Valletta owes much of its military success to its strategic location on the Grand Harbor. Cruise around the Grand Harbor Bastion on the Grand Harbor You can pick up a helmet to feel the actual weight.ģ. This collection reveals that the Knights of Malta were not ordinary soldiers, they were aristocratic warriors equipped with the most elaborate armor and weapons that money could buy. The Palace Armoury displays Knights' armor and weapons (swords, bows, firearms, and cannons) dating from the 15th to the 18th century. One of the paintings depicts the dignified-looking Grandmaster Jean de Vallette, founder of the city of Valletta. The Hall of the Ambassadors, also known as the "Red Room," is adorned with portraits of the Grandmasters, who led the Knights to victory.
#Valletta mietwagen series
Highlights include a series of murals that illustrate a complete narration of the Great Siege of 1565. The enormous Palace State Rooms are richly decorated with gilded moldings and works of art. You enter the building through an elegant garden courtyard, which leads upstairs to grandiose hallways with lavish 18th-century frescos. The rest of the building is open to the public as a museum. Part of the building serves as the Office of the President of Malta and as the House of Representatives. The palace continues to host official state ceremonies today.
At the center of Palace Square, this Baroque palace was built in the 16th century as a residence for the Knights of Malta. The Grandmaster's Palace reveals the architectural splendor of an important cultural monument. Grandmaster's Palace and Armory Grandmaster's Palace | Photo Copyright: Lisa Alexander This area has many quaint shops, cafés, and restaurants.Ī great place to visit is the famous establishment Caffe Cordina (244 Republic Street), a fancy café that serves traditional Maltese pastries along with coffee and tea.Īddress: Saint John's Street, Valletta St.Johns Co-Cathedral Map (Historical)Ģ. The Chapel of the Langue of Italy displays the famous work of Saint-Jerome Writing by Caravaggio.Īfter visiting Saint John's Co-Cathedral, you can walk down Republic Street to explore the area around Palace Square on the way to the next attraction: the Grandmaster's Palace. The various chapels of Saint John's Co-Cathedral represent the different langues (regions) of the Knights of Malta, who hailed from many different countries in Europe.Īmong the eight chapels are a few must-see highlights: The Chapel of the Langue of Aragon (the region of Catalonia and Navarre in Spain) features Mattia Preti's painting of Saint George on a white stallion after slaying a dragon. The most renowned artwork in the church is The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist by Caravaggio in the Oratory. The nave exemplifies extravagant Baroque decor with ostentatiously gilded walls and ceiling paintings by Mattia Preti, the famous Maltese painter. This opulent cathedral was built as a symbol of Christian victory. The Knights of Malta protected Europe from attacks by the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century. Saint John's Co-Cathedral reflects the wealth and success of the Knights of Malta. Saint John's Co-Cathedral Saint John's Co-Cathedral | Photo Copyright: Lisa Alexander Learn about the best places to visit in this fascinating city with our list of the top tourist attractions and things to do in Valletta.ġ. You are sure to be impressed by the array of historic monuments and program of cultural offerings. Today, Valletta is a real working city and a delightful tourist destination. Valletta is called "a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen." The grand Baroque architecture reflects the Knights' stature as aristocrats from noble families in England, France, Spain, and other European countries. Once Valletta became the new military fortress of the Order of Saint John, the Knights set out to create a capital city equal to Europe's finest. In 1530, the Spanish King, Charles V, gave Malta to the Knights.
The city's history is tied to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, an 11th-century order that provided shelter for pilgrims in the Holy Land and took on a military role to defend Christianity. The UNESCO-listed capital of Malta stands proudly on one of Europe's grandest harbors, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and surrounded by some of the mightiest fortifications in the world. Valletta is a distinguished city with a legendary past.
0 kommentar(er)
