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Photo: Mandyy88, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.Explore the sun-drenched streets and rich history of Malta's capital. Test your knowledge of Valletta's unique architecture, famous landmarks, and cultural gems in this fascinating quiz!
City Gate Explorer 0–4 · Republic Street Regular 5–8 · Valletta Virtuoso 9–10
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Jean de Valette was the 49th Grand Master and the city's namesake. After the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, he initiated the construction of a new fortified city on the Sceberras Peninsula to ensure the island's defense. A surprising fact is that the city's original name was 'Humilissima Civitas Valletta', meaning 'The Most Humble City of Valletta'.
Photo: Hamelin de Guettelet, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, known simply as Caravaggio, spent a period in Malta and created several works for the Knights. His most famous Maltese work, 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist,' is displayed in St. John's Co-Cathedral, where it remains the only painting he ever signed. The painting is considered one of the masterpieces of Western art.
Photo: Ottavio Leoni, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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The Great Siege of Malta in 1565 saw the Ottoman Empire attempt to conquer the island, but they were repelled by the Knights of St. John and the Maltese. The immense effort and vulnerability exposed during the siege convinced Grand Master Jean de Valette of the urgent need for a new, impregnable fortified city, leading to the foundation of Valletta. The city's design reflects this defensive purpose.
Photo: Mattia Perez d'Aleccio, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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St. John's Co-Cathedral, originally built as a conventual church for the Knights of St. John, is a masterpiece of High Baroque art and architecture. Its modest exterior belies an incredibly rich interior, featuring intricate carvings, gilded vaults, and Caravaggio's masterpiece, 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.' The floor is entirely composed of marble tombstones of the Knights.
Photo: Matthew Axiak, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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The Upper Barrakka Gardens sit on the highest point of Valletta's walls. They were laid out in the 1660s as a place for the Knights of St John to relax, and opened to the public in the early 1800s. Below them is the Saluting Battery, where cannons are fired every day except Sunday at noon and 4 pm, keeping alive gun signals from the days of the Knights and the British.
Photo: C T Johansson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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The Grandmaster's Palace, one of the first buildings erected in Valletta, served as the residence of the Grand Masters of the Order of St. John. Over centuries, it has housed various governing bodies, and today it is the seat of the Office of the President of Malta. The palace is also home to the Palace Armoury, featuring an impressive collection of weapons and armour.
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The Manoel Theatre, inaugurated in 1732, holds the distinction of being one of the oldest working theatres in Europe and is a superb example of Baroque architecture. It was commissioned by Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena with the aim of providing 'honest recreation for the public.' The Astra Theatre is a renowned opera house located in Victoria, Gozo, not Valletta.
Photo: R Muscat, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
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The Lower Barrakka Gardens offer serene views over the Grand Harbour and the breakwater. Their centrepiece is a neoclassical temple built in 1810 to honour Sir Alexander Ball, Malta's first British Civil Commissioner. Plaques on the terrace remember people and events from across Europe, making the gardens a peaceful, quieter neighbour of the more famous Upper Barrakka Gardens.
Photo: Simon Slator, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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Valletta held the prestigious title of European Capital of Culture in 2018, an initiative by the European Union to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures. This designation brought a year-long programme of events, festivals, and cultural projects, further boosting the city's international profile and cultural regeneration. It was a significant milestone for Malta.
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The luzzu is a traditional fishing boat from the Maltese archipelago. It is typically painted in bright colours, with a pair of eyes (known as the Eye of Osiris or Eye of Horus) on the bow, which are said to protect the fishermen from evil spirits while at sea. These distinctive boats are a common and colourful sight in Marsaxlokk Bay and other Maltese harbours.
Photo: -jkb-, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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