Valetta Bucket List: Amazing Places to Visit in Valetta, Malta
Valetta in Malta is the place to be for history lovers. The city is filled with museums which will surely attract your interest. Some topics you will encounter are medieval kingdoms, libraries, and even toys.
Given Valetta’s rich history, this city was known as the Capital of Culture and recognized as a UNESCO Heritage Site. Here are some of the things you can do during your stay:
Visit La Sacra Infermeria (The Knights Hospitaller)
La Sacra Infermeria is a hospital built by order of the Knights of St. John. This hospital was made for the sake of making groundbreaking treatments that treated the sick and wounded.
The facility has had several usages over the years, such as being a medical academy, entertainment center, and children’s theatre. Your tour in this tourist spot begins with The Malta Experience, a 45-minute film about the 7,000-history of the Maltese Islands.
Experience Malta 5D
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If you’re looking for a more enjoyable way of learning about Maltese history, then Malta 5D is an experience you cannot miss.
Malta 5D is a cinematic show with special effects such as spraying water, moving seats, and blasting air. This 18-minute long show also presents the show in 19 different languages and offers free soft drinks for customers.
See the Grandmaster’s Palace
The Grandmaster’s Palace is the city’s seat of power as it has always hosted prominent government officials.
The palace is known for having the well-known Council Chamber, which is decorated with Gobelins tapestries that features multiple continents such as South America, India, and Africa. Other places that are worth your attention are The Palace Armory and Throne Room.
Learn from the National War Museum
The National War Museum has a special place in Malta’s citizens’ hearts, given how it portrays the country’s hardships during world wars.
The museum features historical war relics such as the George Cross, the Book of Remembrance, and a Bofors anti-aircraft gun. It also exhibits photographic panels that portray the citizens’ struggles during difficult times.
Watch the In Guardia Parade
If you happened to visit the National War Museum on a late Sunday morning, then you shouldn’t miss out on watching the In Guardia Parade outside.
The parade serves as a re-enactment of military drills of the Knights of St. John. These 45-minute shows consist of cannons, explosions, and a riot of color as the exhibitionists wore their costumes.
Watch the Saluting Battery
The Saluting Battery is a dynamic site that gives people a glimpse of history. It is the oldest saluting battery globally, which has also been combatting naval assault for 500 years.
You will usually hear a firing gun during mid-days and celebrations such as festivals, anniversaries, and religious feasts.
Admire views at the Upper Barrakka Gardens
The Upper Barakka Gardens is the best place to see breathtaking views. The terrace garden previously served as a private training grounds for knights from Italy.
This venue provides a panoramic view of the Mediterranean harbor with the cities of Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua as a background. The garden also has plaques and statues of Maltese figures who were a part of its history.
Spend Some Time at the Valetta Waterfront
The Valetta Waterfront is the city’s trademark promenade for tourists. What makes this promenade attractive is baroque buildings that consist of bars, restaurants, and shops.
You can also take time to simply walk along the promenade as you admire the scenic view of the Mediterranean harbor. There are also occasional events such as the annual Jazz Festival and the Global Run Valletta race.
Relax at the Lower Barrakka Gardens
The Lower Barrakka Gardens provides a more peaceful venue compared to the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Given that this garden is less famous, it provides tranquil scenery for people looking to relax.
Some of the things you can do in the garden are watching the passing crew ships in the Mediterranean Sea and admiring the Siege Bell Memorial. There are also plenty of snack bars and cafes outside the garden.
Visit the Fortifications Interpretation Centre
The Fortifications Interpretation Centre commemorates the heritage of Malta’s military architecture. Rather than pay tribute to wars, the center focuses on fortifications meant to protect rather than destroy.
This center provides an interactive learning experience for people to appreciate the art and engineering of military fortifications.
See the Manoel Theatre
The Manoel Theatre is the oldest and most important theatre in Malta. This baroque-style architecture might look small on the outside, but the same cannot be said for the inside because of its magnificent interior design.
Several productions are hosted here, such as ballets, operas, dramas, and music recitals. Even if there is no scheduled performance, the theatre offers touring services where tourists admire the scenery and learn about its history.
Learn from the National Library
Valetta’s National Library is considered a national treasure in the Maltese Islands. The library has books, journals, and maps that played a significant part in the history of European and Mediterranean regions.
Some of the library’s famous collections are 1566 Papyrus document, Archives of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, and drawings of Giorgio Grognet.
Explore the Lascaris War Rooms
The Lascaris War Rooms provide a historical adventure for curious learners. The war rooms are a series of tunnels and chambers that served as the British War Headquarters during World War II.
Some of the crucial rooms you will find are the Navy Plotting Room, Anti-Aircraft Guns Operations Room, and the Combined Operations Room. There are also two displayed wartime tanks, which are the Matilda and M3 Stuart.
Learn from the National Museum of Archaeology
The National Museum of Archaeology serves to educate visitors on the Neolithic to Phoenician of Malta. This baroque building was previously the house of the Knights of the Order of St. John.
Some of the museum’s notable artifacts are the Sleeping Lady, Venus of Malta, and the Horus & Anubis pendant. The museum also presents the other archaeological sites in Malta.
Explore the Malta Toy Museum
The Malta Toy Museum is a paradise for avid toy collectors over the past few decades. The toys are owned by Vincent Brown, who owns a collection of these dating back from the 1950s.
Some nostalgic toys you will find are model boats, planes, cars, dolls, and farmyard animals. As you observe the toys, you also notice society’s evolution, which is the story that Vincent wants to tell.
Valetta Travel and Tour Packages
To help you plan out your vacation to Valetta, we listed places to visit and other amazing things to do in Valetta, Malta. We also listed links to some of the best travel deals, tour packages, excellent flight deals, and accommodation options.
Searching for the best hotels, resorts, and affordable flights in the nearby Cities? Check out our list of affordable Valetta hotels and resorts via Agoda, Booking, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
Want more updates about new package tours and tourist spots in Valetta, Malta? Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.
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