PAID CONTENT FOR VISIT MALTA AND HERITAGE MALTA


Visit Malta MALTA


EUROPE’S SMALLEST CAPITAL OFFERS AN EXPERIENCE THAT’S LARGER THAN LIFE, FROM BAROQUE MASTERPIECES TO VIBRANT FOOD AND CULTURE


In Malta’s capital city, Valletta, history, culture and modern life blend seamlessly. Despite its size, the city offers visitors an extraordinary journey through centuries of heritage, art and architecture. Built by the Order of St John in the 16th Century, Valletta was conceived as both a fortress and a statement of power, faith and resilience. Today, it stands proudly as a Unesco World Heritage Site, inviting travellers to discover why this tiny capital is one of Europe’s most remarkable destinations. Valletta’s story begins with the Order of St John,


a religious and military order that arrived in Malta in 1530. After successfully defending the island during the Great Siege of 1565 against the Ottoman Empire, the Knights set out to build a fortified city to embody their strength and devotion. Named after Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette, the city was carefully planned with straight streets, bastions and palaces, making it one of the earliest examples of a grid-based city. Walking through Valletta today, the legacy of the Knights endures in its grand architecture, ornate


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churches and imposing fortifications, with every corner revealing layers of faith and artistry. Covering less than one square kilometre, Valletta


is Europe’s smallest capital city, yet its compact footprint holds an astonishing wealth of history. Perfect for exploration on foot, it allows visitors to move easily from city gates to waterfront, passing palaces, museums and lively squares along the way. Valletta proves that small can indeed be mighty. Valletta is also home to some of Malta’s most


significant historical sites, managed by Heritage Malta, the national agency for museums, conservation and cultural heritage, offering invaluable insight into the island’s past.


Fort St Elmo & The National War Museum This star-shaped fortress guards the entrance to Valletta’s harbour and played a crucial role during the Great Siege. Today, it houses the National War Museum, where visitors can explore Malta’s military history, including artefacts from the Second World War.


Grand Master’s Palace Once the residence of the Grand Masters of the Order of St John, this palace is a masterpiece of baroque architecture. Its richly decorated halls and state rooms reflect the grandeur of the Knights, while its Armoury showcases one of the world’s foremost collections of weapons and armour used in the Order’s battles.


MUŻA – The National Community Art Museum Located in the Auberge d’Italie, MUŻA is Malta’s flagship art museum. Its collections span centuries and follow a chronological approach, tracing art from prehistoric times to the 21st Century, thus offering a dialogue between past and present.


National Museum of Archaeology Housed in the Auberge de Provence, this museum presents a spectacular collection and an alluring experience of the Maltese Islands’ prehistory and early history. With artefacts dating back from


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