What to See in Valletta (Malta)

Valletta was founded by Jean Parisot de La Vallette, Grand Master of the Order of Saint John. He began the construction of this amazing city in 1566 after the victory of the Order of the Knights over the army of Suleiman the Magnificent, who besieged Malta, but could not capture it. The new city was supposed to become an indestructible bastion of knights, so Valletta was surrounded by an impregnable wall and powerful fortifications were erected. It was they who were to become the determining factor in protecting the island and the Grand Harbor from enemies. La Vallette believed that the new city should not only be a bastion of the Order, but also a political, economic and cultural center, a city “built by noble gentlemen for noble gentlemen.” All Valletta todayis an open-air museum. Inside the city walls are stored monuments of archeology, history, architecture and art. Here, almost every building is worthy of a separate description. On a rectangular network of narrow streets are the most remarkable buildings in Malta – beautiful palaces and majestic temples. Valletta is one of the few medieval fortified towns that have survived in Europe today.

The main street of the city is Republic Street. It divides the peninsula on which Valletta is located., in half. This is a kind of Maltese Covent Garden, a place for walking and meeting. Life is in full swing here, the doors of many shops, restaurants and cafes are wide open. Walking along the street, you will see the St. James Cavalier, a former part of the defensive structures, and one of the most beautiful buildings in Malta – Castille, which used to serve as a courtyard for the Spanish and Portuguese knights, and today is the residence of the Prime Minister. Here, on Republic Street, is the “Auberge de Provence”. This building, built in 1574, housed the courtyard of the French knights from Provence. During British rule, this place was known as the Union Club and was the center of social life in Malta.. It currently houses the National Museum of Archaeology. Palace Square is located on Republic Street, attracting tourists with the Palace of the Grand Master standing here. This huge, beautiful and majestic building houses the residence of the President and the Parliament of the Republic of Malta. Some of its halls are open to the public, and among them the Armory Hall is of particular interest, which displays weapons and armor from the 14th-18th centuries. Republic Street ends near Fort St. Elmo, located at the water’s edge. It was here that the knights of St. John held back the most violent attacks of Turkish soldiers. Currently, the fort exhibits exhibits telling about the events of the Second World War; The Military Museum of Malta is also located here.. The most famous churches are San Giovanni, Il Jezd, San Giacomo. The Cathedral of San Giovanni houses the masterpiece of the Italian painter Caravaggio “The Decapitation of St. John”.

According to ITYPEJOB, Valletta is a city for walking. It is almost completely pedestrian, car entry is limited here. But even for those who are allowed this, there is little joy – in the 16th century, the streets were built based on the needs of carriages and horsemen, so it is extremely problematic to drive around the city in the daytime. You can also take a walk in the gardens – on the edges of the city there are three magnificent gardens Hastings, Upper and Lower Barrakka.

Contact in Malta

Throughout the Maltese archipelago, a single code is 356, and access to international calls in Malta is 00.

From most telephone booths in Malta, you can call using plastic phone cards worth 2.5 LM. On these devices there is an inscription cardphone. Cards are sold at any kiosk or store. Devices with the inscription coinphone work from coins. A 2 LM card is enough for about 5 minutes of a conversation with Russia, 3 LM is enough for a conversation about 7 minutes, 5 LM is enough for a conversation about 10 minutes with Russia. Calls in the evening and on weekends are much cheaper than during business hours. You can also call from the hotel, but it will be much more expensive. Phone numbers are six digits.

Most hotels also provide fax services and internet access. Maltacom provides 24/7 international telephony, fax, telex, and internet access from its office in St. George “s Bay, St. Julious. The office located on South Street in Valletta provides the same services, but during limited hours from Monday to Friday. The same services are provided from 8.00 – 22.00 to Maltacom branches in Silema, St. Julious. Paul’s Bay and at the airport. Phone cards are sold in these branches.

From Russia they call to Malta by dialing 8 – 10 – 356 – 21 + number in Malta (six digits). On mobile phones from Russia dial as follows: 8 – 10 – 356 + mobile phone number in Malta.

The post office works, postcards and letters are collected daily from special street mailboxes. In hotels at the reception you can buy postcards, stamps and envelopes, and there are usually mailboxes there.

Emergency Phones in Malta

Important Phones and Addresses

112 – Police

196 – Ambulance

199 – Fire Brigade

1182 – Help

1152 – Foreign Operator

195 – Time Check

21-241-251 – St. Luke “s Hospital in Malta (St. Luke” s Road, G “Mangia)

21-560-881 – Graig Hospital in Gozo

21-247-777 – immigration police

21-249-600 – Luqa International Airport