STEP into HISTORY
With a rich culture and more besides, Valletta is the perfect destination for a city break
WITH the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Byzantines having all left their mark on Malta, it’s easy to see why it’s such a fascinating destination for history buffs and culture vultures.
Malta’s capital city is Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the perfect place to start exploring the Maltese archipelago.
This fortified city is one of the most concentrated historical sites in the world, boasting hundreds of monuments, baroque buildings and legends that make it an enthralling place to explore – not to mention a few fantastic restaurants.
Begin your journey with breakfast at Prego on South Street, where you can sample some of the best authentic pastizzi pastries in the whole town. Then, head to Auberge de Castille, originally home to the knights of the Order of St John during the 16th century.
Wander around the outside of this stunning building, which today serves as the office to the Maltese prime minister, before discovering the rest of this wonderful city.
On your travels, don’t miss the chance to sample Malta’s delectable local fare. Just a four-minute walk from Auberge de Castille is Da Pippo Trattoria, an unpretentious restaurant that does spectacularly buttery seafood pasta – the perfect lunchtime treat. Just down the road, you’ll find another essential pit stop: The National Museum of Fine Arts. This baroque palace dates back to the 1570s. Now, it houses J M W Turner’s watercolour of the Grand Harbour, as well as the finest baroque masterpieces in Malta. To round off your day in style, head to the Manoel Theatre in Old Theatre Street.
One of Europe’s oldest working theatres, this 18th-century beauty hosts concerts from the Maltese Philharmonic Orchestra and more; whatever tickles your fancy, you’ll find something to enjoy beneath the lovely trompe-l’oeil ceiling.
Afterwards, you can potter through Valletta’s cobbled streets to Rubino’s for an authentic Maltese supper, with fine local wine, sumptuous deep-fried goat’s cheese with fig jam and other traditional delicacies.