Top 20 must-see places in Malta

Valletta is the ancient capital of Malta

Of course, getting to know a new country should start with its capital. If you haven't been to Valletta, you haven't been to Malta.

Founded by the Knights Hospitallers in the 16th century, the city of Valletta still stands within its mighty fortress walls made of local limestone. Despite being a UNESCO World Heritage Site for medieval architecture, the city is still the administrative center of the Republic of Malta. Houses dating back several centuries house countless museums, restaurants and stores.

The main calling card of Valletta is St. John's Cathedral, built here in the XVI century — we advise you to start your walk there. The Triton Fountain and the local Museum of Archaeology are also worth a visit.

St. Anthony's Botanical Garden

Here you will get acquainted with the most exotic trees, flowers and shrubs. This island of vegetation was opened for tourists in 1882. It admires literally everything — elegant sidewalks, decorative ponds with swans, sculptures. Plants in the garden are collected from all over the world, and some were planted in the ground more than 300 years ago.

Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta is the city's main church and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in the neoclassical style between 1958 and 1981 on the site of a late 16th century church destroyed during World War II. This religious building is the tallest in the city and attracts attention with its massive 42-meter dome, which is visible from any point of the capital of Malta. Also worthy of tourist interest are its interior interiors with red marble columns, rich stucco and works of art.

Mdina Museum City

Among the best attractions in Malta is the former capital of the archipelago. It is a fortified settlement with a rich history. The city is approximately 4 thousand years old, and its total area is a little over 1 km², with a population of 300 people. The settlement is built on a rock, and a stone wall has been erected around it.

Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is one of Malta's most beautiful sights. It is a massive 30-meter arch and a complex of sea caves, which are located on the southeastern coast of Malta, near the fishing harbor of Vid-i Zurrik. The best time to visit it to fully enjoy the incredible play of colors is from early morning to midday during the summer months, especially on clear sunny days.

Grand Harbor

The Grand Harbor is one of the largest natural harbors in the Mediterranean. It has been used since prehistoric times — for 268 years it was home to the Knights of St. John.

Today the Grand Harbor is the port of Valletta, which welcomes cruise ships and has a luxurious promenade with many fashionable cafes, restaurants and stores. It also hosts major cultural events such as the National Regatta, the International Fireworks Festival and the Jazz Festival.

St. John's Cathedral

We have already mentioned St. John's Cathedral in Valletta, but perhaps it deserves its own paragraph, as it is the country's calling card. It was built between 1573 and 1577 and resembles an austere fortress, bounded on the sides by bell towers. However, inside it is luxuriously decorated — its interior is considered to be the best example of High Baroque in Europe. The vault of the church is decorated with scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist by the artist Mattia Preti. The stone walls of the church are richly carved and the floors are inlaid with marble tombstones of knights and grand masters of the Maltese order.

Ghar Dalam Cave

This cave was formed by mountains located on the southeastern coast. It was discovered at the end of the 19th century and it was found to include several layers, among which animal remains and human bones were found.

Tourists can only explore the first 50 meters of the cave out of 144 meters, but it is enough to tickle the nerves of ardent fans of extreme sports.

Basilica of Our Lady of Ta-Pinu

Visit the Catholic church, which is located on the island of Gozo. It was once the site of a 16th century chapel, but construction of the modern church began in 1920 and lasted 11 years. The building stands in the middle of the countryside, surrounded by hills of extraordinary beauty. The interior of the basilica is decorated with paintings carved from natural stone, mosaics and friezes.

Palazzo Parisio

The luxurious Palazzo Parisio is located in the small town of Nashshar, 13 km from Valletta. It was formerly known as Palazzo Chicluna, after its first owner. This elegant Sicilian Baroque palace, nicknamed a miniature Versailles, was built in the early 20th century. Its interiors are richly decorated with frescoes, stucco, columns, statues and works of art. It also houses the Luna restaurant overlooking the garden, where you can spend time with the gentle sounds of the piano.

You can book a hotel in Malta with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Upper Barrakka Gardens

The Upper Barrakka Gardens is a beautiful public park in the capital of Malta. It is located on the upper tier of the Peter and Paul Bastion and is twinned with the Lower Barrakka Gardens. It is the highest point of the city walls and therefore offers magnificent views of the Grand Harbour, the Three Cities, the dockyard and lower Valletta. The park is adorned with a collection of busts and statues, a refreshing fountain and many flowers.

The megalithic temple complex of Mnaidra

It is not known exactly when Mnaidra was erected, tentatively it was in 3600 BC. Strong coral limestone was used as the main building material. It is characterized by resistance to water, sunlight, and also looks very unusual, which attracts keen travelers.

Casa Rossa Piccola

One of the last palaces to be built in Valletta deserves attention. In its time, the orders of knights were ordered to build a city that could rival European capitals. This is when numerous palaces appeared, one of which was Casa Rossa Piccola. Even today the castle is privately owned, but at the same time it is open to the public. The interior is characterized by the presence of rich furniture, a collection of antique dishes and paintings.

Automobile Museum

This place is interesting because it offers an unusual exposition, consisting of samples of vehicles from the golden fund of the world automobile industry. The description says that tourists are offered the opportunity to see autos that smell of history. This is a great opportunity to see how far progress has moved forward.

Mosta Rotunda

The Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Mosta is also commonly known as the Rotunda of Mosta. It is Malta's largest and most popular church and was built between 1833 and 1860 in the neoclassical style. It has the world's third largest unsupported dome and its design is based on the architecture of the Roman Pantheon.

Rabat

Rabat is a lively modern city next to Mdina. They were once one, but were separated during the period of Arab rule. Few monuments from ancient times have survived here, but some sights are of great historical value. For example, it will be interesting to visit the ancient villa Domus Romana, which was built in the first century BC, and the Church of St. Paul along with the Holy Grotto.

Manoel Theater

The Manoel Theater is the third oldest operating theater in Europe. It was built in Malta in 1731 by order of the Grand Master of the Order of Knights Hospitallers, Fra Antonio Manoel de Villena, "for the honest recreation of the people", as evidenced by the inscription at its entrance. This ancient structure has an unusual architecture for a theater and is located on the street in a row with other buildings. Its interior is in the classic rococo style and richly decorated.

Fort Sant'Angelo

A military fortification located in the town of Birgu. It is believed to have been built during the Roman Empire. During its existence, the fort was repeatedly rebuilt and fortified. The latest addition is considered to be a tower, the remains of which date back to the XI century. A certain part of the fortification is used as a military museum.

Mjarr

This attraction in Malta is also known as Imjarr. It refers to a small village in the northwestern part of the state. The locals are mainly engaged in agriculture, namely farms, vineyards in the area. The peculiarity of Mjarra is the presence of archaeological monuments, which are included in the UNESCO list.

National Aquarium of Malta

The National Aquarium of Malta is a popular attraction for family visits. It is located in the resort town of Qawra and is housed in a building whose architecture resembles a starfish. There are more than 50 aquariums with over 250 species of underwater inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea and other parts of the world. Among them you can see jellyfish, octopuses, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater and marine fish.