Tour Description

Our first visit during this tour is Valletta, here we include the Upper Barrakka Gardens which offer stunning views of the Grand Harbour and magnificent fortifications, a walk down Triq Repubblika where you can admire numerous historical buildings built by the Knights of St. John including the Auberges, the Grand Masters Palace and the St. John's Co. Cathedral, the Church of the Order and also home to Caravaggio's masterpiece "Beheading of St. John" amongst other treasures (internal visit).

Our next stop will be in Mdina. Mdina is built on a plateau in the centre of the island, the city's old Baroque buildings, Cathedral and magnificent bastion walls dominate the rural skyline. Mdina, once the capital of Malta until the modern city of Valletta was built in 1566 has had many names including Melite (Roman occupation), Medina (Arab occupation), Citta Notabile (Knights of St. John) and Citta Vecchia (after Valletta was built). Today it is also referred to as the Silent City since it inspires tranquillity at any time of the day or night. The only way to really experience and enjoy this city is on foot, explore the quaint alleys, narrow streets, ancient buildings and magnificent far-reaching views from the high bastion walls.

After a lunch stop, we then head back to the harbour area opposite Valletta. We visit Birgu, also known as Vittoriosa after the Great Siege of 1565. Birgu is the oldest city of the Grand Harbour. In 1532 the Knights of St. John first settled in this area and from a fishing village, it became the main maritime city of the Maltese Islands. I will give you an insight into an era dominated by the Knights of St. John. Our walking tour will take us to the heart of the city, the narrow streets and quaint alleys known as the 'collacchio', an area of old Palazzo's which were the original Auberges occupied by the Knights. We will stop on Victory Square and finish our tour on the elegant Birgu Waterfront.