St. John's Co-Cathedral & Valletta Shore Excursion

This Valletta shore trip visits Malta's capital city where you enjoy wonderful views from the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Included are interior visits to the cities top two sites, St. John's Co-Cathedral and the Grand Masters Palace.

After meeting your private licensed guide at the pier you drive to the city center to enjoy a walking tour of Valletta's highlights. Valletta was built in 1566 by a workforce of 8,000 and completed in 6 years by the Knights of St. John. It is named after Grand Master Valette, the hero who defeated the Ottoman invaders in the Great Siege.

To begin your tour you'll visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens, perched high above the Grand Harbor. From here you really get a sense of how fantastic this port is with striking views of the fortifications and inlets around the three cities across the water. The Knights of St. John used to practice fencing here to defend their galleys anchored below.

Next you tour the Grandmaster's Palace, housing the parliament and the president's office. In the Tapestry Chambers you'll linger, letting your eyes adjust to the low light and marvel at the priceless Gobelins tapestries covering the walls. You'll see suits of armor standing at attention in the halls and elaborate state rooms surrounding the complexes open courtyard.

Then you visit Valletta's most important historic and artistic treasure, St. Johns Co-Cathedral. The building dates back to the 16th century and its interior decoration is magnificent. Everywhere you look are carved walls, ornate columns, beautiful paintings and a floor made up of over four hundred colored marble slabs to memorialize famous knights from all corners of Europe. Two masterpieces by Caravaggio hang in the Oratory.

There is a short amount of free time on Republic Street. This is the busiest pedestrian street in the city center so you can pick up a souvenir, get a drink in a caf̩ or just savor the local atmosphere.

Mobility: NO wheelchair