Valetta (Malta)

As the capital cities of Europe go, Valletta is a rather recent invention. It was founded in 1566, and built in a hurry, as if to make up for lost time. For perhaps the oddest thing about Valletta is that there wasn't a city on its site before. A glance at a map shows the strategic importance of the island of Malta. It sits amid the narrows between the eastern and western Mediterranean, so that any shipping going from one to the other must pass ...
...shortest route between northern Africa and southern Italy. Malta is a natural location for a naval base, and has a natural harbour to serve just that purpose. Or rather it has two in close proximity, known respectively as Marsamxett Harbour and the Grand Harbour. Viewed on the map, as if in cross-section, they resemble nothing more than the top and bottom of a gaping mouth, with a tongue sticking out between them. The tongue is a hilly peninsula ...

torr 22.11.2008 (03.12.2008) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Valetta (Malta)

Valletta is the capital city of Malta, a small island in the centre of the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage City and with good reason too, because it is probably one of the places with the highest concentration of buildings of historical value. Why am I reviewing Valletta? Well, as a Maltese I feel that I can show what Valletta has to offer better than anyone else, although I understand that I can do it only from a local's perspective. ...
...this review was the fact that there aren't many reviews on the city (just 5 counting this one) and all of them are out-dated. From beforehand, I wish to say that I have not included everything that Valletta offers in order not to spoil it for the visiting tourist and in order to keep the review as concise as possible A Short History Lesson One cannot write a review on Valletta without mentioning the Great Siege. It would be like reviewing New York ...

jeffe 27.06.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Valetta (Malta)

Ok this is a review on Valletta and also on St. Julian's (St. Julians was requested by a fellow ciao'er) Firstly St. Julian's. A densely built up area that is geared up for tourists. Honestly I would not recommend so much to stay there unless you are looking to be close to the centre of what is going on in Malta. Like most tourist areas, the food is not the best and also not the cheapest. There are some good restaurants and bars but they tend to ...
...expensive than other areas of Malta. St. Julians in my opinion is not the best place to go as it may dampen your stay. However, if you only stay there just for your hotel and see it once or twice it should not matter that much. It is littered with entertainment, bars, nightlife, casinos, restaurants etc etc. I have not been there for some months but very close is paceville (pronouned: parch vill) Paceville is definately for the younger generation ...

alanbishop 17.06.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Valetta (Malta)

My wife and I visited Valletta for the first time in May 2001. It has been said, about Malta itself, it seems by just about everyone, "You either love it or hate it", No middle ground - I loved it, my wife hated it, Valletta that is. Neither of us could sensibly describe what it was about it that had influenced our opinions. During the next week we went all over Malta, Gozo et al and enjoyed each and every day. Everything that we did, everything ...
...our opinion of Malta and the Maltese - It and they were lovely. That is if you can put into one small word all that we felt about a very large subject and about a beautiful collection of Islands, and a wonderfully kind, indomitable, friendly, warm people. We made a second visit to Valletta. This time we both loved it. The answer is, when you come to Malta, give yourself time. The islands and the people have been here for thousaands of years. Historic ...

Scorpio2 26.06.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Valetta (Malta)

The other guy looks like he copied his review from a guidbook, or maybe he writes them. I'm not going to do that, I'm going to tell you what i remember and waht I experienced. In 1997 when I was 18 I went on myt last family holiday with my younger brother who was 16 and my parents to Malta. We stayed in St Julians Bay and to make a difference from sitting by the pool all day we took a day trip to the capital, Valleta. We got there by bus which was ...
...hour and the fare was very cheap. When we arrived at the bus station in Valletta we found ourselves in a market which was very interesting. The city itself is very old and the buildings look to be at least 100 years old if not older, the streets are also very narrow. This is made even more so by the presence of market stalls in all the main streets which adds to the congestion. there is ver little traffic about, all you have to woory aboput is other ...

lukerussell 29.07.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Valetta (Malta)

the lovely island of malta is so magical, i cud do a long list of the things that make malta so magical but think its best to say just this, "what ever you do in life please go to malta once then that once will sure to become many". also i never met such nice and friendly people as the maltees, helpfull,kind,and yes good looking.go you wont go anywhere else.all good can not think of any disadvantages, ...

thrust999 14.04.2008
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Valetta (Malta)

I went to Valetta last year and was pleasantly suprised by history and friendly nature of the people there. It is a very attractive city on the surface however you must beware as there are also cedodgy sides to what is a place well worth visiting. For a start of dont be fooled by the cheap music cassettes and Cd's on the market there they are generally all copies of originals and nine times out of ten bad copies at that. Also as i found out not all ...
...for brothels. Having said that Valetta is a place well worth seeing and as long as you dont want night life , well worth seeing, If you would like night life then St. Julians with its night clubs and casino is the place to be. Seafood lovers will be in seventh heaven in Malta and overall i would recommend both Valetta and Malta in general to the older holiday maker especially. ...

ktt37 21.08.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Valetta (Malta)

Most of the streets in Valletta are very narrow, so the best way to visit Malta's capital is on foot, starting at the Triton Fountain and bus terminal and walking down Republic Street which is full of shops and cafes.About half way down Rupublic Street is the Grand Masters Palace, which is not to be missed. Back near the bus Terminus are the Upper Barracca Gardens which are well worth a visit for the wonderful views over the Grand Harbour and "Three ...

nhoare 10.07.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Valetta (Malta)