Valletta, Malta´s Capital City

Valletta Location
• Officially the name for Valletta is II-Belt Valletta
• Valletta is located on Malta's North East coast, 10 km from Luqa airport
• To the North is Marsamxett Harbour, to the east the Mediterranean Sea and to the south the magnificent Grand Harbour

Valletta Description
• Valletta is the capital of Malta. As capital cities go it is relatively modern, being built after the "Great Siege of Malta by the Ottoman Turks in 1565".
• Valletta is a fortified town, and are supposedly the best and most powerful old fortifications in the world
• The fortifications were started in 1566 by Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valetta, 3 years later the fortifications were almost complete before the building of the city itself. Valletta was built using a grid layout
• As you walk down Republic Street you will notice that the shops become less frequent after the Palace and the lower end towards St Elmo fort is far more residential. There are still a few attractions to be found in this lowers end. But do look upwards to see the marvelous wooden balconies, especially in the side and narrower streets
Valletta Attractions
• Valletta has a vast array of attractions and tourist placesof interest to visit. Many of the attractions are about Malta's dramatic history and it's defence following it's two great sieges. The first siege by the Ottoman turks in 1565 when the Knights of St. John repelled the invaders and the second in the Second World War when the German & Italian forces bombed and attempted to unsuccessfully starve the island into submission.

Valletta is built on top of a hill Mount Sceberras, and surrounded by harbours or the ses on 3 sides giving magnificent view from strategic points of it's formidable fortifications, possibly the best medieval fortifications in the world, and still almost entirely intact.

Valletta Seafront & Valletta Rock Beaches
• Harbours and the sea surrounds Valletta on 3 sides all of the sea frontage lies outside of the fortifications which forms a barrier between the city and the seafront. Great views of the harbours are obtainable from high vantage points in Valletta's fortifications. There are only a few places that attract tourists to the seafront
o The ferry stage on the north side with a very popular passenger ferry service to & from Sliema. Note The ferry service often has concessionary reduced price tickets to some of Valletta's attractions. There is a short but very steep hill between the ferry and Valletta's town centre
o The water polo / swimming pool near the Sliema ferry
o The ferry service on the south side to the 3 cities located near the custom house
o The fish market
• There are no sandy beaches in Valetta, but there are rocks to sun bathe on between the Sliema ferrylanding stage and the Jews Sally port located towards Fort St Elmo
Shopping in Valletta
o Valletta is Malta's main shopping centre. Republic street that runs downhill from Valletta's city gate, where the bus station is located on the outer side of the gate
o Running parallel to Republic street is Merchant street, the location of the market, ideal for those on self catering holidays, and more shops.
Nightlife in Valletta
o There are quiet bars and restaurants. Valletta is a hive of activity in the day, but at night the city relaxes. For those wanting a more exiting or noisier nightlife head for Sliema, St Julians or for Malta's nightlife capital, the Paceville (pronounced Patchy Vill, as in Villa) area of St. Julian's

Valletta Restaurants & Cuisine
o http://www.malta-info.co.uk/resorts/valleta/pages/open-air-restaurant-1548.htm Valletta has a good choice of restaurants for a quiet evening meal. The city itself boasts a number of cafes for convenient dining.
o The Main square next to the Palace and other squares in the same area are very popular with open air restaurants.
o There are a few cafes or restaurants with great views located around the city ramparts

Sports in Valletta
o Scuba Diving for beginners and experienced divers is available from Diving schools
o Snorkeling in the sea
o Many hotels & aparthotels have their own sporting facilities.


Valletta Bus Station
Valletta Bus Station is located just outside Valletta's city gate and the fortified walls and surround the Triton fountain. The bus station is the hub of Malta's transport system. The majority of busses, depart and return to this bus station
A bus route map and timetable is available from information kiosks. There are about 4 transport information kiosks scattered around the bus station amongst the stalls selling food, drinks etc.