.
Auberge de Castille
Now the office of Malta’s Prime Minister, this stately building housed one branch of the Knights of St. John during the 16th to 18th centuries. Back then, clusters of knights were tasked with defending specific parts of the island of Malta. The knights were grouped together into eight different langues, administrative groups based upon the knights’ respective languages and cultures. Langue is a French word meaning ‘language’ or ‘tongue’.
Knights from the langue of Castile, León and Portugal were housed here, and when Malta was part of the British Empire, the Auberge de Castille housed British armed forces. The structure survived World War II bombings.
More –
Not open to visitors.
Upper Barrakka Gardens
A lovely place to get your bearings upon arriving in Valletta, the Upper Barrakka Gardens offer commanding views of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities of Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua. Birgu actually pre-dates Valletta, and is well worth a visit!
The park’s arches date back to the 17th century, and the gardens were once a recreation spot for the Italian branch of the Knights.
Bench real estate is often coveted, but there is a café inside as well. Because the garden was so often inundated with people, Shawn and I often flocked to quieter Valletta gardens (see below).
More –
Admission free.
Upper Barrakka Gardens listing (Malta Tourism official website)
Upper Barrakka Gardens (Wikipedia)
Lower Barrakka Gardens
When I visited Malta for the first time in 2006, I distinctly remember strolling through the Lower Barrakka Gardens, taking in the extraordinary views of Valletta’s Grand Harbour. I found it rather romantic, and wished that I could’ve been sharing the spot with my special someone, whom I hadn’t yet met. Fast forward to the autumn of 2015 and beyond, and that ‘special someone’ and I had moved to Malta!
Not long after relocating to Valletta, Shawn and I went to the Lower Barrakka Gardens to partake in a picnic. As we feasted and watched vessels of all sizes go by, I recounted tales to Shawn from my solo travel days in Malta. Not much had changed in the Lower Barrakka Gardens in the past ten years. The so-called ‘temple folly’ in the neo-classical style was still there, as were olive trees with twisted trunks. They were just a bit more mature.
The Lower Barrakka’s well-manicured lanes are great to explore any time of day, but there’s something especially nice about them at night. I’ll never forget the late-summer evening when Shawn and I watched an Old World vessel lift its elegant white sails and glide past the garden’s rampart walls. It felt like a scene from another age.
Note that during the summer months, you might find the Lower Barrakka Gardens closed to the public, as they are a popular spot for wedding receptions and private parties.
More –
Admission free.
Hastings Gardens
The Hastings Gardens were one of our favorite spots for jogging, walking, or just taking in a splendid sunset. Shawn and I would occasionally bring a coffee or homemade banana bread to Hastings, climb onto a wide section of the mighty fortifications, and watch the world go by on land and on sea.
The gardens take their name from Lord Hastings, who was a Governor of Malta during the 1820s. Built atop Valletta’s formidable bastions, Hastings Gardens are shaded by olive and oleander trees. The park provides a bit of reprieve from the cacophony of honking horns in Valletta, and it offers a silhouetted view of the town of Mdina.
Like the Lower Barrakka Gardens, during the height of summer you might occasionally find Hastings closed to the public, as it’s a popular site for wedding receptions, private parties and community events. Teenagers also flock there with their significant others, so don’t be surprised if you turn a corner and see them locking lips. On such a densely-populated island, there just aren’t many places to go to find privacy!
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Admission free.
Strada Stretta
When elderly Maltese residents heard that Shawn and I lived on Strada Stretta (also known as Strait Street or Triq-id-Dejqa) they usually responded with a hushed “Oh!” Sometimes they smirked, other times they were embarrassed to relay the infamous street’s history to us.
Decades ago, Strada Stretta was the playground of visiting sailors who referred to the narrow alley as ‘The Gut‘. Because Strada Stretta was packed with bars, brothels and lively music halls – offering wine, women and song – many Maltese told me that they were once mortified at the thought of even walking anywhere near it. One woman remarked how embarrassed she was that her father’s law practice was situated there. Another Valletta resident took a more sentimental approach, relaying that her sister met her American husband-to-be on the narrow street.
After the British military’s departure from Malta, and several decades of neglect, Strada Stretta is having a more G-rated renaissance today. A popular television show of the same name has hit Maltese television airwaves. And on the once notorious street itself, restaurants offering everything from tapas to Maltese fare have cropped up. They are nestled alongside wine bars, offices, and abandoned buildings waiting to be restored. The street’s dining and drinking establishments regularly play host to fun (mostly free) musical performances, which are organized by the Strada Stretta Concept.
More –
Strada Stretta Concept (Facebook page features events taking place on Strait Street / Strada Stretta. During our time in Valletta, we enjoyed classical performances, an evening celebrating French vocalist Edith Piaf, gypsy jazz music, even a saxophonist accompanied by an opera singer.)
St. James Cavalier
&
Malta’s National Centre for Creativity
St. James Cavalier epitomizes the concept of adaptive reuse. The structure was built in the 16th century as a cavalier, but in the hundreds of years since then, it’s been a gun platform, a social spot for British officers, and even a printing press. Today, the austere building – its sole embellishment is a coat of arms – is Malta’s National Centre for Creativity. Inside there is a cinema, theater and multi-purpose halls. Visit the website below to learn about the facility’s upcoming events.
If you’re really into military history, Valletta’s other cavalier (St. John’s Cavalier) is practically identical and situated parallel to this one. It’s now the Embassy of the Order of St. John, the descendants of the Knights who originally built it.
More –
Malta’s National Centre for Creativity – Spazju Kreattiv (official website)
Grandmaster’s Palace
State Rooms & Palace Armoury
Ever since its construction in the 1560s, this Valletta landmark has served as Malta’s seat of government. Originally built as a lavish palace for the Knight’s grandmasters, the building later served as the official residence for British colonial governors. Until 2015, it was the meeting place for Malta’s Parliament, and today, it’s the Office of the President of Malta.
Inside, there are two sections of interest: the lavish State Rooms and the Palace Armoury. The State Rooms are renowned for the Parisian tapestries dressing the walls of the Tapestry Room. This area was under construction during our visit, so I didn’t get to see the flora and fauna depicted on the tapestries. Still, I enjoyed overlooking the verdant courtyard, and exploring the building’s sun-drenched corridors, with their ornate ceilings and marble floors. We’d lived in Malta for a few months by the time we visited the palace, so it was fun trying to pick out the island’s various landmarks depicted in the paintings.
The Palace Armoury is located in another wing of the building in what was formerly the palace stables. The Knights’ extensive arsenal of arms and armor was moved to the palace in 1604, and while some of the collection has since been ‘depleted’ (between 1798-1800, Malta was occupied by Napoleon’s troops and some looting took place), the armory is still said to have one of the world’s largest collections of arms and armor. As I walked past the large glass cases holding instruments of war, I couldn’t help but notice how everything from breastplates to canons were intricately decorated. The objects were simultaneously beautiful and evil.
Just in front of the Grandmaster’s Palace, on St. George’s Square, concerts, annual holiday parades, and commemorative events are held, such as the 1942 awarding of the George Cross to the people of Malta. If you like pomp and circumstance, the Changing of the Guard Ceremony takes place here the last Friday of each month.
More –
Palace State Rooms (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Palace Armory (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Changing of the Guards (Malta Tourism official website)
Fort St. Elmo and the National War Museum
I often associate Fort St. Elmo with the sweet, but feral felines that call the granaries on the landward side of the structure home. Today, benevolent locals leave mounds of food for the cats on the lids of these 17th-century contraptions. This seems fitting – especially considering that these subterranean pits would have once sheltered a precious supply of grain for the island’s residents. Since Malta was so dependent on food imports centuries ago (it still is!) and because sieges were an ongoing threat, long-term storage options were absolutely essential.
Fort St. Elmo itself was built in 1552 by the Knights of Malta, designed to protect both the Grand Harbour and the Marsamxett Harbour, which together flank the Valletta Peninsula. While impressive in its own right, the star-shaped Fort St. Elmo was and still is dwarfed by the more formidable Fort St. Angelo, located across the Grand Harbour from Valletta in the Three Cities.
During the Great Siege of 1565, when the Knights and the Ottoman army engaged in heavy battle, Fort St. Elmo held out for 28 days – much longer than expected. Though the Ottomans eventually took the smaller St. Elmo at great costs, leader Mustafa Pasha, turned in the direction of Fort St. Angelo and reportedly said, “If so small a son has cost so dear, what price shall we have to pay for so large a father?” A few weeks later, the deflated Ottoman army left Malta.
After the Great Siege, St. Elmo continued to serve various purposes, including serving as a prison during the French occupation (1798-1800) and as a strategic defensive point for the British during bombardments by the Italian Air Force in World War II.
Today, it’s possible to explore select sections of St. Elmo. The compound also houses Malta’s National Military Museum, which focuses on World War I and World War II-era collections, and includes the George Cross. This coveted award was given to the people of Malta for their bravery during World War II. The next time you see the red and white Maltese flag, make note of the George Cross in the upper-left corner.
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Fort St. Elmo | National War Museum (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Siege Bell War Memorial
The Siege Bell Memorial overlooks Valletta’s breakwater, the Grand Harbour, and the open sea toward Sicily. It is also the perfect place to catch a magnificent Valletta sunrise. It honors the 7,000 people who lost their lives during the 1940-1943 Siege of Malta. During those three years, tiny Malta was bombed relentlessly by Axis powers Italy and Germany. In just two months of 1942, more bombs were dropped on Malta than on London and Dresden during the course of the war. Those statistics are especially dramatic given the country’s small size — about 27 km long by 15 km wide. Thankfully, the area around the Siege Bell is a more peaceful place today, with hobbyist drones replacing combat aircraft, and cruise ships, ferries and private yachts plying the water.
Photo tip: A brilliant spot to capture the sun rising over the Mediterranean (map here).
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Admission free.
Lascaris War Rooms
Situated about 40 meters (120 ft) under Valletta’s Saluting Battery (see above), these underground rooms and tunnels once served as the War Headquarters for the British during World War II. They were opened in 1940.
Top secret during its time, the Lascaris War Rooms housed radar equipment, encryption machines, and rooms for coordinating artillery fire. This allowed the military staff working within to transmit and receive clandestine communications. General Eisenhower used the subterranean complex to oversee the Invasion of Sicily.
During our visit, a dedicated volunteer guide enthusiastically shared the details of his recent meeting with a Maltese woman, now in her nineties and living abroad, who worked in the complex during the 1940s. The woman returned to Malta to see the rooms where she once covertly worked. She shared tales of not even being able to tell her family members about her true place of employment. She also relayed more lighthearted tidbits about trying to look attractive, so that she might be able to catch the eye of one of the foreign officers working there.
Even after World War II drew to a close, the Lascaris War Rooms continued to be used, most notably during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Cold War.
More –
Lascaris War Rooms (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Panoramic tour of the Lascaris War Rooms
Lascaris War Rooms (Wikipedia)
National Museum of Archaeology
&
Auberge de Provence
If you’ve explored some of Malta’s temples and wish to complement your visit, or if you didn’t have enough time for the temples but still wish to absorb a little archaeological heritage, then The National Museum of Archaeology is a fantastic stop.
Located on Republic Street, the museum is housed in what was once the Auberge de Provence (residence for the Knights from Provence). There are sections devoted to Malta’s Temple Builders, Bronze Age people, and Phoenician period.
I found the Sleeping Lady figurine, which was sculpted by the so-called Temple Builders, to be fascinating. Though miniature in size, it’s incredible that the statue survived for thousands of years inside the depths of the Hypogeum. So many mysteries exist about this chapter of Malta’s history, and I couldn’t help but wonder who the Sleeping Lady was modeled after, and what she represented? Peaceful sleep? Death?
Aside from this enigmatic figure and the architectural fragments taken from Malta’s temples, my other favorite display was the one devoted to the seafaring Phoenicians. The sarcophagus and description of how the Phoenicians made their noble purple dye by painstakingly extracting it from a seashell, were especially intriguing.
More –
National Museum of Archaeology (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Google Arts & Culture, a platform which aims to “democratize access to culture” offers a wonderful virtual reality tour of the museum too.
National Museum of Fine Arts
&
Auberge d’Italie
As I was researching this guide, the country’s Museum of Fine Arts was being moved to the Auberge d’Italie building, which once housed the Italian branch of the Knights. The new location for the National Museum of Fine Arts is said to be three times as large as the former museum. It’s projected to be open to the public by 2018.
If the museum is still undergoing development during your visit, the ornate exterior of the Auberge d’Italie, (particularly the crest and bust toward the top of the building), is worth a quick peek.
More –
National Museum of Fine Art (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Pjazza-Teatru-Rjal
From 1866 to 1942, Valletta’s elegant Royal Opera House graced the corner of Republic and South Streets. Sadly, the grand building was mostly leveled during a World War II bombing raid, as this vintage photograph shows. For decades, the site lay in ruins, with only the terrace and parts of the ornate columns remaining. After the war, government leaders couldn’t decide what to do with the site. Indeed, when I first visited Valletta in 2006, the plot of land appeared completely neglected, a bit like long-forgotten Roman ruins.
By 2013, the remnants of the opera house had been transformed into the open-air theater called Pjazza Teatru Rjal that you can see today. Like the sleek City Gate and Parliament, the site is another project designed by architect Renzo Piano. The Teatru Rjal now holds concerts, dance performances and film screenings.
More –
Teatru Rjal (official website)
St. John’s Co-Cathedral
Built by the Knights in the 1570s, the interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral dazzles with its baroque opulence. St. John’s inlaid marble floor, comprised of the tombstones of prominent knights, is especially stunning. When we attended a Christmas concert there, the invitation asked that ladies refrain from wearing high heels, so that the precious floor could be protected. When you see the intricately-crafted tombs, you’ll understand why.
A plethora of rich sculptures and paintings cover practically every square inch of the cathedral, making your eye unsure where to rest. The most famous of the paintings is The Beheading of Saint John, painted by Caravaggio. The Italian artist is said to have committed a murder and then escaped to Malta with the intent of producing a painting in exchange for a pardon. He even became a Knight of Malta for a brief spell.
St. John’s Cathedral has eight chapels, one for each of the langues (linguistic groups) that existed during the time of the Knights. See the Auberge de Castille listing above for more information about the various langues. And, if you’re eager to scout out the Knights’ auberge buildings in Valletta and in Birgu (their first base) this list should be helpful.
More –
St. John’s Co-Cathedral (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Manoel Theatre
From the outside, the Manoel Theatre looks stately, but not much different from Valletta’s other baroque-style limestone buildings. Step through its main entrance and into the theater though, and this 285-year-old structure is dazzling – bringing to mind a terraced wedding cake.
One of Europe’s oldest working theaters, ‘the Manoel’ was built in 1731 by the Portuguese Grand Master of the Order of St. John, and inaugurated in 1732. In the past, some of the Knights of Malta even performed there. While the venue does not hold performances year-round due to sweltering summer temperatures, it regularly offers behind-the-scenes tours. We enjoyed peeking at the theater’s colossal collection of costumes, while simulating the sounds of rain, wind and thunder using the museum’s 19th century ‘sound machines.‘
More –
Putting Malta in the Limelight: Valletta’s Manoel Theatre (my blog post)
Manoel Theatre (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Sacra Infermeria
The Knights’ Hospital
The Knights of Malta are famous for driving away the Ottoman Turks during the Great Siege of 1565. However, what’s less known about the order is its legacy of medical care. When the Knights built La Sacra Infermeria in 1574, it was one of the most advanced medical facilities of its time. The hospital remained open through World War I and into the 1920s, helping Malta earn its title, ‘The Nurse of the Mediterranean.’
The Knights Hospitallers exhibit features models of what the hospital’s wards would have once looked like, and outlines the Knights’ revolutionary medical practices, including the antibacterial use of silver for food service. The farther below ground you venture here, you’ll find shelters used during bombing raids in World War II, and see gloomy subterranean cells where patients with mental conditions were housed. Visually, the most impressive part of the facility is the former ward, which is 155 meters long (roughly 500 feet), and once the largest in Europe. Since the building now functions as a conference center and concert hall, this section unfortunately may not always be open to visitors.
More –
Sacra Infermeria / Mediterranean Conference Center (official website) lists opening hours & entrance fees.
Malta Experience website You can purchase combination tickets to this audio-visual show and the Sacra Infermeria, or go into the Sacra Infermeria building itself to buy a ticket only for that site. I’ve never seen the Malta Experience show, as Shawn and I only purchased Sacra Infermeria tickets.
National Library of Malta
&
Republic Square
Certainly worth a peek if you are a bibliophile, the National Library of Malta exudes old world charm. In its atmospheric Reading Room, shelves of centuries-old books line the walls from hip to ceiling level. Many of these books and valuables were left to the library by Knights upon their death.
The elegant 18th century-structure, popularly known as the Bibliotheca, is situated on Republic Square, near the outdoor dining area of the opulent Caffe Cordina. It’s the last of the official structures built by the Knights, and for those interested in conducting research on either the Knights of Malta, or Maltese culture and history, there’s a good chance you’ll find the collections fascinating.
If you visit, be sure to bring a passport or other form of identification, as an ID is needed to obtain an entry badge. Photography is not allowed inside the Reading Room.
More –
Admission free.
National Library of Malta (official website)
National Library of Malta (Wikipedia)
Queen Victoria Statue and Victoria Gate
Having been part of the British Empire for 151 years, Malta still flashes relics from its colonial past. One of the most prominent is the stately Victoria Gate, which faces Valletta’s Grand Harbour side. Constructed in the 1880s, the Victoria Gate replaced its 16th-century predecessor, the Del Monte Gate. We saw crackling oil paintings of the old Del Monte Gate at Valletta’s Museum of Fine Arts and thought it was neat that a marina had sprung up around it, creating a bustling area. It looks like there was once a fountain and fish market nearby there too. Nowadays, the Victoria Gate is a popular place for placid stray cats that lounge under the limestone structure.
The Queen Victoria statue is in front of the National Library on Republic Square. She usually has a flock of pigeons vying for the limited seating space around her crown. Her likeness was inaugurated in 1891.
Nelson’s Hook
Believed to have been installed into a building’s exterior wall by the Knights, this iron hook on St. John’s Street is often overlooked by passersby. Though it has no signs alerting visitors of its significance, the unassuming hook is believed to have first been used to help hoist St. John’s Co-Cathedral’s gargantuan bells in the 1740s. A few decades later, it might have helped facilitate public punishment – propping up a pillory.
Lord Nelson, the curious hook’s namesake, was said to have squeezed his body through the hook after being dared. This supposedly happened in 1803, and thereafter the tale of Nelson’s flexible feat spread. A legend developed in the British Navy that a promotion could be achieved if a service-member succeeded in wiggling his body through the hook, as demonstrated in this vintage picture. Find the hook on this map.
Former Victory Kitchen
During World War II, Malta had more than 40 Victory Kitchens – places from which war-weary families could get food. Back then, families were issued meal vouchers, entitling them to food items like goat’s meat, tomato sauce and beans.
In the early 2000s, a Victory Kitchen sign was unearthed during restoration on this Valletta building. You can find the sign on the Melita Street side of the Clark’s shoe store building. This is right near the intersection with Merchants Street (map here).
General Resources:
Valletta Waterfront | Cruise Port
Technically in the neighboring town of Floriana, the Valletta Waterfront is the port of entry for visitors arriving by cruise ship. From here, you can access the city by taxi, via the Upper Barrakka Lift (elevator), or on foot.
While the restaurants, bars and shops here mostly cater to visitors, this spot still is historical. In the 1700s, the Knights – along with visiting merchants – used to unload their goods here.
More –
Valletta Waterfront (official website)
Tourist Information Offices
There are two tourist offices in Valletta – one on Melita Street (in central Valletta) and another on the Valletta Waterfront. See the Malta Tourism Authority website for opening hours and contact information.
Transportation
Valletta is known for its steep, San Francisco-esque streets and abundance of steps. While this makes for a picturesque atmosphere, it can also make getting around on foot challenging for someone with limited mobility. In this section, I’ve included information about alternatives to walking: horse-drawn cabs, electric taxis, and a trackless tourist train.
And, if you’re using Valletta as a hub for exploring spots elsewhere on the island, I’ve included links to Valletta’s bus schedule and bus card options, plus ferries to Sliema and the Three Cities.
Taxis – Here is a link to taxi fares from the airport to Valletta and other Maltese destinations. Also, this government page offers guidance on how much taxi fares should cost. We regularly used the bus to get around the islands of Gozo and Malta. However, when we needed an early-morning taxi to the airport from Valletta, we used eCABS. We were impressed with the customer service we received, and the pre-arranged fare was the best I found too.
Bus Travel – Valletta does have a circular bus, which might be useful for getting around Valletta if you have limited mobility or cargo to carry. If you’ll be exploring Malta for a few days or more, you’ll probably want to pick up a multi-use bus card. Depending upon how many days you’re staying, this will likely save you money, and it’ll make bus drivers happy too, since you won’t need to make a cash transaction. Journeys completed within two hours should count as one fare, so save your receipt if you choose to pay with cash. If you’re living in Malta for a longer amount of time, you’re eligible to apply for a residential Tallinja card, which offers even lower fares. Whatever card you choose, use this Journey Planner to map out your excursions. Keep in mind that short distances can be deceiving when it comes to travel times throughout the island! The island is densely populated, and it can take an hour just to go a few kilometers. This is especially true during rush hour, or if there’s just been a heavy storm. (When we first got to Malta in 2015, flooded roads meant that it took us about 2.5 hours to travel just 10 kilometers by bus!)
Sliema Ferry – It takes about 5 minutes to travel from Valletta’s Marsamxett Harbour to the city of Sliema by ferry. This is considerably faster and more scenic than taking a bus! See the Valletta Ferry Services website for a timetable and fares.
Three Cities Ferry | Dgħajsa– The journey time from Valletta to Vittoriosa (known locally as Birgu) is roughly 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, you can travel by dgħajsa, Malta’s version of a gondola. Dgħajsa drivers congregate near Valletta’s Three Cities ferry point. Like its Sliema Ferry counterpart, a ferry or a dgħajsa is a quicker and more enjoyable way to travel from city to city than by bus. Visit the Valletta Ferry Services website for a timetable and fares. As for dgħajsas, on one of our crossings by dgħajsa, Shawn and I met ‘Captain Bruce’ who pilots the Pici. He can be reached by mobile at 99 93 33 77. Alternatively, you can schedule a dgħajsa through this website. (I have no experience with this website.)
Electric Taxi (Smart Cabs) – A fleet of electric taxis exists in Valletta. I’ve never ridden them, but here are pricing and booking details.
Horse-Drawn Cabs – If you’d like to explore Valletta’s perimeter by horse-drawn carriage (karozzin), you can find horse drivers offering their services near Valletta’s City Gate (near the Bus Terminal), as well as near the entrance to Fort St. Elmo. I’ve never done this before, but as you would anywhere in the world, be sure to confirm the price in advance. There are actually signs posted at the pick-up spots, noting the established prices. As of 2016, it was €35 for the first 30 minutes. This is the price per trip, not per passenger. Also, use your own judgment about whether you think the horse is well-cared for.
Tourist Train – Like the horse-drawn cabs, I haven’t had the occasion to ride the tourist train, but I often saw it snake through central Valletta. It might be fun for kids, or practical for those with limited mobility.
Hotels & Apartments
When I first visited Valletta in 2006, short-term lodging options were few and far between. However now, there are lots of properties to choose from.
During my first trip, I stayed at the Casa Asti (affiliate link), a charming guesthouse that’s run by sweet Annie and her family. Nearly 15 years have passed, but the Casa Asti is still welcoming travelers today. (One reader recently wrote me to say that she and her mother had a wonderful stay there!) The Casa Asti is located in the heart of Valletta, making it easy to walk to Malta’s bus station in about 5 minutes. Casa Asti’s address is: 18 Saint Ursula Street.
In recent years, more and more boutique hotels and self-catering apartments have appeared on the scene in Valletta, some occupying pretty old palazzi. Since we lived in Valletta, we never had the need to stay elsewhere in the city. Nevertheless, the following Valletta boutique hotels piqued my curiosity because they look like they offer a stylish blend of old and new:
Casa Ellul
Trabuxu Boutique Living
10 Strait Street
Airbnb is also an option for finding accommodation in Valletta. (If you’re new to Airbnb and sign up using this link, we both get $25 in travel credit. Some readers have mentioned that Airbnb modifies the promotion from time to time, so the figure might be a bit more or less.)
Since Valletta is compact, chances are that you’ll find yourself in a convenient spot wherever you choose to stay on the peninsula. Valletta hosts the island’s main bus terminal, so staying there makes day-trips to sites elsewhere on the island convenient. Even if you’re visiting for a long-weekend or city break, you can see from this guide that there are lots of things to keep you busy in Valletta itself.
While I wholeheartedly recommend staying in Valletta, it might not be a good fit for you if you’re planning to spend most of your time at the beach.
Likewise, some people might find Valletta to be too noisy. At times, we encountered significant noise in Valletta: honking horns, a rambunctious family next door, construction drilling between midnight and 4 a.m. Living on Strada Stretta, where there are wine bars, we expected to hear live acoustic guitar or perhaps the chatter of guests emanating from the wine bars and cafés. But we weren’t prepared for the invasive noise. In short, check to see that your Valletta accommodations have sound-proof windows. Or, be prepared to embrace life in a lively capital city.
Long-Term Accommodation
As for longer-term accommodation, it can be challenging finding a Valletta apartment to rent on a long-term basis. This is because owners prefer short lets (higher profit margins for them), plus only a fraction of the city’s buildings have been restored. The rest of the buildings are derelict, with many undergoing refurbishment. When we moved to Malta in September 2015, I found these practices to be helpful for finding an apartment for a long let:
Work with several real estate agents at a time, and be persistent! At the height of our apartment search, I was calling or emailing about 7 agents on a daily basis to see if any new properties had appeared in their database since our last conversation. Though we had hoped to avoid paying a realtor’s commission, in the end working with an agent was the only way we could find an apartment. As commission, we paid half of one month’s rent; our landlord paid the other half of that commission.
If you can, partner with an agent who specializes in properties in Valletta or the Three Cities. If you are set on living in Valletta, clearly communicate this to your agent. Persistence pays off.
Join accommodation-themed groups on Facebook and publicize that you’re looking to rent in Valletta.
Distribute your phone number to locals within Valletta. At one point, I even went into shops and restaurants to strike up conversations with employees, inquiring if they knew of anyone with a vacant apartment. I got a few leads this way.
If you’re looking for a long-let during the winter months, you might have better luck than someone searching during the summer. Otherwise, keep in mind that many apartment owners are eager to rent their properties on a shorter-term basis, especially during the prime tourist season.
The Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture designation created a flurry of interest in the city, sparking a ‘seller’s market’. When we were offered a handful of Valletta apartment viewings, we encountered high-pressure sales. Often, a realtor scheduled several clients at once, injecting a feeling of competition.
We paid €675 monthly rent for an 11-month contract. We had a 1-bedroom apartment, with a combined kitchen/living room. Electricity was approximately €65 a month, and water was about €20 a month. Internet was €30 a month for a 30 Mbps speed.
Groceries & Bakeries
Valletta has a fair number of ‘mom & pop’ grocery markets, making shopping for bottled water and essential nibbles rather convenient if you’re staying in the capital. Some cater to locals, while others target tourists.
Though I like supporting smaller establishments, Shawn and I did most of our grocery shopping outside of Valletta, at Lidl or Pavi supermarkets in the town of Qormi. We did this for several reasons. For one, we tended to do a week’s worth of shopping at a time. Also, larger grocery stores outside of the capital have a greater selection, including gluten-free products. I still occasionally popped into Valletta’s small shops when I needed a last-minute ingredient, or to restock our fruit and veggie basket.
In Valletta, I took a liking to a tiny grocery store named Fresh Direct run by Valletta resident, Tanja, who was happy to share details about Maltese life with me. You can find Tanja’s shop at 143, Old Bakery Street, or via the shop’s website.
If you can, go there on a Saturday (before the afternoon closure), and mingle with some of the Valletta locals. I met 83-year-old Richie, a former cabaret performer, who might even have been a drag queen in the 1950s. The ladies at the grocery store told me that Richie can still dance, and that he was quite handsome during his performing days. I also had a chance meeting with a cosmopolitan Maltese diplomat at the grocery store. He was sporting a straw hat – perhaps from his years spent in South America. He seemed thrilled to share historical tidbits about the island. Other down-to-earth locals there were always eager to tell me what Valletta life was like back in the day too. They lamented that it was much better years ago, because there were less people and things felt more private.
However crowded it is, the shopping experience at Tanja’s felt authentic, with people yelling over the counter in a boisterous fashion. They were quick to tell me that they were passionately discussing issues – not fighting!
When I was first writing this guide, Valletta was in the midst of restoring its 19th-century covered market building on Merchant’s Street. In 2018, the Valletta Food Market (Is-Suq Tal-Belt) was officially reopened. This ‘new’ market features eateries and food stalls. Shawn and I peeked inside this atmospheric market before the restoration began, and liked the look of the wrought ironwork. We were happy to learn that the structure would be having a renaissance, after many years of neglect. However, some locals I chatted with back in 2016 expressed regret that it would “not be the same” experience that they once had buying fresh fish, fruit, and vegetables.
Late during our time in Valletta (lucky for Shawn who is addicted to bread!), we discovered Borg Bakery, an authentic bakery frequented by Valletta locals. You can get ftira and Ħobż Malti there, ranging from 25 to 75 Euro cents for a bread bun or sliced loaf of sourdough, respectively. Find the Borg Bakery at 76, Triq San Nikola. It’s at the tip of the peninsula, heading toward Fort St. Elmo.
For sweet treats I found some lovely cannoli (kannoli) at the kiosk near the City Gate entrance. It’s the first stand on the left if you’re facing the City Gate. It’s a dangerous neighborhood for those with a sweet tooth, because it’s situated next to the celebrated imqaret (date treat) stand. Being gluten-free, I didn’t get to try the kannoli or the imqarets, but Shawn and our Maltese friends gave the cannoli great reviews.
Restaurants
As for restaurants, our Valletta picks follow. If you’re a gluten-free eater, as I am, rest assured that several restaurants offer gluten-free pasta options. If you ask, some might even bring out gluten-free bread to accompany your meal.
Wherever you choose, do consider making reservations – especially on weekends and holidays. Also note that many establishments are closed on Mondays.
La Mère (now called TukTuk) – Hands-down, this was our Valletta favorite! Perhaps one reason I liked this restaurant so much is because eating there reminded me of our time exploring India. Couple that nostalgia with a delightful menu of Indian, Arabian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes, kind staff, and a cozy interior, and you have a winning combination. All of the waiters I encountered understood what gluten is, and were able to recommend dishes accordingly. I loved the spicy curries!
D’Office Bistro – Friendly staff, pleasant Mediterranean-style food, complimentary gluten-free bread, and an awareness of what is and is not gluten-free, made this centrally-located restaurant a nice pick. It’s just around the corner from the Grandmaster’s Palace.
Rampila Restaurant – Tucked into Valletta’s fortifications overlooking the City Gate entrance, the setting is what makes this restaurant special! Stepping inside, you might be tempted to dine under the attractive limestone-arched ceiling, but if you can, reserve a table outside on the terrace for lovely views. After dinner, it’s fun to pop into Rampila’s wine bar for a drink. Its walls are studded with wine from around the world, and through the floor’s glass panel, you can spy the old wine cellar below.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies are located throughout Valletta’s main thoroughfare, Republic Street, and on some side streets. Our go-to place for drugstore needs was the Empire Pharmacy, which has a shop on Melita Street and Old Theatre Street. Karen, who works there, was always very helpful and kind.
Post Offices
Valletta’s most convenient post office is situated just across the street from the Auberge de Castille. For other locations and opening hours, visit MaltaPost’s website.
Safety
Crime-wise, Shawn and I never felt unsafe in Valletta. There are occasionally reports about pickpockets in Valletta’s (and Malta’s) most touristic areas. Open grates with drop-offs, low fortification walls, gargantuan piles of dog droppings and wreckless drivers disregarding signs and speed limits probably pose the biggest hazards. I can’t emphasize the poor driving enough, as drivers often do not stop at stop signs or designated pedestrian crosswalks. Unfortunately, news articles about pedestrians and bicyclists being hit in Malta are all too common.
Consult your country’s foreign affairs site for specifics. Here are Malta-specific travel pages for Americans, Brits, Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders.
Souvenirs
If you’re looking to take home an ink drawing, mug, or set of notecards capturing the essence of Malta’s colorful doors, floor tiles and street scenes, check out the work of local artist Stephanie Borg, whom we met while on a Maltese olive-oil tasting ecotour. Note that her shop is in Rabat (near popular Mdina), not Valletta.
A good gift for ladies who appreciate handmade jewelry is a piece of sterling silver filigree. When my beloved Croatian handcrafted filigree earrings needed a polishing, I sought out The Silversmith’s Shop (on Republic Street). They had stunning bracelets, necklaces and pendants there, and I enjoyed talking to the son whose father started the business. A traditional Maltese symbol would be the Maltese Cross, but there are loads of options. I also popped into other filigree jewelry stores to peek at their work, and one shop-owner confessed that many of their pieces are no longer produced in Malta. Be sure to inquire about where the jewelry is made, if that’s important to you.
The National Museum of Archaeology Gift Shop features items inspired by Malta’s Temple Builders. I thought the shop’s limestone candle holder, featuring the prehistoric people’s trademark swirl design, was neat, but I couldn’t add more weight to our luggage.
If your country allows you to import honey, it could be fitting to bring home a jar as a souvenir because Malta has been known for its remarkable honey since ancient times. Speculation exists that the name Malta even evolved from names given to it thousands of years ago. Numerous stores in Valletta sell honey, but scrutinize your purchase carefully, as fakes are reputed to exist. The best way to determine authenticity is to purchase directly from the beekeeper. Two Maltese beekeepers we met live outside of Valletta, but perhaps you can meet up with them elsewhere on the island. We visited the apiary of beekeeper Michael Muscat (find his contact details and the story of our visit here) and we also crossed paths with beekeeper Ray Sciberras at several community events.
Festivals and Holidays
The Maltese excel at celebrations and fanfare! From a film festival to a baroque music festival, a plethora of special events take place in Valletta year-round. I suggest that you consult the Malta Tourism Authority’s What’s On calendar to see what’s happening during your visit.
What follows, however, are just a handful of Valletta’s most popular festivities. These dates change, so check them before your visit.
Feast Days:
St Paul’s Shipwreck – 10 February
St Augustine – 11 May
Our Lady of Mount Carmel – 16 July
St Dominic – 3 August
Carnival
Easter
Christmas & New Year’s
Notte Bianca
Wine Festivals (Delicata and Marsovin)
Maltese Newspapers
If you want to keep abreast of happenings in Malta before or during your visit, peruse the country’s online newspapers:
The Times of Malta
The Malta Independent
Malta Today
From Maltese apps to a weather forecast website, here are more links to help you plan your stay in Malta:
Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture
Visit Malta (official tourism website)
City of Valletta website and City of Valletta Facebook page
Malta Yellow Pages
Malta 7-Day Forecast
Malta Apps (recommendations from the Malta Tourism Authority)
Do you need more trip-planning ideas? From an island hopping sailing excursion, to ecotours in Malta’s greener corners, this index highlights all my posts from Malta.
Where in the World?
Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.
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Have you visited Valletta, or do you call Malta home? What are some of your favorite spots in Malta’s capital city? | |||||
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] | 2020-12-02T23:00:00+00:00 | en | 1926 Le Parisot | https://1926leparisot.com/blog/maltas-emerging-capital-by-the-sea/ | Valletta is the fortified capital city of Malta, and a World Heritage site. This is a stunning city and would make for a fascinating trip for any history buffs out there. This is because, the first thought that comes to mind when thinking of this city is that it is a place which is steeped in rich history spanning hundreds of years, across the many leaders and military powers who have been in control of the islands over the years.
Knights of St. John
This capital city came into existence thanks to the Knights of St John, under Grandmaster Jean Parisot de la Valette who came to Malta at around 1530. Interestingly Malta was the very first place the Order could call home after numerous years of wandering the Mediterranean in the name of Christianity.
This famous city came about because La Valette, who was the grandmaster at the time quickly realised that if the Order was going to retain its grasp on Malta, it had to build adequate defenses. Hence, he drew up a plan for a late Renaissance Valletta, Malta, consisting of a grid system within fortified and bastioned city walls, on what was a mostly vacant lot in between the island’s two natural harbours, known as the Marsamxett and Valletta harbours.
The new city was to be called Valletta in honour of the grandmaster La Valette. What’s extremely interesting about Valletta is that it came to resemble an Italian religious community, as well as aspects of North African and Ottoman influences that the knights had seen on their journeys.
For centuries, this new city has been known for its deep moats and impenetrable bastions which were a point of great strategic importance. It is also truly a treasure trove of architectural splendour containing a vast array of elaborate baroque buildings, lush palaces, majestic fortifications, magnificent churches, grand theatres and striking gardens.
The British Era
The second significant power to take control of Malta was the British, who came at around 1800. They too left their stamp on the island and this was a very momentous era in Maltese history. Malta became an important part of the British Empire due to its strategic position in the region, and because it was the first step in Britain’s expansion to the East. This is because it is no secret that Malta played a vital role in the Mediterranean theatre of war. The British Empire ruled over Malta for over 150 years, so it is no surprise that a large proportion of Maltese culture has been British overtones. As a result, the British legacy still lives on in many elements of daily life in Malta today. Walking through the capital, Valletta, you’ll come across shops and cafes with British names that date back to last century. Interestingly, although the main boulevards and churches look unmistakably Italian, the corners tend to consist of red English phone boxes or mail boxes.
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By Lieutenant Colonel Merrill L. Bartlett, USMC (Ret.)
November 1996
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood
with me shall be my brother.
Henry V, IV, iii
Foreword
This study of a popular and time-honored military and naval social custom is long overdue. Much has changed since mess night devotees such as General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.; Brigadier General Robert H. Williams; Colonel Angus M. “Tiny” Fraser; and Colonel Robert D. Heinl, Jr., formalized and institutionalized the custom of formal dinners. With widely different social perspectives, and the changes that accompanying them, Marine Corps mess nights have become increasingly dissimilar. Almost two decades ago, the author of this study challenged a new generation of Marines to codify this enjoyable and important tradition. While his earlier treatment appeared in the pages of the Marine Corps Gazette, no one appeared willing to undertake such a project.
Lieutenant Colonel Merrill L. Bartlett, the author of this monograph, earned his undergraduate degree at Washington State University and was commissioned via the Platoon Leaders Class program in 1963. He has a master of arts degree from San Diego State University, and has completed his studies for a doctorate in history at the University of Maryland, College Park. He taught history at the Naval Academy from 1977 to 1982, and retired from active service as a Marine Corps officer. While serving in Annapolis, he won the prestigious William D. Clements Award as the outstanding military educator at the Naval Academy for 1980. He is the editor of Assault from the Sea: Essays on the History of Amphibious Warfare (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1983; reprint ed., 1985 ed., 1985), author of Lejeune: A Marine’s Life, 1867-1942 (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1992; reprint ed., Naval Institute Press, 1996);
co-author (with Colonel Joseph H. Alexander) of Sea Soldiers in the Cold War: Amphibious Warfare in the Age of the Superpowers, 1945-1991(Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1994); and co-author (with Dirk Anthony Ballendorf) of Pete Ellis: An Amphibious Warfare Prophet, 1880-1923(Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1996).
His essays and book reviews have appeared in a variety of professional and scholarly journals. Two of his essays, both from the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, won the 1981 and 1987 Colonel Robert D. Heinl, Jr. awards: “Ouster of a Commandant” in November 1980, and “Old Gimlet Eye” in November 1986. The award is presented by the Marine Corps Historical Foundation for what that body adjudges to be the previous year’s best published article pertinent to Marine Corps history. Lieutenant Colonel Bartlett lives, researches and writes on Vashon Island, Washington.
Introduction
Except for the annual celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday, no social function associated with the smaller of America’s naval services is more enjoyed, admired and imitated than the mess night. Early in 1977, the headquarters of the III Marine Amphibious Force on Okinawa organized a mess night to honor its popular commanding general, Major General Joseph Koler, Jr., on the occasion of his detachment. Planners eschewed any notions of turning the evening’s merriment into one of Bacchanalian revelry, and instead pursued a program to highlight our rich martial traditions. Appropriate reference was made during the evening to the history of the other armed services, and thus the assembled Marines paid deference to the senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force in attendance. Used to such affairs, most of the Leathernecks who participated remained nonplussed if not bemused by the lack of post-dinner high jinks and the heavy weight of so many senior officers. But one participant, the commanding general of Kadena Air Force Base, departed the evening visibly moved by what he had witnessed. The following day, General Koler’s aide-de-camp received a telephone call from his counterpart at Kadena: “Driving home from your mess night last night, the general remarked ‘that was the best affair I’ve ever attended; you call the Marines and find out how it’s done—and we’re going to have one just like it.’”
Most Marines likely shared the Air Force general’s sentiments following their first mess night; I know I did. By the time I entered The Basic School (TBS) in 1963, a mess night for each class had become an institution. We even had a class on the subject, and I recall our company executive officer’s wry admonishments concerning such taboos as loosening one’s tight collar or imbibing to the point of passing out at the dinner table. He devoted several minutes to explain the requirement for bladder control and the planning that accompanied it. We learned that the bugle call “last call for the head” just prior to marching into dinner was perhaps the most important musical accompaniment. Whatever else we might have learned from the company executive officer’s class on mess nights, the requirement to remain at the table once dinner had begun appeared absolute.
The post band played and we marched into dinner adhering rigidly to custom and tradition. Our presence seemed to indicate formal initiation into the ranks of such icons as John Quick, Dan Dailey, Smedley Butler, John Lejeune and Chesty Puller. Just as the company executive officer explained, we ate and drank our way through a multi-course dinner conforming strictly to custom and tradition. Stewards filled our wine glasses when appropriate, and the serving and removal of courses evolved with the panache of a sunset parade at “Eighth and Eye.” When we uttered that last toast, “to the Corps,” all the aches and pains of the endless days and nights in the field, the bruises and sore muscles from the obstacle course and the drudgery of classroom lectures melted away. No veteran of Belleau Wood, Saipan, or Frozen Chosin could have been more proud to be a Marine. The evening reached its climax for many of us as we joined our seniors at the bar, snifters of brandy in hand. Some of our instructors had served in both World War II and the Korean War. Like a mess night should be, it was an evening to remember.
In the years following my own Marine Corps career, the institution of the mess night (or a Dining In or similar affair at which spouses attend) waxed and waned. Perhaps the exigencies of the Vietnam War precluded serious attention to formalized eating and drinking. I recall a rather formal dinner at An Hoa in late 1968, held to honor the departure of the regimental commander. But except for a token glass of fizzy wine and a slight improvement over the rations usually offered each evening, nothing appeared to suggest a mess night. Between Vietnam tours, I served with the Marine detachment in a heavy cruiser. While the Navy conducts mealtimes in the wardroom with far more rigidity and ceremony than the other services, nothing I witnessed during that tour even remotely resembled a mess night or a formal dinner.
By the 1970s, the institution of the mess night began to creep back into our professional and social lexicon. Marines, it appeared, wanted to dress up and “eat and drink by the numbers,” all the while reminding themselves of the hallowed traditions, customs and rich history of their Corps. Sometimes, the conduct of such affairs became excessively spirituous or bordered on the insubordinate. A friend reported the officers of one battalion in our regiment conducted a “mess night in the field” during maneuvers. Like those of us with the 5th Marines at An Hoa a decade before, these officers had their token cup of sparkling wine and a plate of whatever the battalion field mess was serving for supper. As the chilly desert wind blew sand across the improvised table, the officers of this unit conducted the affair with considerable sang-froid without the regimental commander ever knowing of it! A contemporary reported that, following a mess night held on Okinawa in the immediate post-Vietnam era, an outraged battalion commander held a mess night every night for a week following the unprofessional and ungentlemanly conduct of his officers at the original gathering; apparently by evening number seven, they “got it right.”
Almost two decades after my first mess night, I attended my last. Ironically, it was held at TBS, but much, if not everything, had changed. The young lieutenants appeared to have been primed, not with instruction on the rich tradition they were about to witness, but with admonitions concerning the potential lethality (figuratively and professionally) of alcohol abuse. The base band of my days as a young officer had disappeared; only a bugler and a drummer appeared. The latter summoned us to dinner with a short selection; perhaps it was “officers’ call,” “adjutant’s call,” or some such. The young officers appeared not nearly as excited as my class, long since retired, and seemed to view the affair as simply another evolution in their passage through TBS. One young officer informed me that his platoon, through the gentle beguilement of the platoon commander, had vowed to rise at 4:00 A.M. the following morning for an “extra” running of the Physical Fitness Test (PFT). Arugha!
The menu reflected a parsimonious adherence to custom and tradition, and a rigid adequacy of food and drink. The soup course had disappeared over the years, while the fish course remained only as a small seafood cocktail drowning in catsup. A traditional prime rib came as overcooked roast beef, and the lone drummer made his only appearance of the evening to escort the token meat course to the president of the mess for approval. Stewards served a salad next, groaning under a heavy layer of bleu dressing, followed by coffee and dessert—a gooey slice of cheese cake smothered with syrupy, cherry sauce. Cigars appeared and the president of the mess lit the smoking lamp; however, ashtrays had not been provided. It didn’t seem to matter because most of the young officers snuffed out their cigars into the uneaten cheese cake after a few token puffs. I observed more than one lieutenant bring out his container of chewing tobacco—arugha!
A musical accompaniment to the dinner came from the TBS Chorus, the drummer and bugler of the mess intoned: “gentlemen, please join me at the bar.” It proved to be the shortest gathering recorded at any mess night. The guest of honor had not even departed when a sizeable portion of the lieutenants—presumably those earmarked to take the PFT before sunrise the following morning—disappeared. Those officers and guests remaining quaffed their brandy or diet soda and departed. Sadly, the young officers of this TBS class had not attended a mess night.
A variety of stimuli have provoked the preparation of this study, not the least of which are the disappointing mess night witnessed that evening at TBS. As the primary organizer of the mess night in Okinawa, previously mentioned, I received the advice and encouragement of any number of staff officers in our headquarters. These helpful inputs usually came accompanied with the loan of a dog-eared pamphlet, adorned with a unit’s crest, that were provided as souvenirs at earlier mess nights. As I read them over, the historian in me became increasingly challenged: the narratives appeared to have been copied from the same source. Even the errors in grammar continued faithfully from pamphlet to pamphlet! Constant reference to the origins of our tradition of the mess night to “Eighth and Eye” intrigued me. I vowed to research and write on the subject.
A subsequent tour in the Washington, D.C. area allowed me to pursue this goal. Finding little or nothing on the subject at the Marine Corps Historical Center, except for the dreary and plagiarized materials that I already read, I was advised to telephone Colonel Robert D. Heinl, Jr.: “He knows everything about the subject,” was the sage advice. As predicted, the eminence gris of Marine Corps history steered me in the correct direction. He advised I ignore the claims our mess night tradition originated at “Eighth and Eye.” An article in the Washington Evening Star, appearing on the occasion of the demolition of the old Center House in 1908, prompted later readers to suggest that perhaps something like mess nights occurred there. But a careful reading of the oftcited piece makes no such claim:
Tales are told of nights of revelry, when the wine flowed and souls of great men, freed from the cares of state, allowed their with and spirit to soar unhampered while gracing the officers’ mess beneath the beams of the old house. The rafters which once rang with the laughter of Presidents now lie in grim disorder…
Most important, Colonel Heinl suggested I contact General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. Following that lead about the British mess nights in China, I corresponded with Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak and read Brigadier General Robert C. Williams’ charming memoir. Finally, Colonel Heinl recalled mention of affairs vaguely similar to a mess night at the turn of this century in the personal papers of senior officers, maintained at the Marine Corps Research Center. The stimulus for such an inquiry had languished for a decade or more, clues had been provided by the Marine Corps’ most eminent historian and it appeared as if I had appeared as if I had to accept my own challenge. In response to my essay on mess nights, appearing in the Marine Corps Gazette in 1979, General Shepherd commented: “I trust your article will influence commanding officers to revive the Marine Corps mess night, so much enjoyed by their predecessors and of value in promoting comradeship among officers on a post or organization.”
Origins of the Marine Corps Mess Night
The Marine Corps officers’ introduction to anything resembling today’s mess night came through service at sea. Until 1914, wine messes were part of the wardrooms of the ships of the fleet. When that great prohibitionist moralizer, Josephus Daniels, took up the portfolio of Secretary of the Navy in 1913, he argued that officers should not be granted a privilege denied enlisted Sailors and Marines. While the rum ration (later changed to whiskey in 1806) had been a tradition of the Age of Sail, the practice ended in the American Navy in 1862. During the tenure of Secretary John D. Long (1897-1902), the Department of the Navy even prohibited the sale of alcohol to enlisted men at stations ashore. But alcohol continued to be available to officers in their wardroom messes, a privilege that affronted Daniels’ egalitarian principles. When no one took the indefatigable and determined Daniels seriously on the matter, he suggested that alcohol and drunkenness prevailed among the officers of the fleet and seriously impaired its efficiency. Daniels grew fond of relating the tale of a young officer who never drank before entering the Navy, where his messmates taught him a fondness for the loathsome habit. Predictably, the young man became a drunkard, and Daniels vowed to end what a later generation would surely call substance abuse.
Now, the specious argument of the Secretary of the Navy found acceptance and received Presidential approval. Thus, the infamous General Order No. 99 prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages aboard the ships of the U.S. Navy came into being and remains in effect to this day. Throughout the fleet in 1914, however, officers expressed outrage. In the battleship Washington, Captain Edward W. Eberle hosted a riotous dinner for his officers, each course of which came doused heavy with some form of an alcoholic beverage. Wardrooms throughout the fleet in 1914 witnessed a variety of “going dry” commemorations, liberally punctuated with witty soliloquies that demeaned the character of the pompous Secretary of the Navy. Sailors and enlisted Marines alike expressed umbrage upon learning that alcoholic beverages were no longer available to them at canteens ashore. Daniels had become increasingly convinced that most disciplinary problems in the naval services resulted from excessive consumption of alcohol.
Prior to Daniels’s meddling, formal dinners—probably resembling something like a mess night-occurred infrequently in various wardrooms. Major General George Barnett recalled such an affair while serving in the San Francisco in 1897. Barnett had just reported aboard, having caught up with the cruiser in the harbor of Smryna, and found the evening’s entertainment most enjoyable. Perhaps concluding that the new commanding officer of the ship’s Marine Detachment thought the elaborate dinner a regular occurrence, a Navy officer admonished Barnett: “We don’t do this every night, you know!” Colonel Heinl remembered something like a mess night (but without alcoholic beverages) while serving in the battleship Idaho as a midshipman in 1936; a fife and drum section marched through “officers’ country” playing “The Roast Beef of Old England” to summon the officers to dinner.
Ashore, Marine Corps officers came together in formal dinners at times. 2ndLt Earl H. “Pete” Ellis recalled a farewell dinner for a group of officers departing Cavite during his first tour in the Philippines in 1902. He estimated that more than 50 officers from both the sea services attended, captured Chinese banners taken during the Boxer Rebellion decorated the dining room and a Filipino orchestra played a mixture of Spanish love songs and American ragtime melodies. The gathering extended long into the evening as Ellis and the other officers toasted the Marine Corps, the departing officers, and the gallant dead of Samar and Tientsin. Following a similar, celebratory dinner a couple of years before in the islands, Smedley D. Butler—obviously in his cups—serenaded the nearby jungle foliage for the remainder of the night; a future CMC, Ben H. Fuller, thought the spectacle so outrageous that he recorded the incident for his personal papers, labeling it “Butler’s Bawl.”
Even after four decades, General Holland M. Smith remembered the conduct of the officers’ mess in nearby Olongapo and Colonel Lincoln Karmany’s strict compliance to the social niceties of the mess. Senior captains ruled the mess in that halcyon era of tropical campaigning and “a captain in those days was only one step removed from a king,” Smith recalled. “The only time lieutenants were allowed to open their mouths [at dinner] was to put food in.” No stranger in the quest for hedonistic pleasures—he discarded his first wife for a younger model, an act that affronted genteel naval circles of the era—it was Karmany who supposedly muttered, “There may be a few good men who don’t drink, but they’ve got to prove it!”
Formal dinners, or anything resembling today’s mess night might have disappeared altogether given the egalitarian moralizing of Secretary Daniels and the tide of temperance that followed in the 1920s. The Secretary of the Navy extended his unpopular dictum to stations ashore, even into the quarters of the officers.
Shocked and dismayed by the ukase, the socialite wife of the CMC outmaneuvered Daniels with authorization to use liquor in cooking. At the historic home of the Commandants, Mrs. George Barnett—a doyenne of Washington society, well known for her sparkling “repartees spirituelles” at the expense of pretentious politicians—served the Secretary of the Navy and the other guests a dinner they would not likely forget. Grapefruit came first, laced with at least the alcohol content of two cocktails. Soup consisted mostly of sherry, while the terrapin arrived floating in Madeira. Traditional roast beef was followed by rum sherbet, and a salad of champagne frappe. Brandied peaches ended the repast. As Mrs. Barnett recalled the evening in her memoirs, the Senator on her left declined a second helping of dessert with a grave response: “Madam, I just couldn’t eat another drop!”
Formal dinners, consisting of several courses and accompanied by a variety of alcoholic beverages, all but disappeared from Marine Corps circles in the 1920s. John A. Lejeune refused to emulate the lavish social scene of his predecessor, and formal dinners at “Eighth and Eye” became somewhat infrequent and subdued affairs. One disappointed observer, the daughter of Major General Wendell C. Neville, noted tartly that: “The Lejeunes, you know, they never entertained.” By that era, Lejeune had become a teetotaler and his good friend, Smedley D. Butler, a military prohibitionist. The latter officer once served on detached service with the City of Philadelphia as its Commissioner of Public Safety, and undertook a determined program to rid the municipality of vice and demon rum. Later, while at Quantico, Butler threatened to put the tiny municipality adjoining the base “off-limits” unless the city fathers eliminated the bootleggers selling alcohol to his troops. The combination of these temperance attitudes served to dampen any enthusiasm for formal dinners as most observers, like Mrs. Barrett a decade before, could not imagine formal dining without aperitifs and wines.
The introduction to a formal dinner, faintly resembling anything like the Marine Corps mess night, came about through association with British officers in China. While serving as the adjutant of the 4th Marines in Shanghai in 1927, Captain Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., coached the regiment’s swimming team. His counterpart in the Second Battalion Scots Guards invited young Shepherd and his commanding officer, Colonel Henry C. Davis, to a guest night hosted by the officers’ mess of this famous regiment.
General Shepherd remembered an impressive evening. The mess silver sparkled in the light of the handsome candelabra arraigned on a polished table laden with fine crystal and china. During the dinner, the battalion’s pipe major played several traditional highland ballads to the tune of his own wailing on the bagpipes, and a guardsman danced. Although the attending officers drank to the health of King George V with a glass of fine Port, the battalion commander—the President of the Mess—invited the pipe major to join him in a glass of whiskey after the performance. The final toast of the evening was to their famous regiment and its raising by King Charles II in 1662. Both Marines left visibly impressed. The following morning, Colonel Davis summoned his adjutant and instructed him to arrange a similar gathering hosted by the 4th Marines, and to invite the officers of the Scots Guards.
Exchanges such as recalled by General Shepherd continued as the 4th Marines served in China. The Marines received the musical instruments to accompany a successful mess night, a gift from the American Troop and American Company of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps. Sterling Fessenden, the chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council, apparently orchestrated the donation in 1927, and the grateful Marines dubbed their new musical group “The Fessenden Fifes.” The bandsman of the Green Howards, another British Army regiment in Shanghai, taught the Marine musicians to play the instruments (one base drum, eight side drums, ten fifes and two piccolos). Doubtless the new martial music added an appropriate and enjoyable accompaniment to any mess night hosted by the Marines. But apparently the tradition waned for a while during the 1930s, at least as hosted by the 4th Marines.
Both Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak and Brigadier General Robert H. Williams attended guest nights in the officers’ messes of British battalions during their tours in China. General Williams retained images of memorable evenings as guests of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, but failed to mention any such gathering hosted by the 4th Marines. He recalled that while the other officers of the regiment and their guests drank a fine Port after dinner, the colonel and pipe major drank glasses of Scotch whisky—which they downed with a gulp after exchanging a personal toast to the Argyl and Sutherland Highlanders. General Krulak remembered a guest night hosted by the Royal Ulster Rifles:
It was severely formal—marching in by twos, printed menus, three wines, great formality in the areas of introduction of the meat, toasts, recognition of guests, cook, etc.; prohibition against leaving the table or smoking until after the toasts. Once they had left the table, however, the group came completely apart—rough games, furniture destruction, mayhem.
Although the exigencies of World War II set aside further participation with our British cousins, General Shepherd and other “China Marines” never forgot the comradeship and pride fostered by the institution of the mess night. While commanding the 6th Marine Division in training for the invasion of Okinawa, General Shepherd held several mess nights. Following the war, Marine Corps officers serving in the United Kingdom brought home warm memories of the institution fostered by the British officers’ mess. Then-Colonel Williams attended the Joint Services Staff College, Chesham and several subsequently as an instructor at the School of Combined Operation, Framington. He returned home an unabashed Anglophile, earning the sobriquet “British Bob” among friends and fellow officers. Colonel Robert D. Heinl, Jr., shared William’s love for fostering history and tradition in the British military style. In the fall of 1953, General Shepherd visited the 3rd Marines at their camp at Mount Fuji, Japan. Colonel Williams commanded the regiment, and he entertained the CMC with a mess night conducted in strict compliance with the British tradition. A mess night as a traditional social gathering became codified during the commandancy of General Shepherd (1952-1956).
When General Shepherd asked Colonel Heinl to write a guide for Marine Corps officers, he suggested a section be included on the tradition of the mess night. Probably the first mess night in the form we know today occurred at “Eighth and Eye” in the late summer of 1954. The commanding officer of the barracks, then-Colonel Williams, served as the president of the mess; General Shepherd was the guest of honor. The new tradition flourished and gained in popularity thereafter. In the fall of 1955, General Shepherd held a CMC’s mess night in his quarters to formally introduce General Randolph McC. Pate to the officers of the barracks. Then, just before he left office, a group of general officers honored General Shepherd at a mess night at Quantico. The Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, and personal friends of General Shepherd attended as well. Colonel Heinl supervised the memorable event, held at Harry Lee Hall.
Brigadier General Williams’ essay, “Mess Night,” appeared in the pages of the Marine Corps Gazette. Except for minor variations, however, the format for this exceptional event remains wedded to a scenario gleaned from our British cousins. Even the popular tradition of the parading of the beef or main course for approval by the President of the Mess is found in the rich martial traditions of British military lore. The band of the Royal Berkshires always paraded the main course to the thumping of a Russian drum captured during the Crimean War. In more modern times, every young officer received instructions on how to “tell meat.” As orderly officer, suitably attired in patrol dress and wearing a sword, he inspected the cookhouse to ensure the meat served to enlisted messes was not spoiled. Thus, the tradition of the Vice President of the Mess as orderly officer, wearing his sword at dinner, emerged as a tradition in some officers’ messes in the British Army.
The British Tradition
Drawn from the aristocracy or upper middle classes, the British officer of the 19th Century would find no achievement in living in squalor while in the field. A gentleman lived as comfortably as circumstances allowed, and the most comfortable way to live in the field was to establish an officers’ mess—a view that survived well into World War II. Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery expressed disgust at the state of the headquarters mess when he assumed command of the troubled Eighth Army in North Africa in 1942. The new commanding general, normally Spartan and disinclined to partake liberally of mess life, did not advocate conspicuous luxury; instead, he merely suggested no reason to undergo unnecessary privation: “Let us all be as comfortable as possible,” he advised his staff.
An officer’s mess as a distinct part of a garrison or depot originated with the Royal Artillery at Woolwich in 1783. From that date until World War II altered the social stratification of the British officer corps, it served as the cornerstone of the military social institution. The mess functioned as the home of bachelor officers; unlike today, most junior officers remained single for obvious economic reasons. Regulations precluded payment of a marriage allowance until age thirty, and in most regiments young officers reached that age before putting up their captain’s pips. Junior officers, especially, spent most of their evenings in the mess—their home-and to dine out or “warn out” more than once a week invited a rebuke from the senior subaltern. In any event, a junior officer with little or no private means could hardly afford to spend his leisure time elsewhere. Field Marshall Montgomery, for example, began his army career earning nine pounds a month—his mess dues cost him thirteen pounds!
Dinner in a British mess was the evening meal of an English gentleman. Instead of dinner jackets, officers wore mess kit, an outfit appearing first as a uniform with the gunners in the 19th century. For a time after the Crimean War, the short jacket and tight trousers (overalls) became the liberty uniform for enlisted ranks. Four or five times a week, a battalion’s officers sat down to such formal dinners. It was, in effect, a formation, and all bachelor officers were expected to attend. Those who arrived early—and no one arrived late could have a glass of sherry or a pink gin. The signal for dinner might be chimes or simply the mess corporal announcing “gentlemen, dinner is served.” The commanding officer, or more likely the senior dining member—probably a bachelor major—entered the dining room first, followed by the other officers in strict order of seniority.
Servants served a typical English meal of several courses, and wine was not necessarily part of the dinner. As Guy Crouchback, British novelist Evelyn Waugh’s amusing character in Sword of Honor, learned rather quickly. In his first night in the mess as a second lieutenant, he made the social gaff of ordering a glass of claret; the senior subaltern rebuked him with a jocular “Hullo! Blood? Is it someone’s birthday?” Conversation during dinner dwelled on the pleasant and topical; professional topics, “shop,” and references to ladies were taboo. In some regiments, the senior subaltern or senior dining officer enforced such rules by levying small fines. At the end of the dinner, the senior dining member simply got up and left the room. The other officers followed and spent the remainder of the evening reading, playing cards or billiards, or returned to their rooms. Some officers, if they could afford it, might have a glass of Port or a snifter of brandy; most could not, however. Conscientious commanding officers scrutinized their officers’ monthly wine bills to curtail excessive drinking, and anyone imbibing to excess would find himself “seeing”
the colonel in his office.
Life in an officers’ mess was the epitome of the world of gentlemen, and seniors expected juniors to conform. Even the Nazi threat provided no excuse. One young officer recalled a special parade for newly-joined officers soon after joining a Highland regiment in 1939. The adjutant, proud of his distinguished regiment, summoned the young officers to the mess one afternoon. He explained the colonel had been shocked to observe many of his officers displaying ignorance as to what utensils and glasses to use at dinner. Instructing his captive and bemused audience to take notes, the impeccable adjutant ate and drank his way through a token dinner.
As often as once a week, but more likely less often, each mess held a guest night. All members of the mess attended, including the battalion or regimental commander and the married officers. Guests sometimes appeared, and the mess as a whole bore the cost of a guest of honor while individual mess members paid the cost of their guests. The unit band played the regimental march and a bugler or piper sounded the mess call. Several wines appeared throughout dinner. Following dinner, Port—and sometimes snuff—went ‘round. The officers drank the loyal toast to the reigning monarch according to custom; in some regiments, royal dispensation allowed them to remain seated for the toast; in others, everyone rose and a certain number of heel taps might follow the toasts. No one was allowed to smoke until after the “loyal toast” to the reigning monarch.
Toasting or the raising of glasses in tribute to someone or an institution as a measure of respect, is a social custom more than a millennium old. The appellation “to toast” came about through the English custom of flavoring wines with spiced toast, as apparently wines transported from the continent often spoiled enroute to the British Isles. Cookbooks as early as the 15th Century referred to the habit. Early in the 18th Century, an aristocrat obviously in his cups referred to a certain lady whose very countenance supposedly enhanced his being like “spiced toast.” The social custom took hold, and diners took pains to compose the wittiest and briefest toasts. General Shepherd remembered attending a formal dinner in France in 1917, hosted by the 115th Battalion Chasseurs Alpine. At the conclusion of dinner, the battalion commander rose to propose a toast “to the best fighters, the best drinkers, and the best lovers in France—the Chasseurs Alpine.”
Unlike Americans, Britains responded to each toast by draining their glasses and sometimes throwing them over the left shoulder “so that no lesser toast might be drunk.” Toasts were always drunk with Port wine, and in “bumbers.” This unusual name for a wine glass had its origins from the continental custom of always toasting the Pope first, “au bon Pere,” which in its convoluted form became simply “bumper.” In the Book of Navy Songs (Naval Institute Press, 1955), a doggerel proclaims most proudly:
Make it a bumper, comrades,
And each one standing here
Can whisper soft above his glass
The name he holds most dear.
The choice of toasting with Port wine has its origin’s more in politics than in gastronomy. After 1703, to drink French wines donated a show of favoritism to the enemy on the continent. Wine from Portugal, usually Port, meant to embrace the beverage of an ally as a poem by Swift declares:
Be sometime to your country true
Have ever the public good in view,
Bravely despise Champagne at Court
And choose to dine at home with Port.
Perhaps the most strictly controlled of all wines, government officials mandate the location of the vines and its maturation. The grapes are shipped downriver to the seaport which gives its names to the libation, “Oporto,” where barefoot workers mash the grapes according to a 1,500- year-old custom. A vintage Port is held in wood for 22 to 30 months, then bottled. As it matures, a heavy sediment appears on the bottom of each bottle, thus the requirement to decant it prior to serving. After fermentation, inspectors release a minimum of one third of the vintage to which approximately 20 percent alcohol in the form of brandy has been added—and the vintage passes to the open market for sale. The beverage gained in popularity such that by 1762, every Royal Navy ship bound for the West Indies contained at least one “pipe” of Port or 56 dozen bottles for the enjoyment of the officers’ mess. In the 18th and 19th Centuries, it was a common custom for the aristocracy to “lay aside a mess. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, it was a common custom for the aristocracy to “lay aside a pipe of port” for each male member of the progeny.
After dinner, some members of the mess night engage in games such as “cock fighting” or “Moriarity, where are you?” More likely, the officers played bridge or billiards as on any other night. The evening bears no resemblance to a drunken party, in most instances. Many junior officers spent their evening stifling yawns while hoping that the colonel would go home so they could go to bed! Those so inclined might enjoy another glass of Port or perhaps a snifter of brandy. In later years, when guest nights occurred less frequently, such evenings became increasingly boisterous and drunken.
A guest last night in a British officer’s mess—circa 1930s, is what approximates the mess night tradition adopted so faithfully by the Marine Corps--at least what Brigadier General Robert H. “British Bob” Williams prescribed for readers of the Marine Corps Gazette in June 1955, and Colonel Angus M. “Tiny” Fraser wrote for the same journal in June 1957. In the years since these and other essays have appeared in print, the tradition has suffered decline from either professional disinterest, an absence of social morays, or ignorance. Moreover, the social and gender practices of the Marine Corps have changed radically. Finally, consumption of alcohol is down considerably from the heights of bygone years. A new generation of Marines must come to grips with these and other changes, while still perpetuating one of the Corps’ most enjoyable traditions.
AN INNOVATIVE MESS NIGHT
Scenario: a mess night arranged by Headquarters, 6th Marines and held at the Officers’ Club, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Company guidons line the wall of the dining hall, while the colors of the regiment and its three battalions are arranged behind the head table along with the flags of the United States and the United Kingdom (a Royal Marine officer, serving an exchange tour with the regiment, is present). The anteroom is decorated with enlarged photographs of the colorful history of the regiment, and with captured weaponry brought home from Operations Desert Storm.
1800: the officers of the regiment are all in the anteroom, and those desiring refreshments have them in hand.
1805: the commanding officer of the regiment arrives.
1810: the guests of the mess arrive; sponsors greet them and see to their liquid refreshments.
1815: the guest of honor arrives, to be greeted by both the President of the Mess (commanding officer) and the Vice President of the Mess (adjutant, who wears a Sam Browne belt and sword as a symbol of his office for the evening). The Vice President of the Mess sees to the liquid refreshments for both the guest of honor and the President of the Mess.
1900: a steward sounds “six bells.” Those officers and guests desiring to avail themselves of the bathroom facilities do so before the beginning of the dinner.
1910: a bugler sounds “adjutants’ call” and the band plays “Sea Soldiers.” The members of the mess and guests, less those seated at the head table, proceed into the dining room, find their seats and stand behind their chairs. The band strikes up “Stars and Stripes Forever.” and those seated at the head table proceed into the dining room and position themselves behind their assigned chair.
The Vice President of the Mess is seated at the extreme right and farthest from the head table. The remaining officers are seated according to ascending seniority toward the head table. At the head table, the President of the Mess sits in the center with the guest of honor on his or her right. The next senior officer sits to the left of the President of the Mess, and then by seniority the remaining officers alternate from the right of the guest of honor to the left of the President of the Mess. No matter his or her rank, the chaplain is always seated at the head table.
Vice President of the Mess: “Sir, all officers present.”
President of the Mess: “Seats.”
President of the Mess: “Grace.”
Chaplain: offers a brief, non-sectarian grace.
Stewards: pour the water.
Stewards: serve a small plate with a spring roll on it (cha gio). This Vietnamese hors d’oeuvre is to remind everyone that after the Marines landed in 1965, their primary mission was to root out the
Viet Cong infrastructure in the rural areas.
Stewards: remove the small plate.
Stewards: serve bowl of Hanoi beef soup (Pho Bo Ha Noi). This favorite of Vietnamese from the
north is to remind everyone that when the 3rd Marine Division redeployed from Southern I Corps to Quang Tri Province astride the Demilitarized Zone, it faced the trained regulars of the North Vietnamese Army or NVA.
Stewards: remove the soup bowl and spoon.
Stewards: serve a small plate with shrimp tempura on it and pour a chilled white wine. This course is to remind diners of the War in the Pacific.
Stewards: remove the small plate and wine glass.
President of the Mess: “Parade the main course.”
To the accompaniment of a fife and drum, a steward brings a plate with a token piece of the main course to the President of the Mess who pronounces “I proclaim this meal fit for human consumption” or “I commend this meal to the enjoyment of the mess.” The steward retreats from the dining room to an additional musical accompaniment.
Stewards: remove the main course and white wine glass.
Stewards: serve a salad of fresh fruit. This course reminds diners of Marine Corps deployments to the Caribbean between the Spanish-American War and World War Two.
Stewards: remove the salad plate.
Stewards: serve a dessert of French pastry and Camembert. Reminds diners of the Marine Corps’ service in France during World War I. Coffee is poured.
Stewards: remove the dessert plate.
Stewards: place the Port decanters on the table, and everyone charges their glass. The President of the Mess pours for the guest of honor, and then passes the decanter to the left. When it reaches the end of the head table, a steward retrieves it and places it at the extreme right of the head table where it continues to be passed to the left until everyone has a charged glass. At the other tables, decanters of Port are passed counterclockwise.
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
Vice President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
Officers and guests stand
Band: plays “God Save the Queen.”
Officers: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.” Everyone takes a sip of Port.
Royal Marine Officer: “Mister President, the President of the United States.”
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice, the President of the United States.”
Vice President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States.”
Officers and guests stand
Band: plays “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Officers: “The President of the United States.” Everyone takes a sip of Port. Officers and guests may continue to enjoy their Port, and the decanters are passed around the tables.
At this juncture, toasts must be rendered to each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, if a member of that branch is present; each toast is followed by the appropriate song of that branch.
Stewards remove the Port decanters and glasses, and replace them with decanters of Fortitudine punch and punch glasses. The procedure is the same as for the serving of the Port, described above.
Lieutenant Jones: “Sir, permission to address the mess.”
President of the Mess: “Granted.”
Lieutenant Jones: “In 1917, the 6th Marines deployed to France and became one of the four infantry regiments in the Second Division, American Expeditionary Forces. In the next year and a half, it participated in four campaigns: Chateau-Thierry, Soissons, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne. Members of the regiment earned three Medals of Honor; one out of every two Marines suffered wounds.
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice, the regiment.”
Vice President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the 6th Marines.”
Officers and guests stand
Band: plays six bars of “Mademoiselle from Armentieres.”
Members of the mess: “The 6th Marines” followed by a sip of punch.
Captain Smith: “Request permission to address the mess.”
President of the Mess: “Granted.”
Captain Smith: “In 1942, the 2d Division deployed from Camp Elliott to New Zealand. During the next three years, it participated in amphibious operations in the Solomons, Gilberts, Marshalls, and Okinawa.”
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice, the 2d Division.”
Officers and guests stand
Vice President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2d Division.”
Band: plays six bars from “Victory at Sea.”
Members of the mess: “The 2d Division,” followed by a sip of punch. Officers and guests may finish their cup of punch, if desired.
Stewards: remove carafes and punch glasses.
Mister Vice: approaches the head table with a steward pushing a serving cart; on it is a punch bowl and sufficient glasses. He serves the guest of honor first, then the others seated at the head table, and finally the President of the Mess. The punch served this time is “1775 Rum Punch.”
Stewards: serve punch glasses and carafes of punch. Officers pass the carafes around the table counterclockwise.
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice, the United States Marines.”
Vice President of the Mess: “Gentlemen, long live the United States and success to the Marines.”
Officers and guests stand
Band: plays “The Marine Corps Hymn;” at the completion of the music, officers and guests respond with “the Marines” and drink the punch all at once.
President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the mess will adjourn for ten minutes.”
Bugler: Sounds “officer’s call,” and everyone returns to the dining room.
Stewards: serve brandy and coffee.
The mess committee elected to forego the ritual cigar because the facility is a “no smoking” building, as are most government buildings.
President of the Mess: introduces the guest of honor.
Guest of Honor: remarks.
President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me at the bar.”
Dining In
Scenario: this gathering was hosted by the students of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. The Dining In Committee elected as the outset to plan an affair modeled on the British tradition of the Guest Night, and thus more like what had emerged as a Marine Corps tradition in the mid-1950s. The committee considered the number of foreign officers likely to attend as it planned the traditional toasts, the presence of spouses (of both sexes), and the increasing concern for alcohol abuse and driving while intoxicated.
Forty-five days to the Dining In, written invitations (in a pleasing style of calligraphy) were sent to: guest of honor; Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; and Commanding General, Marine Corps University. These recipients, and their spouses, were determined to be the guests of the mess. The invitations used the phrase “the honor of your presence.”
Thirty days prior to the Dining In, similar invitations (except that “the honor of your presence” was replaced with “your presence”) were sent to the faculty and staff of the Marine Corps University, and to each member of the current class of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. Each of these recipients was presumed to be a paying participant in the affair.
One member of the committee received the task to collate the responses to the invitations (R.S.V.P. or repondez s’il vous plait appears on the invitations at the lower left corner, along with a name and telephone number; at the lower right of the invitation, the uniform or civilian dress is specified—it always indicates “orders and decorations”) to provide the committee with a final list of attendees. This same committee member prepared the seating chart for display in the anteroom, and supervised the placement of the seating cards on the tables.
Another member of the committee undertook the task to provide suitable decorations for both the anteroom and dining room. To this end, she coordinated with the Marine Corps Historical Center for the loan of a wide assortment of memorabilia.
A third member of the committee arranged for the loan of flags representing each of the foreign officers expected to attend, and a copy of each nation’s anthem for the director of the post band.
Two members of the committee volunteered to consult with the manager of the officers’ club, prepare a dinner menu, and offer it to the committee for its approval. The committee asked the menu adhere rigidly to custom and tradition. A prime rib of beef was the unanimous choice for the main entrée.
A final member of the committee supervised the stocking of the anteroom bar; specifically, the committee provided the following guidelines:
--the usual alcoholic beverages should be available, including beers
and ales.
--non alcoholic wines and beers should also be available.
--soft drinks, including diet and decaffeinate brands, must be
included.
--the post-dinner refreshments must be all non-alcoholic or containing
only small amounts of alcohol.
The committee made arrangements for fresh Dunginess crab to be flown in from Puget Sound, and a group of spouses volunteered to clean the seafood and prepare the meat for Crab Imperial.
On the morning of the dining in, the committee met at the officers’ club to review final preparations. At that time, the decoration of the anteroom and the dining room was completed. The place cards were checked against the seating diagram. Flags were placed behind the head table. The leader of the band, the drummer, and the fifer appeared for a briefing of duties, and to rehearse. A bandsman received instruction on the ringing of the ship’s bell.
The Vice President of the Mess checked the token place setting provided by the head steward. At the left of the plate (which is removed just after the serving of the first course) are the forks: seafood, salad, dinner, and dessert in that order from left to right. At the right of the plate are the dinner knife, teaspoon, and soup spoon arranged also from left to right. A butter knife appears on the right of the bread plate, which is located at the upper left of the place setting. Glassware is arraigned beginning from the top of the setting to the right in a semicircle: water glass, port goblet, claret glass, white wine goblet, and sherry glass.
1800: The members of the mess, and their spouses, arrive at the officers club.
1815: The guest of honor, and his spouse; and the guests of the mess, and their spouses arrive to be greeted by the president and vice president of the mess.
1815-1900: Members of the mess, spouses, and guests partake of refreshments and meet the guest of honor and the guests of the mess.
1900: A bandsman rings “six bells” with a ship’s bell to indicate 7:00 P.M. or 1900. This signal alerts everyone that dinner begins in 15 minutes.
1915: The band strikes up “Sea Soldiers” and everyone—less those to be seated at the head table-enters the dining room. Each diner escorts the lady seated to the right into the dining room. Then, the band plays “Stars and Stripes Forever” as a signal for those officers, guests, and ladies to be seated at the head table to enter the dining room.
President of the Mess: “Chaplain, please say ‘grace.’”
Chaplain: offers a brief, non-sectarian grace.
Men seat the lady to their immediate right.
Stewards serve a cold soup, gazpacho, with a glass of sherry.
Stewards remove the previous course and sherry glass, and serve a seafood cocktail of Dunginess Crab Imperial with a chilled glass of Schloss Johannisberger ’92.
Stewards remove the previous course and wine glass, and serve a salad of mixed greens with a low-calorie, low-fat vinaigrette dressing.
President of the Mess: “Parade the beef!”
A steward appears with a token slice of prime rib on a plate, with a knife and fork; accompanied by a drummer and fifer playing “The Roast Beef of Old England” the party marches up the center of the dining room. The steward carries the plate around the head table and serves it to the President of the Mess, who says: “I pronounce this beef fit for human consumption and commend it to the enjoyment of the mess and our guests.” The steward retrieves the plate and utensils, rejoins the fifer and drummer, and the three of them march out of the dining room to another chorus of “The Roast Beef of Old England.”
The members of the mess enjoy the main course:
-prime rib of beef, medium-rare
-roast new potatoes with margarine and fresh-cut parsley
-Yorkshire pudding
-green beans almandine
-freshly baked bread
It is served with a Cabernet Sauvignon (Shafer Hillside Select, Stags Leap District, California 1991) at room temperature (60 degrees). Stewards refill glasses as required.
Stewards remove the dinner plate, bread plate, utensils used for the main course and wine glass.
Stewards serve a small dessert, a specialty of the club, called “chocolate decadence” (a chocolate mousse). The dessert is accompanied by coffee; the place cards have been marked so those desiring caffeine-free coffee will be served accordingly.
President of the Mess: “The mess will adjourn for 15 minutes.”
Bugler: sounds “officers’ call.” Everyone returns to the dining room; when the head table is seated, the other diners take their seats.
During the brief intermission, a decanter of Port has been placed on each table. The Mess Night Committee selected Croft Porto 1991 after tasting several imported and domestic varieties. The President of the Mess pours the guest of honor on his right and passes the decanter to his left; the decanter continues to the end of the head table as each diner pours for himself. At the end of the table, a steward retrieves the decanter and places it at the opposite end of the head table. There, it continues to the right as diners pour for themselves. The President of the Mess serves himself last.
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice, His Majesty Rama IX of Thailand.” For this toast, and all others, everyone stands.
Vice President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, his Majesty Rama IX of Thailand.” The band plays the anthem of Thailand, everyone says “His Majesty Rama IX of Thailand,” takes a sip of Port, and sits down.
Senior foreign officer (from Thailand): “Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States.”
Vice President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States.” The band plays the National Anthem. Everyone says, “The President of the United States,” takes a sip of Port, and sits down.
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice” and then by turn runs through the list of heads of state for each foreign officer president, in descending order by the rank of the officer. A toast is proposed in every case, followed by the response of the Vice President of the Mess. An anthem is played in its entirety, also, for every toast.
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice, the U.S. Army.”
Vice President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the U.S. Army.”
Band plays “The Army Goes Rolling Along.” Everyone says “The U.S. Army,” takes sip of Port, and sits down.
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice, the U.S. Navy.”
Vice President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the U.S. Navy.”
Band plays “Anchors Aweigh.” Everyone says “The U.S. Navy,” takes a sip of Port, and sits down.
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice, the U.S. Air Force.”
Vice President of the Mess: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the U.S. Air Force.”
Band plays “The Air Force Song.” Everyone says “The U.S. Air Force,” takes a sip of Port, and sits down.
Stewards remove the port glasses and decanters.
The Vice President of the Mess moves to the head table. A steward follows with a carafe of Fortitudine Punch, and the Vice President of the Mess serves everyone at the head table beginning with the guest of honor first and the President of the Mess last. Meanwhile, carafes are being passed, counterclockwise, around the other tables as everyone fills a punch glass. Those eschewing alcohol merely pass the carafe to the next person, and respond to the next toast with the water goblet.
President of the Mess: “Mister Vice, the Corps.”
Vice president of the Mess: “Long life to the United States and Success to the Marines.” The band plays the “Marine Corps Hymn” and then everyone says “The Marines” and drinks the cup of punch (all of it).
President of the Mess: “The mess will adjourn for 15 minutes.”
Bugler sounds “officer’s call,” and everyone returns to the dining room.
Stewards serve brandy and coffee.
The mess committee elected to forego the ritual cigar because the facility is a “no smoking” building, and because of the presence of the ladies.
President of the Mess: introduces the guest of honor.
Guest of Honor: delivers brief remarks.
President of the Mess: “Ladies and gentlemen, please join me at the bar.”
Members of the mess and guests adjourn to the anteroom for post-dinner refreshments. A variety of after-dinner beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, were available as well as coffee. No one should leave until the guest of honor has departed for the evening.
PUNCH RECIPES
1775 RUM PUNCH
This traditional beverage was supposedly served to potential Marine Corps recruits at Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, during the American Revolution.
one part dark Jamaican rum
four parts lime juice
maple sugar and grenadine to taste
pour over cracked ice in a glass punch bowl
FORTITUDINE PUNCH
Fortitudine was the motto of the Marine Corps during the early 19th Century; it means strength, fortitude, or even guts. Early Marines received rations of rum, at sea or ashore, but often the amount doled out was diluted with water to avoid drunkenness. Marines of the era preferred instead to dilute the distilled spirit with sugar and fruit as a rum punch.
one-half gallon of dark rum
one pint of peach brandy
two twelve-ounce cans of frozen lemonade concentrate
two quart bottles of club soda
two quart bottles of ginger ale
pour over cracked ice in a glass punch bowl; garnished with
the slices of one orange, one lemon, and two limes
MULLED WINE PUNCH
Mix 1 quart orange juice with ½ cup of white sugar and ½ cup of brown sugar. In a cheesecloth bag, place ½ stick of cinnamon, 6 whole cloves, and 6 whole allspices. Heat to boiling and reduce heat; allow to simmer for five minutes. Remove the spice bag and add a fifth of Port. Served hot in mugs.
Non-alcoholic beverage recipes
HOT BUTTERED CRANBERRY CIDER
This nonalcoholic alternative is a suitable after-dinner libation, especially during chilly weather. In a saucepan combine:
1/3 cup margarine
½ cup honey
2 tsp. ground coriander and heat over low heat until blended thoroughly.
In a large pan heat: 48 ounces cranberry juice, 4 cups cider, 1 sliced orange, and 1 stick cinnamon; allow to simmer for about 5 minutes. Serve in 6-ounce mugs with 2 tsp. of honey butter.
STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI PUNCH
Diners eschewing alcohol might prefer this libation, especially after dinner.
Mix: 2 ten-ounce cans of frozen daiquiri mix with 2 cups orange juice and 1 liter of ginger ale.
Process: 2-sixteen ounce packages of frozen strawberries.
Pour: the mix and strawberry slush over cracked ice into a punch bowl; stir in the ginger ale.
These nonalcoholic aperitifs are pleasing alternatives for the pre-dinner cocktail hour.
NON-ALCOHOLIC KIR
Stir: 2 tbs. Raspberry or red currant syrup into 6 oz. of chilled nonalcoholic white wine.
ORANGE FRAPPE
Combine: 4 cups orange juice, juice of one lemon, 1 large banana, 6 frozen strawberries, ¼ cup of whipping cream, and 6 ice cubes.
Process in a blender and serve.
FESTIVE SPICED CIDER
In a cheesecloth bag, place: 14 sticks cinnamon, 8 whole cloves, and 1 teaspoon whole allspice. In a saucepan, combine 3 quarts cider with ½ cup sugar; add the spice bag and simmer for ten minutes. Cut an orange into 6 slices and cut each slice in half. Place one piece of orange into a cup, fill with cider, and sprinkle with nutmeg.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books and Essays
Andrews, R. E. “Who Messed Up Mess Nights,” Marine Corps Gazette 47 (June 1963): 50, plus commentary in the November issue, 52-53.
Baldwin, Hanson. “The End of the Wine Mess,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 84 (August 1958): 82-91.
Bartlett, Merrill L. “Reflections on a New Tradition: The Marine Corps Mess Night,” Marine Corps Gazette 63 (June 1979): 33-40.
Bassler, R. E. “Splice the Main Brace,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 63 (November 1937): 1588-92. and comment, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 64 (June 1938): 891-93
Bonner, John T. “Sober Reflections on a Mess Night,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 99 (November 1973): 51-55.
Carlson, Evans F. “The Fessenden Fifes,” Leatherneck (February 1928): pp. 11, 51.
“Daniels Explains That Wine Mess Order,” Literary Digest 55 (27 October 1917): 42+.
Dickinson, R. J. Officers’ Mess: Life and Customs in the Regiments (Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Midas, 1973).
“Dining In,” Leatherneck, January 1975, pp. 24-27.
Edwards, Thomas J. Military Customs (Aldershot: Gale and Polden, 1952).
Fraser, Angus M. “Gentlemen…Dinner is Served,” Marine Corps Gazette 41
(March 1957): 39-41.
Latrop, Constance D. “Alcohol: Its Origins and Use in the U. S. Navy,”
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 61 (March 1935): 377.
“Seagoing Customs,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 55 (1929): 11-16.
Lovette, Leland P. Naval Customs, Traditions, & Usage, 4th ed. (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1959).
“The Navy and Drinking,” Nation 98 (9 April 1914): 385-86.
“Passing of the Old Marine Barracks,” Washington Evening Star, 16 February 1908, part 4, p. 2.
Phillips, Lawrence. “Abolition of the Rum Ration,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 96 (July 1976): 86-88.
Pierce, Philip N. “With Goblet and Sword,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 63 (June 1979): 41-48.
Sheehan, J. M. “Wardroom Mess,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 62
(June 1936): 842.
“Wardroom Mess,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 63 (August 1937): 1169.
Skillman, J. H. “Eating Through the Years,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 67 (March 1941): 361.
Smith, Holland M. with Percy Finch, Coral and Brass (New York: Scribner’s 1949), p. 34.
Swartz, Oretha D. Service Etiquette (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1989).
Williams, Robert H. “Mess Night,” Marine Corps Gazette 39 (December 1955): 38-41.
The Old Corps: A Portrait of the U.S. Marine Corps Between the Wars (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1982), pp. 50, 64.
Interviews
Heinl, Robert D., Jr., Washington, D.C., 28 July 1978; and Annapolis,
24 April 1979.
Lucas, Lelia Gordon. Huntley, VA, 7 June 1979.
Roy, R. Frederick, Washington, D.C., 11 July 1979.
Dessez, Lester A., Washington, D.C., 11 July 1979.
Unpublished memoirs
George Barnett, “Soldier and Sailor Too,” Barnett MSS, MCHC.
Lelia Montague Barnett, “Washington Dinner Disasters,” Barnett MSS, MCHC.
Ben H. Fuller, “Butler’s Brawl,” Fuller MSS, MCHC. | ||||||
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] | 2016-01-28T20:03:52+00:00 | Valletta Capital city of Malta Built by the Knights of St John after the the famous Great Siege. Until the arrival of the Knights of St. John in 1530, | en | Malta Private Guide | https://maltaprivateguide.com/valletta-capital-city-of-malta-2/ | Valletta Capital city of Malta
Built by the Knights of St John, Valletta became the capital city of Malta after the the famous Great Siege. Until the arrival of the Knights of St. John in 1530, Mount Sceberras, on which Valletta today stands, was just an arid peninsula, lying between two harbours, the Grand harbour and Marsamxetto harbour. In 1551, a star shaped fort, St Elmo, was built on the tip of the peninsula.
The first foundation stone was laid in 1566 by Grand Master Jean Parisot de Vallette, just eight months after the Great Siege of Malta, naming the city after himself, Valletta. De Vallette’s plan was to build an impregnable fortress, capable to withstand any future attacks, both seaward and landward.
Valletta was planned from scratch, in a grid plan by the personnel architect of Pope Pius V, Lapparelli. Lapparelli, a military engineer, drew up the original plan and soon after he left the island. Girolomo Cassar, a Maltese architect that studied military engineer, took over the construction of Valletta. As soon as the walls of the city, which surrounds the whole peninsula, were finished, Girolomo Cassar started erecting the most important buildings of the city, St John’s Cathedral, Auberges of the Knights, churches, palaces, the Grand Masters Palace and the Sacra Infermeria. From the early 17th century, Valletta had grown into a sizeable city, with hundreds of Maltese flocking to it from the rural towns and villages to live within its fortifications.
From the mid-17th century on wards, Valletta was transformed from an austere mannerist city, into a Baroque city, palaces with richly decorated facades in baroque symbols carved into our stone, churches with graceful facades which adorn the streets of the city and gardens to be used solely by the Knights themselves like Barrakka gardens.
During World War 2, Valletta suffered a lot. Various buildings where hit by enemy action but the city withstood the bombing and in a couple of years it rose back to its former glory.
Today, various 17th and 18th century palaces are being restored to their former glory, as prominent private residences, prime offices or boutique hotels. City gate was totally refurbished by the world renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, where the new parliament of Malta was built.
Valletta main attractions
St John’s Cathedral
It was the Conventual church of the order of St John. It’s a perfect example of High Baroque opulence and has got one of the most beautiful marble tomb floors in the world. It was re-decorated in 1661 by an Italian artist, Mattia Preti. Inside the oratory one finds the famous Caravaggio paintings, ‘The beheading of St John’ and ‘St Jerome’
Grand Master’s Palace
The main palace of the Grand Master from where the islands where administered. The State Rooms in the Piano Nobile and the Palace Armory are open for the public.
National Museum of Archaeology
Exhibited inside the former Auberge de Provence, one can admire original artifacts from the prehistoric period like the Sleeping Lady from the Hypogeum and other statuettes and original decorations from the Temple period. On the upper floor the Bronze age, Phoenician and Punic section are open for the public
National Museum of Fine Arts
Situated in an 18th century palace, the rooms are filled with objet d’Art from the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th century. Some artists which their works adorn the palace are of Mattia Preti, Stomer , Carpaccio, Favray and local artists
Fort St Elmo – The National War Museum
Fort St Elmo today it houses the War Museum. It was the first building erected on the peninsula where today stands Valletta and which experienced severe damage and ultimately lost to the might of the Turks of the Ottoman empire during the Great Siege of 1565.
Manuel Theatre
One of the oldest Baroque Theaters in Europe which still houses performances. it was built in 1731 to offer honest entertainment to the young knights.
Casa Rocca Piccola
A house museum, still lived in by Marquis De Piro. Marquis Nicholas De Piro 9th Baron of Budach was one of the first member of the Maltese aristocracy to open his house full of antiques to the public.
Barrakka Gardens
Built on the fortifications, one can enjoy the best panoramic views of the Gran Harbour from its own terrace.
Valletta cruise port
The main buildings were built by Grand Master Pinto in the 18th century as magazines, to store imported goods. Today they house various restaurants which forms part of the Valletta Cruise Port. Close to 700,000 cruise liner passengers visit Malta each year | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 17 | https://www.facebook.com/kappavision/posts/it-was-the-capital-city-of-malta-from-antiquity-to-the-medieval-period-a-noble-c/375941230554359/ | en | Facebook | [] | [] | [] | [
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9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 18 | https://museumstjohn.org.uk/the-french-revolution-and-the-loss-of-malta/ | en | The French Revolution and the Loss of Malta | [
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"Museum of the Order of St John"
] | 2018-07-18T12:04:36+00:00 | In our collection we hold a letter sent by a member of the French Order of St John in the year 1789. Whilst the majority of the letter is concerned with the death of the Commander of Golfech, there are a number of references to the troubling political climate of France. At one point the writer... | en | Museum of the Order of St John | https://museumstjohn.org.uk/the-french-revolution-and-the-loss-of-malta/ | In our collection we hold a letter sent by a member of the French Order of St John in the year 1789. Whilst the majority of the letter is concerned with the death of the Commander of Golfech, there are a number of references to the troubling political climate of France. At one point the writer refers to ‘the storm’ ‘breaking over our horizon’. He expresses his fear ‘that the Order is, at the moment, to lose all that it possesses in France, of rights and goods’.
The writer’s worst fears were realized. The French Revolution had a huge impact upon the Order of St John, not just in France, but internationally.
Complex and fraught, there is little about The French Revolution that is not contested. The end date is disputed, its success is disputed. Significantly, the ideology of the Revolution, and the political climate, evolved over time. The King convened the French Parliament, the Estates General in 1789 in an attempt to prevent national bankruptcy in part caused by overspending on the American War of Independence. The grievances expressed in the lead up to this meeting were diverse and ample. However, they were moderate compared to those that would be expressed in coming years. They did not demand the formation of a Republic, international war or mass execution.
However, there are two core issues that can be traced throughout the Revolution: the impending threat of national bankruptcy, and a hatred of the ‘ancien regime system’ of privilege. Subsequent attempts to deal with these two issues would prove disastrous for the Church, including the Order of St John because they were seen as contributors to these problems.
Prior to the Revolution, Roman Catholicism was at the center of French life. Protestants and Jews were denied full membership of the French state. Although the extent to which religion was practiced is debated, the Church was certainly a powerful institution. In part, this was to do with its wealth. The Church had an immense combined revenue. It owned around 6% of the land in France and collected 1/10 of all agricultural production through a tax known as the Tithe. The Church also exerted soft influence, running many schools and hospitals.
Yet, it was not without criticism. Despite being a major tax collection, the Church was exempt from tax. This caused great popular resentment, especially because the population faced rising taxes to salvage the nation’s finances. This opinion was vocalized in a document entitled ‘statements of grievances’ published May 1789 as the Estates General prepared to gather for the first time since 1614.
The Order of St John was thriving in France on the eve of the Revolution. There were 3 tongues within the 1789 boarders of France with 6 priories. In 1776, they had acquired the 40 commandries of a disbanded Order of St Anthony, increasing the amount of land it possessed. However, in French society, the Order embodied noble and ecclesiastical privilege meaning it represented all that the revolutionaries despised. The kings of France were attracted by the Order’s wealth and thus from 1719 onwards, the Prior of France was given to members of the royal family. Napoleon would later dismiss it as an institution that supported the idleness of noble younger sons. In the context of these issues, our writer was certainly right to be cautious.
When considering the link between the Revolution and the loss of Malta, it is important to note that the stability of the Head Quarters of Order in Malta was intimately connected with that of the Order in France. French property made up around 3/5 of its income. The majority of the knights on Malta were French. Even the Grand Master in 1789 was Frenchman Emmanuel de Rohan, a personal friend of King Louis XVI. Political unrest in France thus had great potential to upset the Maltese establishment.
Soon the ‘storm’ broke and a chain of laws and events were set in motion on 4th August 1789 when feudal privilege was abolished. Clergy gave up the Tithe and the state took over the funding of the Church. A few weeks later, The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen ended the special place of the Church in French society. Thus, the Church and the Order lost its political influence and special status. On 2nd November 1789, all Church property was placed at the disposition of the nation to raise funds however it was not until late 1792 that the Order relinquished all of its land. This proved a major blow for the finances of the Order given that French property was valued at 112 million livres. Prior to his execution, Louis XVI would be locked in The Temple, a tower in Paris the Order had owned since the dissolution of the Templars.
By the end of April 1792, the French revolutionary wars began, initially as a defensive measure. These wars would lead to the French occupation of parts of Italy and Germany and thus the spread of revolutionary ideology. In consequence, the Order lost even more land.
In turn, these events heavily impacted Malta. To try and combat the loss of revenue, the Order sold some of its silver, yet they continued to subsidize corn to help feed the Maltese poor, creating a debt of 1.5 million scudi. Beyond draining the Order’s finances, the Revolution created tensions on Malta. Once the intentions of the revolution became clear, Malta received many of the escaping emigres. The French knights on the island, were increasingly discriminated against, being excluded from official banquets, a move which caused tensions. In July 1791, the knights were stripped of their French citizenship. Some knights became sympathetic with the revolution as propaganda disseminated across the island.
By the time de Rohan died in 1797, the situation in France was far more stable. The Terror had ended in 1794 and support for conservative ideas was on the rise. However, the French Revolutionary Wars had intensified and spread across Europe. The election of the new Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch coincided with the meteoric rise of a young French General named Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon was keen to increase influence in the Mediterranean. Malta strategic location proved tantalizing for him.
Historians are divided over whether Malta was prepared to face a French invasion. On the eve of the attack there were 200 knights on the island and 7000 soldiers. However, the Order financially weakened by the loss of land and national allegiances presented an issue. Allegedly Von Hompesch knew of Napoleon’s intentions yet preparations were only made when the first French frigates appeared. An appeal for help sent to Admiral Nelson arrived a week too late.
The French attack on Malta began on the 7th June 1798, Napoleon’s fleet of 5-600 vessels carrying 29,000 men asked to enter the harbor at Valletta. Von Hompesch refused entry on the basis of Malta’s neutrality, leading Napoleon to declare Valetta an enemy city.
After a brief bombardment and several significant Maltese defections, Von Hompesch sent wrote to Napoleon on 11th June requesting a cease-fire. We hold this letter in our collection. The cease-fire would not last and the Order surrendered the following day. Bonaparte came ashore was able to walk into Valletta victorious.
The Order left the island a week later, heading to Trieste where they were granted asylum. They were permitted to take their most treasured relics with them, The Fragment of the True Cross, the sacred Icon of Our Lady of Philermo and the right hand of St John the Baptist. Von Hompesch retired to Montpellier and abdicated in 1799, dying in poverty in 1805. For a moment in 1802, the Peace of Amiens between Britain and France proposed returning the island to the Order. However, this peace was broken and in 1815 the Congress of Vienna gave the island to Britain, ending hopes that the Order might return there.
Much of the Order’s treasure was stolen. The silver altar rails of St John’s Cathedral were spared because someone cleverly them painted black. The treasures were to be lost soon after when Napoleon’s flagship L’Orient was sunk by admiral Nelson at the battle of the Nile. After the Maltese revolted in September against the French there was an acute lack of coinage. Remaining gold and silver was melted down to create siege ingots which were used as currency. There are only seven silver ingots still in existence, two of which are in our collection.
Evidently, the writer of our letter was right to be cautious. The French Revolution proved disastrous for the Order of St John in Malta. Ideologically, it undermined the Order, abandoning Catholicism and eliminating the privilege upon which it had thrived. The loss of land in France and beyond significantly weakened the Order, stripping it of valuable income. The French Revolutionary wars led to the loss of their Mediterranean base, bringing the Order’s prominent status in the Mediterranean to an end.
However, inadvertently, the French Revolution helped contribute to the reinstitution of the Order in Britain. The Romantic movement reacted against the ideology of revolutionary France. It rejected rationality, celebrated emotion and, among other things, promoted a love of all things medieval. The individuals who re-founded the Order of St John in England during the 1820s can certainly be described as romantics. They used to sail down the river on boats bearing St John flags and dress up as knights, reveling in the medieval heritage of the Order.
In the century following loss of Malta, the Order of St John shifted its outlook away from the privileged lifestyle the Revolutionaries had so despised, towards adopting the humanitarian approach that it is famous for today. The ramifications of this monumental European event on the Order of St John were certainly profound.
Sources
Attard, Joseph, The Knights of Malta, Book Distributors Ltd (2013, Malta).
Betros, Gemma, ‘The French Revolution and the Catholic Church’, History Review, Issue 68, December 2010.
Doyle, William, The Oxford History of the French Revolution, Oxford University Press (1990).
McHugh, Rosita, The Knights of Malta; 900 Years of Care, Irish Association of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta (1996).
Sire, F.J.A, The Knights of Malta, Yale University Press; New edition (1996). | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 8 | https://www.vcmsmaltarentals.com/blog/12-facts-valletta-malta/ | en | 12 Interesting Facts That Reveal The Character Of Valletta Malta | [
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"Dean"
] | 2018-07-26T14:10:45+00:00 | grow your appreciation for Malta's capital with these interesting facts. Find out where to go and what to look out for in Valletta Malta. | en | https://www.vcmsmaltarentals.com/blog/12-facts-valletta-malta/ | Discover some interesting facts about the city of Valletta to grow your appreciation for Malta’s capital. These interesting facts will also enrich your visit by hinting where to go and what to look out for.
1. Valletta Was Not Always The Capital Of Malta
Valletta, Malta, is the capital city of the Maltese Islands. Previously, from antiquity to the medieval period, Mdina had been the capital of the island of Malta; the Citadel in Rabat (now Victoria) was the capital of Gozo. But when the Knights of St John arrived in Malta in 1530, the seafarers discovered that Mdina, which had developed from a Bronze Age settlement on a hill far inland, did not serve their needs. They required a city nearby their fleet, so they fortified Birgu and made it the administrative capital of Malta. Eventually, the Knights of St John founded the city of Valletta in 1566, right after the Great Siege of Malta. Valletta was officially proclaimed the capital city of Malta on 18 March 1571.
2. The Knights Of Malta Built Valletta
The Knights of Malta led by Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette needed a new fortified capital city. Building a city on the same peninsula as Fort St Elmo would ensure a better defence of the peninsula, the two harbours, the Three Cities of the Knights: Birgu, Bormla and Isla, and the whole island.
When the Turks took Mount Sceberras during the Great Siege, it became evident how crucial it was to keep it from the enemy’s hands. Fort St Elmo had successfully held off the first attacks for several weeks, winning the Knights valuable time. But when the Ottomans conquered it, they could find safety for their galleys within the Grand Harbour. Believing the Ottomans would return, the Knights set out to build the capital city immediately after their departure. Grand Master La Valette himself laid the first foundation stone of Valletta on 28 March 1566 and the city would bear his name.
3. Valletta Is ‘A City Built By Gentlemen For Gentlemen’
Grand Master La Valette envisioned the city as a hub of political, economic and cultural activity in 16th century Europe. It would be a place in which trade, handicrafts and the arts would flourish. And it would possess unique features that would make it stand out from other European cities. So he engaged prominent architects and engineers to design the city.
Indeed, Laparelli and Girolamo Cassar designed a 16th-century fortified city unlike any other. Its waste disposal and drainage system would prevent decay. Its unique grid design would counteract the stifling heat by allowing the sea-breeze to flow naturally through the city. And its high buildings and narrow streets would keep the city mostly shaded. The new city design also included insurmountable bastions and a large ditch that separated it from the mainland. Within Valletta city, the Knights planned the magnificent St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Sacra Infermeria hospital, a number of palaces and several Auberges that would be their homes. Over 8,000 men worked for five years to create ‘a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen.’
4. The Entire City Of Valletta Is A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Today, the Renaissance city, with its auberges, palaces and fortifications, bears testimony to a bygone time. Alongside contemporary life, the city verily showcases 450 years of history on every street. The entire city of Valletta, Malta, is classified a UNESCO World Heritage site.
‘The capital of Malta is inextricably linked to the history of the military and charitable Order of St John of Jerusalem. Valletta’s 320 monuments, all within an area of 55 ha, make it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world’ – UNESCO
Effectively an open-air museum, Valletta is brimming with ornate baroque architecture, various monuments and infinite curiosities; many date to its illustrious founders from the 16th century while several embellishments were added during the 18th century. The beauty, historic value and fascination that tie in with Valletta are invaluable and indescribable. The city is truly a unique gem of both the Maltese Islands and the world in general. Valletta certainly deserves its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
5. Valletta Is The Smallest European Capital, But It’s Big On Attractions
Valletta is the smallest capital city in Europe with a surface area of just 0.55 km² and just over 7,000 inhabitants. Only the Vatican City is smaller at 0.44 km² with a population of 800 people. Despite its compact proportions, Valletta encapsulates an extraordinary wealth of civil, religious, artistic and military treasures. Although there are 320 specifically named monuments, there is literally something of interest in every nook and cranny.
From the baroque architecture and art to the curious sloping streets, your eyes will feast wherever they glance. Wander through the city streets and see ornate architecture, decorative Maltese balconies, niches with statues of saints and Valletta’s signature old shop signs. The shallow steps leading from the harbours to the city centre were designed for men in clunky suits of armour. A scattering of original 16th-century Auberges and palaces showcase the extraordinary beauty of the Renaissance city. And then there are the gardens spilling over magnificent fortifications with stunning harbour views.
6. A Caravaggio Painting Is Housed In St John’s Co-Cathedral
The Knights of St John did not hold back when it came to embellishing their churches, palaces and Auberges. They took Malta to new heights in the cultural scene by commissioning the most talented of artists. Among these was the world-renowned Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, who found refuge in Malta while fleeing a death sentence in Rome for killing a man in a duel. Caravaggio set out to embellish the Knights’ own church dedicated to John the Baptist. His iconic painting on canvas, ‘The beheading of St John the Baptist,’ is the largest of his paintings and the only one he ever signed. Another Caravaggio painting displayed at St John’s Co-Cathedral is ‘St Jerome writing’.
Yet, this is only part of St John’s Co-Cathedral artistic wealth. The Knights had grandly decorated St Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina, but, evidently, they placed more emphasis on their new church. The extraordinary opulent display of art includes mosaic marble tombs that cover the floor, walls gilded in gold, exquisitely frescoed ceilings, lavish chandeliers and other decorations.
7. Auberges, Palaces, Forts And War Rooms Bear Testimony To Valletta’s History
St John’s Co-Cathedral is just one of the noteworthy monuments in Valletta. Wandering the streets of Valletta, you will come across Auberges, palaces, forts and war rooms that all bear testimony to Malta’s colourful history.
Malta’s opulent Auberges are palace-like, 16th-century buildings that housed the Knights from different parts of Europe. The exquisite Auberge de Castille is now the office of the Prime Minister; it is open to the public once a year during Valletta’s Notte Bianca event. Easier to visit, the Auberge de Provence houses the National Museum of Archaeology and the Auberge d’Italie houses the MUZA National Museum of Fine Arts. The Auberge de Baviere was a military hospital and a shelter for the homeless during World War II. Of all the Auberges, only the Auberge d’Aragon − the oldest − is still in its original state.
The most prominent Knights lived in their own palaces. For example, visit the Grand Master’s Palace − currently the Office of the President of Malta; it includes the Palace State Rooms and the Palace Armoury. Alternatively, visit Casa Rocca Piccola of Don Pietro La Rocca to admire extravagant furnishings, objets d’art and see underground war shelters.
The Sacra Infermeria was a state-of-the-art hospital during the time of the Knights and today houses the Mediterranean Conference Centre. The Manoel Theatre, built in 1731 by Grand Master Antonio Manoel De Vilhena, is the oldest theatre still operating in Europe.
Fort St Elmo now houses the National War Museum, which provides a fascinating historical account of wars waged in Malta. Beyond the many museums, you can visit the original War Rooms and War HQ Tunnel used to devise strategy during World War II.
8. Valletta Survived Heavy Bombardment During World War II
The Maltese Islands have seen some brutal wars, including the Great Siege of 1565 and World War II. While the former was the cause of Valletta’s conception, the latter was a means for its partial destruction. Warfare had changed with the times and air-raid bombing was a major threat on the Maltese Islands. The Luftwaffe (German Air Force) and the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) flew 3,000 bombing air-raids in two years in an effort to destroy RAF defences and the ports.
Valletta was heavily bombarded during World War II due to its importance as a capital city and its location between two harbours. Several important historic monuments were lost during this time. For example, German bombs completely destroyed the Auberge d’Auvergne and the Auberge de France during the Second World War. The Royal Opera House erected in 1877, one of the most beautiful and iconic buildings in Valletta, received a direct hit in an air-raid in 1942; it reopened as an open-air theatre only in 2013. Some parts of Valletta had to be completely rebuilt, which explains some of the newer buildings within the Renaissance city. Some of the stunning architectural renovations also include the main entrance to the city and the new parliament building by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano.
9. Valletta Is Perched Above The Grand Harbour And Marsamxett Harbour
Valletta’s location is strategic. The peninsula on which Valletta eventually rose separates two of the finest natural harbours in the Mediterranean sea. Fort St Elmo commands the entrance to the harbours. Behind it, the city of Valletta sprawls within the imposing bastions erected along the water’s edge of the entire peninsula. On the north side lies Marsamxett harbour. And on the south side is the magnificent Grand Harbour, with its several creeks where ships can shelter. Along these creeks, the Knights fortified the Three Cities of Birgu, Bormla and Isla. Later, they built Valletta, effectively surrounding the Grand Harbour with awesome 16th century fortifications. Marsamxett Harbour, on the other hand, includes Fort Manoel on Manoel Island, with the contrasting high-rises on the opposite side, in Sliema.
Wherever you are in Valletta, you are just minutes from the beautiful Mediterranean sea and the fresh salty air. Several gardens offering magnificent sea views embellish Valletta’s fortifications. The Upper Barrakka Gardens offer stunning panoramic views of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities across the water. Go at noon for an impressive cannon fire from the Saluting Battery below. The modern Barrakka Lift on the site of the original historic lift connects the Upper Barrakka Gardens to the harbour below. There, you can take a boat across to Birgu or cruise around the port to gain different perspectives close up.
10. Valletta Includes Some Of The World’s Most Exclusive Addresses
With its intriguing natural form and man-made defences, the Grand Harbour view from Valletta is perhaps one of the most impressive city views in Europe. The same view that attracts hundreds of visitors to the Upper Barrakka Gardens daily can be admired from the residences at St Barbara Bastions too. No wonder, then, that this is one of the most exclusive addresses in the world. Only a few well-to-do own a private residence on this pretty tree-lined street; most of the houses with Maltese balconies are offices or embassies. The Valletta Waterfront, on the other hand, is the ideal address for a catering business. Following World War II damage, an upmarket wining and dining area where cruise liners dock has emerged from Pinto Wharf’s restoration. This is an ideal location to enjoy views of the majestic Grand Harbour and Fort St Angelo while enjoying an al fresco dining experience.
11. Valletta Offers Some Of The Finest Wining & Dining Experiences
Wining and dining experiences in Valletta come in many forms. While a variety of quality catering establishments hug the Valletta Waterfront, Valletta city is also home to several restaurants, cafes, bars and wine bars. Restaurants serve anything from traditional Maltese food to fine dining within a great ambience or even al fresco. Cafes include tiny hole-in-the-wall establishments to open-air seating with parasols set in a large square. Bars range from well-known icons such as ‘Olly’s last pub’ – the last pub frequented by actor Oliver Reed before his passing – to band clubs attracting locals. Wine bars tend towards wine cellars transformed into characteristic venues where wine glasses spill onto Valletta’s cobbled streets. Wherever you choose to turn, you’ll be glad to add value and memories to your Valletta experience.
12. Valletta As European Capital Of Culture 2018
The Valletta experience has expanded considerably, particularly in 2018 where we see a rich V18 calendar of arts and culture events. With Valletta being European Capital of Culture 2018, a variety of arts and culture events in the open air and at historic venues are injecting life and colour into the business centre. The dream of Grand Master La Vallette, that his city for gentlemen would be a hub of political, economic and cultural activity, has never been more a reality than it is today.
Do you find an event at the Manoel Theatre or the Royal Opera House appealing? Would you like to explore history ranging from the National Museum of Archaeology to the National War Museum? Or do Valletta’s streets and squares with all the historic monuments they contain mesmerise you? Valletta’s story remains an integral part of it all. Know before you go so that you can fully appreciate the magnificence that is Valletta. | ||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 3 | https://storymaps.com/stories/25433dcd52dc4c43a2caffc6f691e858 | en | Valletta & the Knights of St. John | https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1584348059301-bb1d44173050?ixid=MnwyNjI3MjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMnx8dmFsbGV0dGF8ZW58MXx8fHwxNjU0MjAyMjg0&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&quality=80&w=400 | https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1584348059301-bb1d44173050?ixid=MnwyNjI3MjJ8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMnx8dmFsbGV0dGF8ZW58MXx8fHwxNjU0MjAyMjg0&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&quality=80&w=400 | [] | [] | [] | [
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"Tara Anbudaiyan"
] | 2022-06-02T20:35:54+00:00 | A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Malta | en | /static/images/favicon.png | StoryMaps | https://storymaps.com/stories/25433dcd52dc4c43a2caffc6f691e858 | |||
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"Contributors to Military Wiki"
] | 2024-07-29T22:27:06+00:00 | The fortifications of Valletta are a series of defensive walls and other fortifications which surround the capital city of Valletta, Malta. The first fortification to be built was Fort Saint Elmo in 1552, but the fortifications of the city proper began to be built in 1566 when it was founded by... | en | /skins-ucp/mw139/common/favicon.ico | Military Wiki | https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Fortifications_of_Valletta | The fortifications of Valletta are a series of defensive walls and other fortifications which surround the capital city of Valletta, Malta. The first fortification to be built was Fort Saint Elmo in 1552, but the fortifications of the city proper began to be built in 1566 when it was founded by Grand Master Jean de Valette. Modifications were made throughout the following centuries, with the last major addition being Fort Lascaris which was completed in 1856. Most of the fortifications remain largely intact today.
The city of Valletta, along with Nicosia in Cyprus, was considered to be a practical example of an ideal city of the Renaissance, and this was due to its fortifications as well as the urban life within the city.[1] Valletta's fortifications are regarded as the most important of the fortifications of Malta,[2] and they form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[3]
History[]
Background[]
The construction of a fortified city on the Sciberras Peninsula was first proposed in 1524, when the Order of St. John sent a commission to inspect the Maltese Islands.[4] Back then, the only fortification on the peninsula was a militia watchtower built by the in 1488.[5] The tower was strengthened in 1533, but the proposed city was not built since the Order focused on building the fortifications of Birgu, which had become their base.[6]
In 1551, an Ottoman force briefly attacked Malta, and then sacked Gozo and captured Tripoli, and as a result, the Order set up a commission to improve the island's fortifications. In 1552, the Aragonese watchtower was demolished and Fort Saint Elmo was built in its place. The fort played a significant role in the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. It eventually fell after a month of fierce fighting (in which the Ottoman general Dragut was killed). The knights held out in Birgu and Senglea until a relief force arrived, and the siege was lifted.
Construction[]
After the Order emerged victorious from the siege, it received financial support from Europe, which was used to construct the new capital city on the Sciberras Peninsula. The Italian engineer Francesco Laparelli was sent by the Pope to design the city's fortifications,[7] which were designed along the Italian bastioned system.[8] Laparelli's original design consisted of a bastioned enciente, with nine cavaliers and a ditch. The city was to be designed along a grid plan, and was to include a naval arsenal and a Manderaggio (a harbour for small ships).
The city's first stone was laid by Grand Master Jean de Valette on 28 March 1566, and the new city was called Valletta in his honour. The city walls were among the first structures to be built within the city, and were largely complete by the 1570s. Some changes were made to the design while the city was being constructed, and only two cavaliers were constructed, while the arsenal and Manderaggio were never built. Fort St. Elmo, which had been severely damaged in the 1565 siege, was also rebuilt and integrated in the city walls.[4]
The city of Valletta officially became the capital city of Malta and the seat of the Order on 18 March 1571, although it was still unfinished.[9] By the end of the 16th century, Valletta was the largest settlement in Malta.[8]
Improvements and modifications[]
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Valletta's fortifications were strengthened with the construction of various outworks, consisting of four counterguards along the land front, as well as a covertway and a glacis. The northern end of the peninsula, including Fort St. Elmo, was also enclosed in a bastioned enciente (known as the Carafa Enciente) in the late 1680s to prevent a landing from the sea.[5]
Despite the modifications, it was realized that the walls of Valletta were not strong enough to withstand a long siege. In 1635, construction of the Floriana Lines commenced, enclosing Valletta's land front. The Floriana Lines also modified until the 18th century. Later on, the suburb of Floriana developed in the area between the Floriana Lines and the Valletta Land Front, and it is now a town in its own right.[4]
The flanks of the city were further protected in the 17th and 18th century, with the construction of the Santa Margherita Lines, Cottonera Lines and Fort Ricasoli on the Grand Harbour side, and Fort Manoel and Fort Tigné on the Marsamxett side.[10] Further proposals, including construction of fortifications on Corradino and Ta' Xbiex, were also made but were never implemented.[11]
French occupation and British rule[]
The fortifications of Valletta first saw use during the French invasion of Malta on 9 June 1798. The Order capitulated only three days later on 12 June, and Valletta and its fortifications were handed over to the French.
A couple of months after the beginning of the French occupation, the Maltese people rebelled against the French and blockaded them in the Harbour area with British, Neapolitan and Portuguese support. The French managed to hold out in Valletta until September 1800, when General Vaubois capitulated to the British, who took control of the islands.[12]
Various modifications were made to Valletta's fortifications during British rule. The most significant of these was the construction of Fort Lascaris between 1854 and 1856. Other alterations included construction of retired batteries and concrete gun emplacements, changes to parapets and their embrasures, and the construction of gunpowder magazines. All three original Hospitaller gateways to Valletta were demolished, and two of them were replaced by larger gates.
The British proposed the demolition of the fortifications a number of times in the 19th century. The first proposal was made by Major-General Henry Pigot at the beginning of the century.[13] In 1872, the demolition of the city's outworks was proposed, while the demolition of the entire land front was suggested in 1882.[4] Eventually, the fortifications were left largely intact, and the only part that was demolished was St. Madeleine's Lunette, which was located near the entrance to the city (on the site now occupied by the Triton Fountain).
The fortifications were eventually decommissioned between the late 19th or early 20th centuries. Some parts, such as Fort Saint Elmo, Fort Lascaris and the Saluting Battery, remained in use until after World War II, with Fort St. Elmo being decommissioned in 1972.
In the 1960s, the 19th century Porta Reale was demolished to make way for a modern City Gate.[14]
Present day[]
The first plans to restore the fortifications of Valletta, along with those of Birgu, Mdina and the Cittadella, were made in 2006.[15][16] Restoration started in 2010, with the project being described as "the biggest in a century". Squatters were evicted from public lands around the fortifications.[17] The upper part of Fort Saint Elmo has been restored, while its lower parts have been cleaned up.[18] The Chapel of St. Roche on St. Michael's Counterguard, which was bombed in World War II, was rebuilt in 2014 as part of the restoration.[19]
In 2011, the City Gate built in the 1960s was demolished, and a new City Gate was completed in 2014.[20]
Layout[]
Land front[]
The Valletta Land Front is the large bastioned enciente enclosing the landward approach to the city. It consists of the following:[21]
St. Michael's Bastion – a demi-bastion on the western extremity of the land front. Two windmills were built on it in 1674, but they were demolished in the 19th century.[22][23] The bastion now forms part of Hastings Gardens.[24]
St. John's Curtain – the curtain wall linking St. Michael's and St. John's Bastions. It now forms part of Hastings Gardens.[25]
St. John's Bastion – a large obtuse-angled bastion with a reconstructed echaugette at its salient angle. It now forms part of Hastings Gardens.[26]
St. John's Cavalier – a pentagonal cavalier overlooking St. John's Bastion. It is now the embassy of the SMOM to Malta.[27]
Porta Reale Curtain – the curtain wall linking St. John's and St. James Bastions. The city's main gate is located within the curtain wall.[28] The gate was rebuilt five times, with the present one being constructed between 2011 and 2014 to a design by Renzo Piano.
St. James Bastion – a large obtuse-angled bastion with an echaugette at its salient angle. Its thick parapets with embrasures have been dismantled. The bastion is occupied by the Central Bank of Malta and a car park.[29]
St. James Cavalier – a pentagonal cavalier overlooking St. James Bastion. It is now a cultural centre.[30]
Castile Curtain – the curtain wall linking St. James and St. Peter & Paul Bastions. Its parapet has been largely dismantled to make way for the road leading from Floriana to Valletta.[31]
St. Peter and St. Paul Bastion – a two-tiered corner bastion on the eastern extremity of the land front. The upper part is now the Upper Barrakka Gardens, while the lower part contains the Saluting Battery.[32] The British built Fort Lascaris below the bastion.
The entire land front is surrounded by a deep ditch.[33] Remains of a flanking battery within the ditch were unearthed in 2012.[34]
The bastions are further protected by the following outworks:
St. Michael's Counterguard – a three-tiered counterguard built in 1640 near St. Michael's Bastion. Its lower tier contains an echaugette at its salient angle, and a small chapel dedicated to St. Roche.[35] The chapel was destroyed in World War II but was rebuilt in 2014.[19]
St. John's Counterguard – a pentagonal counterguard built in 1640 near St. John's Bastion. Its salient angle contains an echaugette, and it also contains a gunpowder magazine. It is currently used as a football ground.[36]
St. Madeleine's Lunette – a lunette that protected Porta Reale Curtain and the entrance to the city. It was dismantled in the 19th century, and its site is now occupied by the Triton Fountain.[37]
St. James Counterguard – a pentagonal counterguard built in 1640 near St. James Bastion. Its salient angle contains an echaugette, and it also contains a gunpowder magazine. Its central platform houses the Central Bank of Malta annex.[38]
St. Peter and St. Paul Counterguard – a two-tiered counterguard built in 1640 near St. Peter and St. Paul Bastion. Its salient angle contains an echaugette, and it also contains a gunpowder magazine and a concrete observation platform.[39]
The outworks were surrounded by an advanced ditch, but only a part of it remains since most of it was filled in with rubble.[37]
Marsamxett enciente[]
The enciente along the side facing Marsamxett Harbour starts from St. Michael's Bastion of the Valletta Land Front, and ends at St. Gregory's Bastion of Fort Saint Elmo. It consists of the following:[21]
St. Andrew Tenaille – a small tenaille beneath St. Michael's Bastion.[40]
St. Andrew's Bastion – an assymetrical pentagonal bastion. It is two-tiered, with its lower part originally containing the Marsamxett Gate, which was demolished in the early 20th century.[41] A small faussebraye is located beneath the bastion. Ponsonby's Column was built on the bastion in the 1830s, but it was destroyed by lightning in 1864.[42]
Manderaggio Curtain – the curtain wall linking St. Andrew's and San Salvatore Bastions. It was originally divided into two parts, to allow ships to enter the Manderaggio, but the breach was walled up when work on the Manderaggio was abandoned.[43]
San Salvatore Bastion – a flat-faced artillery platform. Various World War II air raid shelters were dug within the bastion.[44]
German Curtain – a small curtain wall north of San Salvatore Bastion. Air raid shelters were also dug within its walls. It is sometimes referred to as a bastion.[45]
St. Sebastian Curtain – a small curtain wall north of the Germain Curtain. Air raid shelters were also dug within its walls. It is sometimes referred to as a bastion.[46]
English Curtain – a long curtain wall near St. Elmo Bay, overlooked by Auberge de Bavière. It contains the Jews' Sally Port and a number of air raid shelters. A reconstructed echaugette is located between the English and French Curtains.[47]
French Curtain – a long curtain wall near St. Elmo Bay, linked to Fort Saint Elmo.[48]
Grand Harbour enciente[]
The enciente along the side facing the Grand Harbour starts from St. Peter and St. Paul Bastion of the Valletta Land Front, and ends at St. Ubaldesca Curtain of Fort Saint Elmo. It consists of the following:[21]
Fort Lascaris, also known as Lascaris Battery or Lascaris Bastion – a casemated battery near St. Peter & St. Paul Bastion, built by the British between 1854 and 1856. The Lascaris War Rooms are located nearby.[49]
Marina Curtain, also known as Liesse Curtain – curtain wall linking St. Peter & St. Paul and St. Barbara Bastions. It originally contained Del Monte Gate, which was demolished and replaced by Victoria Gate in the 19th century.[50]
St. Barbara Bastion – a flat-faced bastion with a low parapet. An echaugette is located at the bastion's south corner.[51]
St. Lucia Curtain – curtain wall linking St. Barbara and St. Christopher Bastions.[52]
St. Christopher Bastion – a two-tiered pentagonal bastion, today breached to make way for the Valletta ring road.[53] The upper part contains the Lower Barrakka Gardens, while the lower part contains the Siege Bell War Memorial and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. A low battery was built near the bastion in the 1680s, but most of it was dismantled to make way for the ring road.[54]
St. Lazarus Curtain – curtain wall linking St. Christopher and St. Lazarus Bastions.[55]
St. Lazarus Bastion – a flat-faced bastion containing several British gun emplacements and a magazine.[56]
Fort Saint Elmo[]
Fort Saint Elmo is the oldest part of the city walls, and it commands the entrance to both the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett. The fort and the surrounding area consists of the following:[21]
Upper St. Elmo – the original star fort, consisting of two demi-bastions, two flanks and two faces, a parade ground, barracks and a large cavalier.
Vendôme Bastion – a bastion built in 1614 linking the French Curtain to Fort St. Elmo, containing an echaugette. After being surrounded by the Carafa Enciente, it was converted into a magazine, and later an armoury. The bastion is now part of the National War Museum.[57]
Carafa Enciente – the bastioned enciente built around the fort after 1687. It consists of the following bastions:
St. Gregory Bastion – an assymetrical bastion with a long left face. It was altered by the British to house QF 6 pounder 10 cwt guns.[58]
St. Gregory Curtain – a curtain wall linking St. Gregory and Conception Bastions. It contains various British gun emplacements.[59]
Conception Bastion, also known as Ball's Bastion – a small pentagonal bastion, containing a number of gun emplacements, magazines, and gun crew accommodation. Sir Alexander Ball was buried in the salient of the bastion.[60]
Sta. Scholastica Curtain – curtain wall linking Conception and St. John Bastions. It contains a gun emplacement for a RML 12.5 inch 38 ton gun, as well as other British modifications.[61]
St. John Bastion, also known as Abercrombie's Bastion – a large assymetrical bastion at St. Elmo Point, the tip of the Sciberras Peninsula. The bastion contains several British gun emplacements and magazines.[62]
St. Ubaldesca Curtain, also known as Abercrombie's Curtain – a long curtain wall linking St. John and St. Lazarus Bastions. It contains a number of British gun emplacements.[63]
Some barrack blocks are located in the area between Upper St. Elmo and the Carafa Enciente.
References[]
Notes
[] | ||
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] | null | [] | 2013-06-09T11:38:47+00:00 | VALLETTA, MALTA: How often do you come across thousands of years’ worth of history, blue waters, and good Mediterranean food over 316 sq. kilometers of land mass? This can only happen when you come to Malta. Being by the Mediterranean Sea, Malta’s capital Valletta is more than just a beautiful old town of this island nation.… | en | https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/3009ee2e281f6fa912ec51a1ab7beaeaa97ea580a315a6a8433c6cf65dd19084?s=32 | Journey Around The Globe | https://journeyaroundtheglobe.com/europe/islands-of-malta/valletta/ | VALLETTA, MALTA: How often do you come across thousands of years’ worth of history, blue waters, and good Mediterranean food over 316 sq. kilometers of land mass? This can only happen when you come to Malta. Being by the Mediterranean Sea, Malta’s capital Valletta is more than just a beautiful old town of this island nation. But what makes this harbor city prettier is that the city kept its 16th century look at almost every corner. It was one of the earliest sites that got listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site for its old world splendor and magnificent Baroque architectures. Valletta was one of the first cities in Europe to use a grid street system. I used to look for colorful doors, windows, and typical wooden window-like concealed balconies while walking in the old town…these are everywhere and add more beauty to this place.
Malta is a small island and inhabit a tiny spot in the universe but it has a culture that spans about 7000 years. Valletta was built as a fortified city – intended to keep the enemy out. Historically, Knights of St. John built Malta in 1565 AD to protect the land from the Turks. From the earliest days of the Knights of St. John on Malta, they kept a guard ship and troops near the entrance of Grand Harbor looking for Ottoman spies. Later the country was attacked and conquered by many civilizations over and over, finally getting its freedom from the British in 1964.
Maltese speak very good English and are very welcoming. Local language here is a very unique language that combines different languages like Arabic, French, Italian, and Spanish.
Republic Street and Merchant Street are the main and parallel streets of Valletta. Marsamxetto Ferry Service is the best way to go back and forth from Sliema to Valletta. There are also public buses from Sliema, but ferry is the best way. They run every half an hour from 7 am – 6 pm and 10 – 4 on Sundays and public holidays. It is 2.80 euros for round trip per person over 5 years of age and it takes less than 15 minutes to cross the water-body. There are many companies who offer boat tours of various kinds to various parts of Malta, like the islands of Gozo and Comino (see my post on Gozo & Comino). They come in many services, prices, and timetables.
If you are planning to drive in Malta, just keep in mind that they drive on the left side of the road like the Brits. We also rode on a horse-wagon after the ferry ride to Valletta to go to St. John’s Cathedral for 20 euros for all of us with an extra visitor, Charlie. We met Charlie, originally a Maltese but lived all over in the USA for 61 years, at Marsamxetto Ferry terminal on our way to Valletta. He came back to his own land recently to spend rest of his life by the sea. He got on the horse-ride with us and was very energetic giving us some general insides on this island.
TIME of TRAVEL: We flew to Valletta in the first week of June 2013. We were expecting some hot-summer days there. It was above 75 degrees but little bit windy every now and then. Overall, the weather was pleasant. June is in fact a great time to visit Malta. The weather is warm yet the beaches and bays aren’t taken over by the tourists. As it gets deep into summer, the weather can get really crazy hot and places become more crowded with hundreds and thousands of tourists. Maltese population triples to nearly 1 million tourists from all over the world during this time.
OUR HOTEL: We stayed in Hotel Plevna in Sliema, another city in Malta. The best parts of this hotel were the location and view. We could see the Mediterranean Sea from our balcony both on the right and left sides. I actually managed to get up one morning around sunrise at 5:30 am and walk to Sliema promenade to take some shots and enjoy the morning sun. The hotel itself was pretty awesome too, had breakfast included in the price. The only thing we wished was Wi-Fi in our room, lobby had free connection though. The hotel also had free beach club for its guests by Sliema Promenade. We used to walk only 5 minutes to the ferry terminal to go to Valletta. All the nice restaurants (along with McDonald’s and Burger King) are also very close-by with a nice sea-view and skyline of Valletta on the other side. If I ever go back to Malta, I will stay in Hotel Plevna again for its nice staffs and great location.
Sliema is one of Malta’s most modern areas and this is where most of the tourists stay. The promenade offers great view of the blue sea. The main harbor of Sliema also is a great place to hang out, enjoying nightlife, eating, and shopping. You can get a jaw-dropping view of Valletta standing in Sliema harbor.
EATING and SHOPPING: Maltese love their rabbits and it’s their national dish. First lunch in Malta, we sat down in a nice restaurant, San Giovanni, in St. John’s Square right in front of the cathedral. And I had to try a Maltese rabbit, of course. There were many dishes here that serve rabbit in different forms. I tried rabbit ravioli with herb sauce and olive oil (or something similar)…it was beyond my expectations, so good. Most of the cafes with tables and big umbrellas in the sunny piazzas are full of people throughout the whole day…drinking, chatting, eating, or just enjoying, loved it.
Hand-made glass arts from Mdina (a small town of Malta which once used to be the island’s capital) are very famous here and something exquisite to take back home. We didn’t go to Mdina but there were few shops in Valletta where we bought our set of hand-blown glasses…6 pieces for 76 euros, couldn’t beat that. Other than that many souvenir shops in old town Valletta sell usual gifts items like t-shirts, bags, key-rings, and etc.
PLACES WE’VE VISITED: We spent about a day and half in Valletta. 1st day in Valletta we couldn’t see the main spot of this island, St. John’s Cathedral, since it closes at noon on Saturdays. So we had to come back on Monday for that. Just to keep something in mind that every cathedral or church in Valletta is either closed completely or for half a day in weekends. There are few museums in Valletta for archeology, fine arts, and wars, if you are into those. And if time allowed us, I would have visited some gardens, and Palace of the Grand Masters, now Presidential Palace. Mdina is another city of Malta which is worth visiting for a day too, but didn’t get a chance.
1) ST. JOHN’S CO-CATHEDRAL: The simple façade of St. John’s flanked by two large bell towers has more of characteristics of a fortress than a cathedral reflecting the sober mood after the historic episode of Great Siege of Malta. But no one can imagine its lavish interior by looking at its plain face.
It was built in 1577 in the very heart of newly founded city of Valletta to serve as the headquarters for the Knights of St. John. The cathedral’s glorious Baroque interior reveals a spectacle of rich marbles, precious metals, paintings, and decorative ensembles that overwhelm the spectator with an impressive first vision. Elaborate motifs on the side walls and gilded foliage, flowers, and angels are some characteristic of Baroque ornamentation of this monument. The splendid inlaid marble memorial slabs on the floor are a collection of tombstones of important knights and noblemen make this floor a unique treasure of St. John’s. Some of these tombstones reveal individual stories, their acts of chivalry, and religious ardor. A huge, vigorous work of art dominates the oratory. Overall, every inch of St. John’s Cathedral is an incredibly ornate place and by far one of the grandest cathedrals I’ve ever seen so far.
FYI, There are 365 churches in Malta…one for every day of the year to worship!! We couldn’t go to the museum or the crypt where many tombs of Knights of St. John are kept. Visitors should dress properly covering their shoulders, chest, and legs upon entering the cathedral. Opening hours for the cathedral is Mon-Fri from 9:30 to 4:30 pm (last admission at 4 pm) and Saturday from 9:30 to 12:30 pm (last admission at 12 pm). It’s closed on Sundays and public holidays. Entrance fee is 6 euros for adults and children under 12 years are free. The fee includes visit to oratory and museum in addition to an audio tour guide.
2) ST. PAUL’S PRO-CATHEDRAL: This is an Anglican church (Church of England) of Malta and Gozo. It was built in 1844 in neo-classic style with simple and spacious feel. Maltese limestone was used to build this cathedral. Its 60 meters spire can be seen from Sliema across the sea. The cathedral is a noted Valletta landmark. It was free to enter but if you take pictures you are supposed to pay 1 euro.
3) TEL-MADONNA TEL-KARMNU: The dome of this Catholic Church dominates the view of Valletta as seen from Sliema. It has a gorgeous and spacious interior with high copula. It’s located right next to St. Paul’s Cathedral and there is no fee to enter.
4) ST. DOMINIC: We walked inside this church while walking back to our ferry terminal. Exterior of this church had old façade. But inside was very decorative with beautiful ceiling and a gorgeous altar.
5) UPPER BARACCA GARDENS: This garden is located on the upper part of the town offering visitors unrivalled views across one of the world’s largest and deepest natural harbors, Grand Harbor, and over to the Three Cities. The garden itself is small but pretty nice place for strolling. There are some fountains, statues, and arches that make this place really charming. There was a wedding going on when we went there. The old Saluting Battery provides artillery salutes to visiting dignitaries and shipping. A noon-day gun is still fired daily, recreating the age-old tradition. It’s free to enter.
6) NATIONAL LIBRARY of MALTA: The origin of this building dates back to 1555. We didn’t go in, but as I’ve heard, a huge archive of the Knights of St. John from the Crusades in the 11th century until the late 18th century are kept in this library. It’s located in Republic Square next to Grandmaster’s Palace.
7) FORT ST. ELMO: This is an old fort at the tip of the peninsula. It was also built by the knights in 1551 guarding the entrance to both Grand and Marsamxett Harbors. Turks tried to invade it in 1565 but overall, this fort was never invaded by anybody in the history. We couldn’t go there since it was under renovation that time.
8) GREAT SIEGE SQUARE: This is a nice big square which has the entrance to go to St. John’s Cathedral. Opposite of the cathedral is the Justice Department of Malta. The square has lots going on with many shops and clothing stores in one side. That’s where our daughters got henna tattoos on their hands. There were many street vendors with trinkets all over the square. | ||||
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] | 2021-03-30T08:00:49+00:00 | Valletta Malta is a popular touristic place due to it's history and being the capital city of Malta. It's in close proximity of Sliema. | en | ST Hotels | https://sthotelsmalta.com/the-history-of-valletta-malta/ | Valletta is the fortified capital city of Malta, and a World Heritage site. When one speaks of Valletta Malta, the first thought that comes to mind is of a place firmly embedded in rich military history as well as history connected to the Knights of St. John.
This is reflected in the treasure trove of architectural splendor that is Valletta, Malta.
It contains a vast array of majestic fortifications, stunning baroque buildings, lavish palaces, magnificent churches, grand theaters and striking gardens.
Main Attractions in Valletta Malta
Here we will be looking at the main attractions derived from the history of Valletta, Malta.
The Knights of St. John in Valletta, Malta
This capital city came into existence thanks to the Knights of St John, under Grand master Jean Parisot de la Valette who had been given Malta by the Holy Roman Emperor at the time, Charles V.
Malta was the very first place the Order could call home after numerous years of wandering the Mediterranean in the name of Christianity.
That is, after the Great Siege of 1565, the Knights began their Valletta project in Malta, intending to build a so-called ‘city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’.
This is because, La Valette quickly realized that if the Order was going to retain its grasp on Malta, it had to build adequate defenses.
Therefore, he drew up a plan for a late Renaissance Valletta, Malta, consisting of a grid system within fortified and bastioned city walls, on what was a mostly vacant lot.
In fact, this was one of the first European cities to be constructed on a new site. Valletta Malta was built on what used to be known as Mount Sciberras.
This is a portion of land in between the island’s two natural harbors, known as the Marsamxett and Valletta harbors.
Both Pope Pius V showed interest in the project, so he sent his foremost engineer, Francesco Laparelli.
His idea was to build the city, both as a fortress in order to defend Christendom and as an architectural jewel.
Work started in March 1566. First on, the bastions and, soon after, on the more important buildings.
The new city was to be called Valletta in honor of La Valette.
What’s interesting is that the city came to resemble an Italian religious community, as well as aspects of Ottoman and North African influences that the knights had seen on their journeys.
This new city, with its impenetrable bastions and deep moats was a point of great strategic importance.
The British impact on Valletta, Malta
The British Period, beginning from 1800 was a very momentous era in Maltese history.
The British Empire ruled over Malta for over 150 years overall, so it is hardly surprising that a large proportion of Maltese culture has been British overtones.
As a result, the British legacy still lives on in many facets of daily life in Malta today.
After helping the Maltese do away with French rule in Malta, the British became the ruling force of the Islands.
Malta became an important part of the British Empire due to its strategic position in the region, and because it was the first step in Britain’s expansion to the East.
It is no secret that Malta played a vital role in the Mediterranean theater of war.
The role of the Maltese Islands during the First World War was to act as a ‘Nurse of the Mediterranean’. That is, it was a base for the recovery of those who were injured.
The bravery of the Maltese people during the war was acknowledged by King George V who awarded the Malta his George Cross for valor.
The 164 years which the British spent in Malta have had the most impact on Valletta Malta since the city was originally built.
Walking through the capital, Valletta, you’ll come across shops and cafes with British names that date back to last century.
The main boulevards and churches look unmistakably Italian but the corners tend to consist of red English phone boxes or mail boxes.
Malta British influences in Architecture in Valletta, Malta
The British used architecture to assert their power, and control over the Maltese Islands. This is particularly prominent when it comes to the architecture in the city of Valletta Malta.
St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta
This Anglican Cathedral is located in the Independence Square in Valletta Malta.
This was commissioned by Queen Adelaide during a visit to Malta in the 19th Century, and was built between 1839 and 1844.
Prior to this, Anglican services were held in a room in the Grand Master’s Palace, as there was no other place for the Anglicans to worship on the island.
Victoria Gate, Valletta, Malta
Victoria Gate is a city gate named after Queen Victoria in Valletta, Malta. It was built by the British in 1885, and replaced the old “Porta del Monte” (named after one of the Grand Masters).
This replacement occurred due to the fact that Marina street was one of the busiest streets at the time, and there was a growing need for a bigger gate. Although this is not the main city gate, it is the main gate from the Grand Harbor.
Royal Opera House, Valletta Malta
The Royal Opera House was one of the most iconic buildings in Valletta Malta during its time.
It was built during the British Era on the site of the Auberge d’Angleterre in Strada Reale between 1862 and 1866.
Activity was vibrant at the Royal Opera House as it offered a wonderful taste of popular opera to local audiences until 1942. This is the year in which it received a direct hit from a bomb during a World War II air raid and crumbled.
Unfortunately, only the building’s foundations, and a few photos remain of Malta’s once gorgeous Royal Opera House, which graced the entrance of Valletta between until that faithful day in 1942.
This raises questions as to why this magnificent building was never restored to its former glory. Its rebuilding was shrouded in controversy, because some people wanted to have it rebuilt exactly as it was before, while others wanted to build it in a modern style.
The ruins were, instead, redesigned by Italian architect Renzo Piano, who brought it back to life as an open air performance venue. It reopened in 2013 under the name Pjazza Teatru Rjal.
Other popular Historical places to visit in Valletta, Malta
We shall now discuss the numerous places which one should visit in Valletta, Malta.Our Lady of Victories Church, Valletta, Malta
The first church, and building built in Valletta, Malta was the Our Lady of Victories church (formerly known as the Saint Anthony the Abbot Church), a testament of their faith and victory over the Turks in the Great Siege that had occurred previously.
Interestingly, it was built on the spot where a religious ceremony was held to introduce the laying of the foundation stone of the new city of Valletta Malta on 28th March 1566
St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta
A stay in Malta’s capital is not complete without a visit to St John’s Co-Cathedral Malta. This is a Roman Catholic co-cathedral dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.
It is considered one of the finest examples of high Baroque architecture in Europe, as well as one of the world’s great cathedrals.
This is called a Co-cathedral because it shares the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta along with the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Mdina. This was a project commissioned in 1572 by Grand Master Jean de la Cassiere to serve as the church for the Order of the Knights of St John.
The façade is hedged by two towers, the one on the right containing three clocks – showing the time, day of the week and date. Under the clocks is a balcony containing three coat of arms.
One is of Grand Master La Cassiere, who paid for the building, one is of Bishop Torres, who opened the Cathedral and the third is the coat of arms of religion.
The Cathedral consists of nine eloquently decorated chapels on either side; eight were constructed for each of the langues of the Knights of St John, and the ninth is dedicated to their patron saint, Our Lady of Philermos.
One shouldn’t be fooled by its simple, austere looking baroque facade. St. John’s Cathedral has a lot to offer.
The co-Cathedral holds impressive Baroque frescos, lifelike statues, embellished marble floors, and stunning painted vaulted ceilings adorned by the well-known Italian Baroque artist, Mattia Preti. The floor is also covered with memorials for the dead knights with colorful inlaid marble.
Apart from this, the Co-Cathedral oratory also holds one of the most internationally recognized paintings known as ‘The Beheading of St John the Baptist’. It is also the only one which contains his signature.
Hastings garden, Valletta, Malta
Hastings is a stunning garden which often goes overlooked. Located on top of the bastions, this embellished garden offers spectacular views.
The fact that this particular garden is often overlooked means there are advantages to those who go there. Less people means there is always a free bench to sit on. The views are stunning.
One can find many views from this particular garden that are to-die-for. On one side, you can admire the newly restored Triton Fountain, located just outside the City Gate of Valletta, Malta. On the other side, you get a lovely view of Floriana, Manoel Island, Msida, Sliema, and Marsamxett Harbour.
Inside the garden is a monument erected by the Hastings’ family in honor of Francis, Marquis of Hastings who was a governor of Malta.
Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, Valletta, Malta
If you’re looking for an area with the most impressive panoramic views on the island, this is the place to beat.
Created in 1661, these gardens were actually the private gardens of the Knights of the langue of Italy, whose auberges lie very close by. It was only in 1824 that the gardens were opened to the public.
The gardens themselves home a collection of statues and monuments which are a testament to a number of events in Maltese history.
The most noteworthy being a bronze piece by famous Maltese sculptor, Antonio Sciortino. This is known as ‘Les Gavroches’, and it depicts three children rushing forward.
This statue is a personification of the the extreme hardships the Maltese population had to face at the turn of the 20th century.
Grand master’s Palace, Valletta, Malta
One of the earliest, and most breathtaking structures built is the Grandmaster’s Palace. This is a masterpiece which is located in the centre of Valletta, Malta.
Although the original Palazzo was designed by Gelormu Cassar, a number of Grandmasters each made it their own as they deemed fit as it was used as their official residence.
In fact, this palace always hosted the government in Malta. Starting from the Knights, all the way to the current president (as his office), as well as the House of Representatives.
It also houses a number of spectacular works of art, such as frescoes, tapestries, as well as an Armoury.
Auberge de Castille Valletta, Malta
The Auberge de Castille is located at the highest spot of Valletta Malta, facing a wonderful view of Floriana and the Grand Harbor.
Originally, the auberges were intended as the residences of knights who did not have a home of their own in Malta.
Auberge de Castille was the official seat of the Knights of the Langue of Castille, Léon and Portugal.
Throughout the ages, this particular auberge served as a home for the french, and British armed forces. Today, the auberge hosts the Office of the Maltese Prime Minister. The auberge was initially built in a more Mannerist and austere style. This was considered as one of the most innovative designs of the respected architect Girolamo Cassar in 1574.
The appearance of the Auberge today dates back to the 1740s, when Manuel Pinto da Fonseca was in the Grand Master’s position.
At this time, it received a design make-over, in favor of a more Baroque style with its amazingly decorated facades.
Book Our Hotel With One Stop Away From Valletta, Malta
As previously discussed, Valletta Malta has been shaped, and molded by over 450 years of history, spanning a variety of foreign rulers.
ST Hotels is in Sliema, Malta – and is one stop away from Valletta Malta. Book a room at BluBay Apartments Malta to have a truly pleasant experience, together with a friendly service. | |||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 14 | https://nextbiteoflife.com/valletta-malta-our-capital/ | en | Valletta Is The Gorgeous Capital City Of Malta | [
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Small but jam-packed full of history
Valletta is a UNESCO world heritage site, and has been selected as the European Capital of Culture, 2018, a tiny city by the usual standards. Sure, It may be small, but it’s chock full of history. It is definitely one of my favorite places in Malta. The tight cobble stoned streets and the colorful Maltese windows with old women and men peering out never fails to amaze me. It occurred to me recently that l had never posted about this little gem of a place.
Capital City of Malta:
Valletta is one of our main tourist attractions. A very popular destination of the cruise ships. On most days, you will find thousands of cruise ship passengers spending the day shopping. There are tons of sidewalk restaurants and bars, as well as your usual suspects of tourist merchandise stores.
From early morning till about noon, local merchants ply their wares on the appropriately named Merchants street, selling everything from socks to luggage to jeans and household equipment. It’s always a festive atmosphere with a lot of shouting, hand gesturing and overall liveliness. If you can, you should definitely try going at least once. Careful shopping can net you great bargains among all the many thousands of objects. Feel free to haggle.
Valletta became the capital city of Malta in 1571. This came about because the then Grand Master Pierre de Monte decided on moving his royal seat from Fort St Angelo in Birgu to the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta. The Knights of St. John had originally planned the city to be a refuge for soldiers of war. Grandmaster la Valette, a war hero decided to fortify the city which had been until then just been barren land. He never lived to see the completion and the new city was named in his honour.
Best things to see in Valletta include:
St John’s Cathedral
Grandmaster’s Palace
Upper Barrakka Gardens
Fort St. Elmo National War Museum
The Malta Experience
Valletta Waterfront
The Saluting Battery – cannons at noon
National Museum of Archaeology
Shopping on Republic Street and Merchants Street
Fort Ricasoli (Gladiator, Troy, Assassin’s Creed and Entebbe are just some of the movies filmed here)
Capital of Malta:
St. Johns Cathedral
Valletta is also home to the St John’s Co-Cathedral, a church built for the Knights of St John, filled with wonderful baroque style architecture and home of the Caravaggio masterpiece, “The Beheading of St. John the Baptist”. It is one of his masterpieces. A dark, somber painting of a great talent who squandered his life. Yes, he lived in Malta for a while, after running away from Italy (murder charge).
He was a badass here too though. He was taken in by the Knights of Malta, but it wasn’t long before he back to his old ways. Needless to say, he didn’t last too long on this island. Pope John Paul II has visited here at least once too. St. John’s is definitely worth checking out. The opulence is stunning and the altar one of the best ones I’ve ever seen.
Upper Barraka Gardens:
My favourite place in Valletta is the Upper Barraka Gardens. It gives you a stunning view of the Grand Harbor. This is where the siege of Malta took place. It was also the base for the Knights. If you are there at noon, you’ll be able to see the canon salute from the Lower Barrakka Gardens right beneath you. It is a very popular place for weddings or grand parties. A picturesque place, you’ll more than likely run into a bridal session or wedding day shoot, sometimes on the horse drawn carriages that are plentiful in the old city.
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Valletta Waterfront:
Related Article: Malta Sun & Fun
In addition to the cafes, there are upscale stores like Tommy Hilfiger and Diesel among others. Most of the stores in Valletta open all through the day and do not close for siesta like a lot of the stores further in do. This is so they can get all the tourist dollars. Many does not live by food alone after all :-).
Movies filmed in Malta
The Valletta Waterfront is also a nice place to walk down to, and one can get there through the new elevators. This saves you about a 15-20 minute walk, which is helpful in the heat. The opening scene of the Geena Davis movie “Cutthroat Island” was filmed here. In fact, a few movies have also been filmed in Valletta. These include “Munich”, “Swept Away”, “Gladiator”, “The Devil’s Double” to name just a few. “Midnight Express”, one of my husband’s favorite movies of all time, was filmed almost entirely at Fort St. Elmo.
Get the best quotes on Travel Insurance here!
St. George’s Square:
Plenty of designer stores like Tommy Hilfiger and Guess and high end jewellery stores are a stone’s throw from here. You can glimpse the government officials and businessmen going about their business.
Related Reading: Silent City in Malta
Royal Opera House:
There is an open air theater near the entrance of La Valletta, where you can enjoy a concert. From what l understand, the architect commissioned to build it was asked why there was no roof at it’s completion. He replied that no one had mentioned anything about a roof to him :-). I think that’s awesome if true. We also have a newly constructed “Malta version of the Spanish Steps”. Nice place to take the load off, and people watch.
This is just one of the many places to enjoy in Malta. If you’re want even more awesome things to do, check out Dave’s post on seeing the highlights of Malta in 3 days.
The bus terminal is at the entrance of Valletta. This is the departure point for buses to all the other parts of the island. l never get tired of visiting this bustling city. At night, it slows down a bit, and it’s always nice to walk the little narrow dimly lit streets , admiring the Maltese balconies.
Tritons’ Fountain:
Malta Capital City: Wrap up
Since Malta is a very small compact country, it is almost impossible that your travels would not bring you to Valletta. Sure, the airport is in Luqa, but quite a few of the places to see and things to do will bring you to Valletta, especially since the best way to get around is by bus and the station is located here. Though it is a small city, it is vibrant and chaotic, especially when the ships roll in. Best to join the fun, buy some souvenirs, visit historic parts and enjoy people watching while having a coffee or some pastizzi (the local pastry snack)
Pinnable:
What do you think of Malta’s tiny but definitely important capital city? would you like to visit it? Can you add to the things to see in Valletta? Would you consider a Malta vacation?
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9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 80 | https://www.princess.com/ports-excursions/valletta-malta-excursions/ | en | Princess Cruises | [
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] | null | [] | null | en | null | Malta is the largest in a group of seven islands that occupy a strategic position between Europe and Africa. The island's history is long and turbulent. Everyone from the Normans to the Nazis have vied for control of this small, honey-colored rock. For centuries the island was the possession of the knightly Order of St. John - the Knights Hospitaller. Valletta, Malta's current capital, was planned by the Order's Grandmaster Jean de la Valette to secure the island's eastern coast from Turk incursions. Founded in 1566, Valletta's bustling streets are lined with superb Baroque buildings and churches.
Malta has a long history: the megalithic stone temples at Gozo may be the oldest freestanding structures on Earth. Malta has two official languages, Maltese (constitutionally the national language) and English. Malta was admitted to the European Union in 2004 and in 2008 became part of the eurozone. | |||||||
9289 | dbpedia | 2 | 38 | https://whattawowworld.com/en/travels/malta/valletta-european-capital-culture-2018-what-do/ | en | Valletta, European Capital of Culture 2018! What To Do | [
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] | null | [] | 2018-03-26T04:55:55+00:00 | I lived in Malta for many years and I always loved to go to Valletta because it's a charming capital. Read here why you should see it and what to do there. | en | https://whattawowworld.com/wp-content/themes/www/favicon.ico | Whattawowworld | https://whattawowworld.com/en/travels/malta/valletta-european-capital-culture-2018-what-do/ | I have written about my second home Malta in many posts – but now you actually have a well marketed reason to go on the island. Valletta is the European Capital of Culture this year, and Valletta is lovely. The capital of Malta is surrounded by the middle-aged walls and its main colour is ochre. This place is unique! Read here my personal favourites and suggestions how to enjoy the knightly city which was founded already in 1566! Here you can also check the festive program that Valletta and the whole island has to offer.
Take the sidewalks – wander on the narrow streets of Valletta
The streets of Valletta are charming, peaceful and adventurous. When you get inside the historic city walls just go with your own flow. I think the loveliest thing in Valletta is to stroll without direction – the city is tiny anyway. When you’re walking there admire the many details you see in the corners and alleys. There are very interesting religious statues, cool old-school ad signs, funny door knockers, colourful balconies and attractive entrances. Some of the spots might look very shady and run-down but romantic in an ugly way. You can randomly step in some tiny cafes and read the local newspaper and check the funny style of writing news. You can also let your imagination fly; how was it back in the days when the knights still inhabited the city.
Do some light shopping and chill out with the orange drink
It’s cosy to do small shopping in Valletta – you might find something nice or then not! I think Valletta is very sympathetic capital – because it doesn’t really seem like a typical capital, it’s different. One special souvenir is the silver lace jewellery. There are many styles, they are beautiful and cheap. The best thing though, is to go and sit in the half shadow and order an Aperol Spritz – the famous drink from the big brother Italy – and watch the people of the Republic Street passing by.
Get blinded by the Caravaggio paintings!
They shock you in a positive way with extremely wonderful colours! Caravaggio’s “The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” and ”St. Jerome writing” are located in the St. John’s Co-Cathedral which is a fabulous church. It looks nothing special from the main street but inside it’s so filled with gold that you feel like stealing. Instead return a human and grab a Cisk on the street after leaving the wonders behind.
Experience the movie anti-climax – the Maltese intermission!
I really enjoy going to Valletta to the movies. It’s much nicer and silent experience there than in busy Paceville. Well maybe this isn’t a thing to do when you are on a one week holiday – but the movie is a ridiculous experience because of the intermission! The intermission starts right in the middle of the movie and it might happen exact when somebody is shooting someone – or whatever crucial scene is going on! So funny. But you can go and get more nachos with the industrial cheddar sauce! Try also Kinnie, it tastes so bad (to me at least) that it’s an experience too.
A more touristic option would be to go and see the Malta 5D experience, which gives you a great insight about the country and its history. It’s not open that late though, Google the hours. Maybe take a ferry from Sliema when you go to Valletta!
Get wasted on the ex-hooker-street – I mean get happy in the sailor’s red light district!
Aye, aye! Back in the days the sailors crawled up to the Strait Street and got laid. Today you will enjoy some atmospheric pub evenings there. There are those red lights or some mood lightning on the street, you get cheap drinks, good music – sometimes live – and there can be also some small food like in the Yard 32 gin&tapas bar.
If you like jazz music maybe switch to the Bridge Bar on the other side of the city (close still, walking distance!) at some point. There is a live jazz band during the summer season.
Maybe you wanted to have a great dinner before the drinks? In Valletta there are many creditable restaurants. Rampila, Adesso, Sciacca, Taproom, Legligin Wine Bar… Always make reservations.
Say your farewell to Valletta and sail to the Three Cities in the sunset
If you are like me and love flowers and gardens – enjoy not only the flowering on the streets but also the parks. In Valletta, you can go and see the Upper Barrakka Garden where is also a big view to the grand harbour. Then take a lift downstairs and take a little private boat and sail to the three cities – Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua. Enjoy a dinner in Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa) and peace out!
Enjoy Valletta! | ||||
9289 | dbpedia | 3 | 1 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_invasion_of_Malta | en | French invasion of Malta | [
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The French invasion of Malta (Maltese: Invażjoni Franċiża ta' Malta, French: Débarquement Français à Malte) was the successful invasion of the islands of Malta and Gozo, then ruled by the Order of St. John, by the French First Republic led by Napoleon Bonaparte in June 1798 as part of the Mediterranean campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars.
The initial landings were met with some resistance from both the Order and the Maltese militia, but in less than a day the French had taken control of the entire Maltese archipelago except for the well-fortified harbour area that included the capital Valletta. The Order had the means to withstand a siege, but a series of circumstances including discontent among its own French members as well as the native Maltese population led to a truce which ended with the capitulation of the Order.
The invasion therefore ended the 268-year-long Hospitaller rule in Malta, and it resulted in the French occupation of Malta. A few months after the invasion, discontent due to reforms that were taking place led to an uprising, which evolved into a blockade of the French garrison by Maltese insurgents aided by the British, Neapolitans and Portuguese. The blockade lasted for two years, and ended with the French surrendering to the British in 1800, making Malta a protectorate and initiating 164 years of British rule.
Background
[edit]
During the 18th century, the Order of St. John began to decline as its function of fighting the Muslims became outdated. It came to rely on France, which was an important source of revenue, and the majority of the Order's members were French. The Order received major setbacks following the French Revolution, and by 1792 there were serious financial difficulties. Meanwhile, France and the other major European powers began to take an interest in Malta due to its strategic position in the central Mediterranean and its system of fortifications, which was one of the strongest in Europe.[2]
By March 1798, the Order had received information that the French were amassing armaments in Toulon. However, it was believed that they were being prepared for an attack on Portugal and Ireland, and Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim did not believe that an attack on Malta was imminent. Hompesch might have been informed of the attack on 4 June, although the authenticity of the document in question has been disputed.[3]
Invasion
[edit]
6–9 June: Arrival of the French fleet and ultimatum
[edit]
The French fleet was sighted off Gozo on 6 June, and Hompesch summoned a council of war and called out the militia. Maltese soldiers and militia led by members of the Order were responsible for the defence of the fortified cities in the Grand Harbour area: Valletta, Floriana, Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua. The other settlements and coastline were to be defended by the country militia and some knights including members of the Order's navy.[4]
Meanwhile, the French had made preparations for landing and occupying the Maltese Islands. On 9 June, Napoleon sent his aide-de-camp Jean-Andoche Junot to request permission from the Grand Master for the French fleet to water at Malta. Hompesch called a Council meeting to discuss whether to allow them or not, and it was decided to only allow four ships at a time to enter the harbours. This was in accordance with an old statute which forbade entry to more than four ships of Christian countries to enter Maltese ports at once during periods of hostilities.[4]
On 10 June, Napoleon dictated an ultimatum which was written and signed by Caruson, and it was delivered to Hompesch. The message mentioned Napoleon's disappointment at the Order's refusal to allow more French ships to enter the harbours, and it mentioned the considerable French forces and the futility of any resistance. The letter further asked Hompesch to conclude an arrangement so as to avoid hostilities. It stated that the French were treating the Order as an enemy, but it promised to respect the religion, customs and property of the Maltese population.[5]
10 June: French landings and initial resistance
[edit]
On the morning of 10 June, the French began landing their forces at four different locations of the Maltese Islands: St. Paul's Bay, St. Julian's and Marsaxlokk on mainland Malta and the area around Ramla Bay on Gozo.[5]
Landing at St. Paul's Bay
[edit]
The landing in St. Paul's Bay in northern Malta was undertaken by troops commanded by Louis Baraguey d'Hilliers. The Maltese offered some resistance, but they were quickly forced to surrender. The French managed to capture all the fortifications commanding St. Paul's Bay and nearby Mellieħa without any casualties. The defenders' casualties consisted of a knight and a Maltese soldier being killed, and around 150 knights and Maltese being captured.[6]
Landing at Marsaxlokk
[edit]
A force commanded by Louis Desaix landed at Marsaxlokk, a large bay in southern Malta. The landing was successful, and the French managed to capture Fort Rohan after some resistance.[7] Following the capture of the fort, the defenders abandoned the other coastal fortifications in the bay, and the French landed the bulk of their forces unopposed.[8]
Landing at St. Julian's and capture of Mdina
[edit]
Forces led by Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois landed at St. Julian's and the surrounding area. A galley, two galleots and a chaloup of the Order's navy sailed out of the Grand Harbour in an attempt to prevent the landing, but their effort was futile.[9]
Three battalions of the 4th Light Infantry and two battalions of the 19th of the Line landed, and were met by some companies of the Maltese Regiment who offered token resistance before retreating to Valletta. The French forces surrounded the city, being joined by Desaix's troops who had made a successful landing at Marsaxlokk. The Hospitaller defenders then attempted a counterattack and sent out troops against the French, who began to retreat. The Hospitallers and Maltese advanced, but were ambushed by a battalion of the 19th of the Line and were thrown into disarray. The French then began a general advance, and the defenders retreated back to the fortified city. The flag of the Order at the head of the defending force was captured by the French.[6]
With Valletta surrounded, Vaubois led some of the troops to the old city of Mdina, where the remaining militia had retreated following the landings. At a city council meeting at the Bishop's Palace, it was decided that resistance was futile and they agreed to capitulate if the people's religion, liberty and property would be respected. By about 12.00, the terms had been agreed and the city capitulated to Vaubois.[8][10]
Landing and capture of Gozo
[edit]
The French force which landed on the island of Gozo consisted of the 3rd Company of Grenadiers and the 95th Demi-Brigade, and it was led by Jean Reynier. Jean Urbain Fugière [fr] accompanied Reynier and took part in the attack. Gozo was defended by a total of 2300 men, consisting of a company of 300 regular troops (30 of whom were mounted), a regiment of 1200 coastguardsmen and 800 militia.[11]
The landing began at around 13.00 in the area of Redum Kebir (Maltese: Rdum il-Kbir) in the vicinity of Nadur, between the Ramla Right Battery and the Sopu Tower. The defenders opened fire on the French, and they were aided by artillery from the batteries at Ramla and the Sopu Tower. French bombards returned fire to the batteries, and the French managed to advance to higher ground despite heavy fire. The batteries at Ramla were taken, and the French managed to land the rest of their troops. Casualties among the invading force included Sergeant-Major Bertrand, who was killed by gunfire during the landing.[11]
Reynier and part of the 95th Demi-Brigade subsequently marched to Fort Chambray which commanded Gozo's main harbour, Mġarr, in an attempt to cut off communication with Malta. The fort had been filled with refugees from the surrounding villages, and it capitulated at around 14.00. Meanwhile, the rest of the 95th Demi-Brigade marched through Xagħra to the Cittadella in the island's capital Rabat. A detachment occupied the Marsalforn Tower. The Cittadella surrendered by nightfall. The French captured around 116 artillery pieces, 44 of which were in the Cittadella, 22 at Chambray and the remainder in the various coastal fortifications. Muskets and three stores of wheat were also captured.[11]
10–12 June: Situation in the harbour area
[edit]
Following the successful landings, there was widespread commotion, confusion and discontent in Valletta and the Cottonera. The Grand Master and the Council remained assembled at the Palace, together with a number of other knights. The clergy organised processions with the statue of Saint Paul, praying for mercy. Two Frenchmen who were in the city were murdered on the suspicion that they were involved in the invasion. There were fears that the prisoners of the Slaves' Prison would rise in revolt.[12] Fears of a Maltese uprising against the Order increased after two young knights were murdered in the Cottonera.[13]
Within the city, there were factions who supported the French and others who opposed them.[10] Some of the French members of the Order had Republican leanings and supported Napoleon. Jean de Bosredon de Ransijat, a Commander and Grand Cross of the Order who was also the Secretary of the Treasury, was imprisoned in Fort St. Angelo after he addressed a letter to Hompesch stating that he would not fight the French and asking to remain neutral in the conflict.[8] Some pressured Hompesch to negotiate with Napoleon and come to terms of peace,[10] and Maltese representatives petitioned the Grand Master to reach an armistice.[14]
Meanwhile, the fortifications of the harbour area continued to resist the invasion. Fort Ricasoli and Fort Manoel withstood a number of attacks and they only surrendered after the Order's capitulation had been signed.[15][16] The French blockaded Fort Tigné and bombarded it repeatedly on 11 and 12 June, and its defenders were unaware of the negotiations that were taking place at the time. The defending garrison abandoned Tigné on the night of 12–13 June, and the French took control soon afterwards.[9]
11–12 June: Negotiations and capitulation
[edit]
The Council eventually decided to ask for a truce. The Monsieur de Fremaux, the consul of the Batavian Republic, was initially chosen to bear a letter to the French asking for a truce. Due to Fremaux' old age, Monsieur Mélan, a member of his staff, was sent instead, and he arrived on the French flagship L'Orient at 09.00 on 11 June. Mélan returned with a verbal message that Napoleon would send an envoy, and around 12.00 General Junot arrived with a small delegation. He was joined by a number of knights of the Order who were sympathetic to the French, including Ransijat who had been freed following his brief imprisonment.[17]
Hompesch and members of the State Congregation received the envoys, and they agreed on a 24-hour ceasefire during which negotiations would continue on board L'Orient.[18] On 12 June, Napoleon and representatives of the Order and the Maltese signed a convention in which the Order capitulated Valletta and the Maltese Islands' fortifications and ceded sovereignty of the islands to the French. The French promised to acquire a principality for the Grand Master as compensation for the loss of Malta. They promised to respect the private property of individual knights and the Maltese. Pensions were also granted to the Grand Master and the French knights, and a promise to secure similar pensions for knights from the Cisalpine, Roman, Ligurian and Helvetic Republics was also made.[19]
The agreement stated that Fort Manoel, Fort Tigné, Fort St. Angelo, the fortifications of Birgu and Senglea, the Santa Margherita Lines and the Cottonera Lines were to be surrendered to the French by 12.00 of 12 June. The fortifications of Valletta, the Floriana Lines, Fort Saint Elmo, Fort Ricasoli and the remaining fortifications were to be surrendered by 12.00 of the following day. The Order's navy was to be transferred to a French officer by 12 June.[20] By 12–13 June, the French had taken control of the entire island and its fortifications. They also captured approximately 1200 artillery pieces, 40000 muskets, 1,500,000 pounds (680,000 kg) of gunpowder, two ships of the line, a frigate and four galleys of the Order.[21]
Aftermath
[edit]
Following the capture of Malta, Napoleon landed at Valletta on 13 June. He stayed on the island for six days, spending the first night at the Banca Giuratale and later staying at Palazzo Parisio,[21] before most of the French fleet embarked for the campaign in Egypt. General Vaubois remained on the island with a garrison in order to maintain control, thereby establishing the French occupation of Malta. During his short stay, Napoleon dictated instructions which radically reformed the Maltese government and society, so as to bring it in line with French Republican ideals.[22]
A few days after the capitulation, the Grand Master and many knights left the island, taking with them few movable possessions including some relics and icons. The Order received shelter from Paul I of Russia, who was eventually proclaimed Grand Master by some knights. The Order gradually evolved into the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which still exists today and has sovereignty but no territory.[2]
Most of the Maltese were initially glad at the expulsion of the Order and were sympathetic to the French, but this opinion changed after the French refused to pay the Order's debts, introduced new taxes, refused to pay pensions, introduced laws restricting the privileges of the Church and began to loot churches.[23] Within three months, the Maltese rose up against the occupiers, and took control of most of the islands, with British, Neapolitan and Portuguese assistance. The French garrison in Valletta and the Cottonera withstood the ensuing blockade for two years, before Vaubois surrendered to the British in 1800, making Malta a protectorate and initiating 164 years of British rule.[24]
References
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9289 | dbpedia | 1 | 94 | https://evaristbartolo.mt/my-malta/history/ | en | Evarist Bartolo | [
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] | null | [] | 2022-07-07T09:21:19+00:00 | Malta’s history | SOME Essential Highlights “Malta is today a modern, European, cosmopolitan island nation, with a thriving expat community from all across the globe.” Malta is home to what may be the oldest freestanding structure in the world: the oldest of all the megalithic temples on the islands – il-Ggantija, found in Gozo dating […] | en | Evarist Bartolo | https://evaristbartolo.mt/my-malta/history/ | Malta has been inhabited since approximately 5,900 BC. Its location in the centre of the Mediterranean has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base, with a succession of powers having contested and ruled the islands, including the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, Knights of St. John, French, and British, amongst others.
With a population of about 516,000 (excluding tourists and expats) over 316 km2 (122 square miles), Malta is the world’s tenth-smallest country and the fourth most densely populated sovereign country. Its capital is Valletta, the smallest national capital in the European Union by area and population. According to the data from 2020 by Eurostat, the Functional Urban Area and metropolitan region covered the whole island and had a population of 480,134. According to the United Nations, ESPON and EU Commission, “the whole territory of Malta constitutes a single urban region”.
Malta is increasingly referred to as a city-state and listed in rankings concerning cities or metropolitan areas. Malta is one of the two island countries in the Mediterranean, along with Cyprus.
British Influences
Malta became a British colony in 1813, serving as a way station for ships and the headquarters for the British Mediterranean Fleet. It was besieged by the Axis powers during World War II and was an important Allied base for operations in North Africa and the Mediterranean. The British parliament passed the Malta Independence Act in 1964, giving Malta independence from the United Kingdom as the State of Malta, with Elizabeth II as its queen. The country became a republic in 1974. Since independence, it has been a member state of the (British) Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations and joined the European Union in 2004.
British influences can be seen in many aspects of the Maltese way of life, and more so in the island’s education, political system and the prevailing use of the English language.
Religion
Malta has had Christians since the time of Early Christianity, and this religion has been the dominating one ever since, if not for the Arab period during the early Middle ages, where Malta, like elsewhere in Southern Europe, fell under Arab rule. The Arab period ended with the Norman liberation of Malta by Roger I in 1091.
Today, while Catholicism is the state religion, the Constitution of Malta guarantees freedom of conscience and religious worship.
There is a gradual increase in secularisation and various other religions appearing due to numerous factors, such as migration.
The Maltese language
The official languages are Maltese and English, and 66% of the current Maltese population is at least conversational in Italian.
Maltese is one of the European Union’s official languages and is a living testimony to the island’s ancient history. The present-day Maltese language originated from Siculo-Arabic, the dialect in Sicily during the Middle Ages, from where most Maltese people trace their ancestry.
While this Siculo-Arabic dialect slowly faded away on the neighbouring island of Sicily, it not only survived in Malta but gradually morphed into the fully-fledged language we know today.
While the grammar remains mostly based on Siculo-Arabic, it is estimated that over 70% of the Maltese vocabulary is of Italian, English or French origin. |