The
steps of Valletta reach deep into the hearts of the people and the
country. The
city was designed on a grid, the streets angled to steer the cool breezes
off the Mediterranean. As a safeguard during the medieval war years, each
building was made flush with its neighbour. There could be no front yard,
and edifices couldn't poke into the street to narrow the passageway. Every
house was connected to the ingenious public drainage system. And high up
on each street corner, statues were erected to venerate the saints.
The
Palace of the Grand Masters, completed in 1574, contains portraits of the
Grand Masters of the Order and European monarchs, interesting furniture,
and other works of art.
Don’t
miss St. John's Co-Cathedral and Museum. The Cathedral, formerly the
Conventual Church of the Order, is historically and artistically one of
the most important monuments on the island. It was built between 1573 and
1577 to the design of Gerolamo Cassar (1520-1586), chief engineer of the
Order.
The
Manoel Theatre was originally built as a Court Theatre by Grand Master
Manoel de Vilhena in 1731 and is one of the oldest theatres in Europe
still in operation.
Visit
Valletta's Upper Barracca Gardens for a panoramic view of the island's
natural harbour! From this vantage point you'll also see the fortified
cities of Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa.
The
Malta International Choir & Folk Festival is now a firm feature on
Malta's calendar of events. Originally conceived as a means of attracting
visitors to the islands in the off-season, the festival proved an almost
immediate success attracting choirs from many countries, including the
'home' of male voice choirs, Wales.
