Malta - Valletta, Birgu, Mdina - March 9/10
So lucky to have 2 beautiful
days in Malta, although one was quite windy, but both days had abundant sunshine.
It's hard not to fall in love with the beauty of Malta.
Built by the Knights of St John, the island of Malta located near Sicily, has long been a strategic location for Mediterranean trade and culture, also a prime naval base location in World War ll.
We went on our own and took a short ride across the Grand Harbor on a traditional style 4-person Maltese water taxi, called a dghajsa, to the old fortified city of Birgu. In lovely Birgu, we walked around the ancient alleys and toured the vast interior of the Inquisitor's Palace. The Palace was seat of the Maltese inquisition for 200 years, with restored palace rooms, torture chambers, and prison cells for those who spoke out against whatever the Inquisitor deemed wrong. We also toured the imposing medieval Fort St. Angelo, originally a castle and rebuilt as a bastioned fort by the Order of St. John in the 1530's.
Viking offered us all an incredible evening excursion to the medieval walled hilltop lovely city of Mdina, former capital of Malta. We were taken to the baroque St. Paul Co-Cathedral for a world-class concert with an accompanying choir.
The next day, we enjoyed the city of Valletta on our own. Valletta, the current capital of Malta, is a baroque wonder, built with the island's honey colored limestone.
Built by the Knights of St John, the island of Malta located near Sicily, has long been a strategic location for Mediterranean trade and culture, also a prime naval base location in World War ll.
We went on our own and took a short ride across the Grand Harbor on a traditional style 4-person Maltese water taxi, called a dghajsa, to the old fortified city of Birgu. In lovely Birgu, we walked around the ancient alleys and toured the vast interior of the Inquisitor's Palace. The Palace was seat of the Maltese inquisition for 200 years, with restored palace rooms, torture chambers, and prison cells for those who spoke out against whatever the Inquisitor deemed wrong. We also toured the imposing medieval Fort St. Angelo, originally a castle and rebuilt as a bastioned fort by the Order of St. John in the 1530's.
Viking offered us all an incredible evening excursion to the medieval walled hilltop lovely city of Mdina, former capital of Malta. We were taken to the baroque St. Paul Co-Cathedral for a world-class concert with an accompanying choir.
The next day, we enjoyed the city of Valletta on our own. Valletta, the current capital of Malta, is a baroque wonder, built with the island's honey colored limestone.
The stunning Grand Harbor surrounds it.
The Barracka elevator takes you from sea level to the top of the old city walls in the ancient town center, giving an idea of how difficult it had to be to build such immensely tall, thick walls.
St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta is one of all Europe's finest examples of baroque and contains the only signed work of Caravaggio, the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.
The sublime harbor setting, the flowers, the colors, the amazing tall, thick honey colored stone walls, delightful enclosed tiny balconies, beautiful buildings, amazing churches, concert, and fortresses were a treat for all.
The Barracka elevator takes you from sea level to the top of the old city walls in the ancient town center, giving an idea of how difficult it had to be to build such immensely tall, thick walls.
St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta is one of all Europe's finest examples of baroque and contains the only signed work of Caravaggio, the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.
The sublime harbor setting, the flowers, the colors, the amazing tall, thick honey colored stone walls, delightful enclosed tiny balconies, beautiful buildings, amazing churches, concert, and fortresses were a treat for all.
Everyone agreed on Madeira and Malta as their favorite stops to date.
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