Valletta Main Roads

• Misraħ Kastilja (Castille Place)
• Misraħ Sant' Iermu (St. Elmo Place)
• Triq il-Fran (Old Bakery Street)
• Triq il-Lanċa (Boat Street)
• Triq il-Lvant (East Street)
• Triq il-Punent(West Sreet)
• Triq il-Mediterran (Mediterrean Street)
• Triq ir-Repubblika (Republic Street)
• Triq it-Teatru l-Antik (Old Theatre Street)
• Triq l-Assedju l-Kbir (Great Siege Road)
• Triq Marsamxett (Marsamxett Street)
• Triq Melita (Melita Street)
• Triq San Bastjan (St. Sebastian Street)
• Triq San Kristofru (St. Christopher Street) §
• Triq San Mark (St. Mark Street)
• Triq Spur (Spur Street)
• Xatt il-Barriera (Quarry Wharf)
• Triq San Duminku (St. Dominic Street)

The city life in Valletta

Valletta is a busy city during the day with lots of maltese shoppers and tourists visiting the interesting sites.  It is completely the opposite in the evening when it is transformed into a quite city.

Band Clubs
King's Own Band Club (L-Għaqda Mużikali King's Own)
La Valette National Philarmonic Society (Is-Soċjetà Filarmonika Nazzjonali La Vallette)

Music
The capital city was the mecca of jazz music in Malta, introduced in the lively Strait Street area frequented by Royal Navy sailors. The famous Cafe Premier in Republic Square hosted many jazz formations. Valletta was also the host of the esteemed Malta Jazz Festival up to 2005.

Carnival
Valletta is the scene of Malta's boisterous annual Carnival held in February leading up to Lent.

Feasts
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel are celebrated with devotion every 16 July, Saint Dominic is celebrated in Valletta on August 4 or before, whilst the feast of Saint Augustine is celebrated on the third sunday after easter. A procession of St. Rita is also carried out. The renowned feast of St.Paul's Shipwreck also takes place every year on the 10th of February.

Sports
Valletta is also renowned for its football club, Valletta FC, one of the top football clubs on the Maltese island.

Valletta also has its own Basketball team, Valletta Ballers.

Marsamuscetto (Marsamxett) also has its "Regatta" (Rowing) Team, which takes part in the annual traditional Regatta on Victory Day (8th September).

In 1980, Valletta played host to the many nations attending the 24th Chess Olympiad.

Valletta Transport

Valletta is served by Malta International Airport, which is located 8 km from the city. Malta's public transport system, which uses buses, operates mostly on routes to or from Valletta, with their central terminus just outside the city's entrance. Traffic within the city itself is restricted, with some principal roads being completely pedestrian areas.

Park and ride system was implemented in order to increase the availability of parking spaces in the vicinity of the city. People can leave their personal vehicles in a Floriana parking lot and transfer to a van for the rest of the trip, which takes a mere few minutes.

Congestion pricing scheme was implemented, the Controlled Vehicular Access system, in order to reduce long-term parking stays and traffic while promoting business in the city. An ANPR-based automated system takes photos of vehicles as they enter and exit the charging zone and vehicle owners get billed according to the duration of their stay. Various exemptions and flexible billing rules make the system the next evolutionary step of systems like the London congestion charge program.

Valletta Forts

Fort Saint Elmo stands on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula, dividing Marsamxett Harbour from the Grand Harbour. Since the mid-20th century, Fort Saint Elmo has housed Malta's police academy. The War Museum also occupies part of the Fort. It commands the entrances to both harbours and prior to the arrival of the Knights of Malta in 1530, a watchtower existed on this point. Reinforcement of this strategic site commenced in 1533.

By the time of the Ottoman Siege of Malta in 1565, this fortification had been reinforced and extended into a modest star fort. Fort Saint Elmo was the scene of some of the most intense fighting of the siege, and withstood massive bombardment from Turkish cannon deployed from batteries on the north arm of Marsamextt Harbour, present site of Fort Tigne.

During the bombardment of the fort, a cannon shot from Fort St Angelo across the Grand Harbour struck the ground close to the Turkish battery. Debris from the impact mortally injured the corsair and Admiral Turgut Reis, an Ottoman hero. Though the fort was reduced to rubble during the bombardments, when the Ottomans abandoned the siege the fort was rebuilt and reinforced, becoming partially incorporated into the seaward bastion of the fortress city of Valletta.

Faced with the continuing threat of Turkish attack and the weaknesses caused by the Great Siege of Malta (1565), the Knights of Malta were made to decide whether to abandon the island or attempt its restoration. Grandmaster Jean Parisot de la Valette preferred to stay and ask for aid, which promptly arrived from several quarters, most notably Pope Pius V, who sent not only financial assistance but also the famed military engineer Francesco Laparelli de Cortona. It is Laparelli, succeeded by Maltese architect Gerolamo Cassar, who masterminded the plan of Valletta as we see it today.

Saint James Cavalier was designed by Laparelli and Cassar, as a raised platform on which guns were placed to defend the city against attacks from the land side. As well as prohibiting entry, St James could threaten those who had already breached the city's defences. Under the British, St. James was converted into an officers' mess. During the latter part of British rule, St. James was turned into a food store, known as the NAAFI.

St James is now a "Centre for Creativity", hosting various theatrical and musical performances, also providing installation and gallery space. Its interior was extensively renovated by Maltese architect Richard England alongside Michael Ellul. The design received a mixed reception from the Maltese public. The national heritage organization Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna protested against the removal of a rare World War II gas shelter and other historical remains from the British period. While the restoration of St James Cavalier was intended as the first phase in a larger project aiming to radically alter Valletta, it has so far been halted at planning stages and is the subject of much local controversy.

Marsaxlokk Photos

Valletta Gardens

The Upper Barrakka Gardens offer a panoramic view of the Grand Harbour. They were first constructed in 1661 for the private use of knights from the Italian langue. It was not before 1824 that the gardens were opened to the public. The garden suffered extensive damage throughout the Second World War.

The garden paths are lined with busts, statues and plaques illustrating various personalities and significant events from Maltese history. Of special interest are the bronze group by Maltese sculptor Antonio Sciortino, entitled Les Gavroches. Its depiction of three running children reflects those extreme hardships faced by the people of Malta at the turn of the 20th century.

Also overlooking the Grand Harbour and Breakwater, the Lower Barrakka Gardens (Maltese: Il-Barrakka t'Isfel) offer views of Fort Ricasoli, Bighi Palace, Fort St Angelo and the creeks of Vittoriosa and Kalkara. The gardens contain two major monuments, one dedicated to Sir Alexander Ball and another in remembrance of the Great Siege of Malta. Sir Alexander Ball led Maltese insurgents against the French in the 1798 uprising, and went on to become the first British Governor of Malta.

Located on top of the bastions on the west side of City Gate, Hastings Gardens affords clear views of Sliema, Manoel Island and Marsamxett Harbour. The garden houses a monument built by the Hastings family dedicated to Francis, Marquis of Hastings, also Governor of Malta. He died in 1827 en route to Naples and his body was returned for burial in this garden.

Valletta Theatres

Manoel Theatre is Europe's third-oldest working theatre. Located on Old Theatre Street, it is now Malta's National Theatre and home to the National Orchestra of Malta. The Manoel is a small, six-hundred and twenty-three seat venue with a lavish, oval-shaped auditorium, three tiers of boxes constructed entirely of wood and decorated with 22-carat gold leaf and a pale blue, trompe-l'oeil ceiling that resembles a rounded cupola. Manoel Theatre is located on Old Theatre Street in Valletta. It considers itself as the country's national theatre and the home of Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Originally called the Teatro Pubblico, its name was changed to Teatro Reale, or Theatre Royal, in 1812, and renamed Manoel Theatre in 1866. The first play to be performed was Maffei's Merope. The theatre is a small, 623 seat venue, with an oval-shaped auditorium, three tiers of boxes constructed entirely of wood, decorated with gold leaf, and a pale blue trompe-l'oeil ceiling that resembles a round cupola. The building is a Grade 1 listed building as noted by Malta's Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, and is also scheduled by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Countless celebrities have graced its stage, including Boris Christoff, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, John Neville, Magda Olivero, Michael Ponti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Dame Margaret Rutherford, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Sir Donald Wolfit. Visiting companies have included Nottingham Playhouse, the Comédie-Française and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.

The Royal Opera House was an opera house and performing arts venue designed by English architect Edward Middleton Barry, erected in 1866. The theatre was bombed to the ground during World War II in 1942. The space is still used for present day performances and plans to re-build or somehow renovate the area are at a stalemate.

St James Cavalier also serves as a theatrical space and is a popular venue for local performances. The Old University Theatre is sometimes used by Maltese troupes or drama institutions.

Valletta Museums

Many of Valletta's museums are former palaces that have been put to public use. Particularly notable are the Armoury Museum, which contains a unique collection of Renaissance weapons and armour, and the Malta War Museum, explaining the dual strains of suffering and heroism that characterised Malta during World War II. The Manoel Theatre Museum presents the history of Valletta's first playhouse, one of the oldest in Europe. The National Museum of Fine Arts displays a collection including paintings by Mattia Preti and J. M. W. Turner. The National Museum of Archeology traces Malta's Neolithic culture, displaying artifacts from the first free-standing structures built on Earth, 5,500 years ago.

The National Museum of Archaeology is housed in the Auberge De Provence. This palace once served knights from the langue of Provence. Among the more captivating features of the Auberge is the large top floor salon with its richly painted walls and wooden beamed ceiling. The National Museum of Archaeology displays an exceptional array of artifacts from Malta’s unique prehistoric periods starting with the first arrival of man in the Ghar Dalam phase 5200 BC and running up to the Tarxien phase 2500 BC. The collection includes obsidian cores and the Red Skorba figurines, which are predecessors of temple period objects and statuary as well as pottery, worked flint, beads and other ornaments.

The museum's main hall is devoted to temple carvings, in particular the giant statue and altar blocks from the Neolithic Tarxien Temples. The collection continues with representations of animals, temple models and remarkable human figures. Of particular note are the exquisite statuettes of the "Sleeping Lady" found in the Hypogeum, and the "Venus"  of Hagar Qim. The building was inaugurated as the National Museum in 1958.

The nearby Manoel Theatre Museum traces the history of theatre on the Maltese Islands, displaying various items of memorabilia. The artifacts on display have been assembled from a wide range of sources, both public and private, while a number of exhibits have been donated by generous private collectors. Works in the Maltese language are also displayed.

The Grandmaster's Palace Armoury Museum exhibits a unique collection of full suits of armor, arms and guns dating back to the 15th century. During the 1850s, the British Government intended to remove the collection to London. However due to local disapproval, this was never fully undertaken and in 1860 the Armory was officially opened as Malta’s first public museum. It contains abundant material of Italian, German, French and Spanish origin from principal arms production centers. Various important suits of armor have survived, the most notable being those of grandmasters Fra Martin Garzes and Fra Alof de Wignacourt. Outstanding examples of parade armor by expert armorers are included as the collection's masterpieces. The museum also displays a number of highly ornate bronze cannons.

The Malta War Museum, housed at Fort Saint Elmo, highlights Malta’s important military role in the post-1800 period under British rule, especially during the Second World War. Fort St Elmo, renowned for its role against incredible odds during the Great Siege, was again the scene of heroic action by Maltese defenders against relentless enemy action. The museum was set up by the National War Museum Association and opened to the public in 1975. The museum building was originally a powder magazine and served during the Second World War training anti-aircraft gun crews.

A key feature of the museum is the numerous photographic panels depicting the harsh conditions prevailing in Malta during the crucial War years 1940-1943. These clearly show the hardships endured by the civilian population, the massive extent of war damage, the unhealthy living conditions within underground shelters and above all, the heroic gallantry of a people who withstood the prolonged siege and the suffering it brought. Several principal exhibits are displayed in the museum's main hall. Among other War relics are the Italian E-Boat, a Bofors anti-aircraft gun, the Willis Jeep ‘Husky’, and the Gloucester Gladiator ‘Faith’. Also on display are the George Cross, awarded to Malta by King George VI, the Book of Remembrance of civilians and servicemen killed during the years 1940-43 and the illuminated Scroll presented to the “People and Defenders of Malta”, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943. Also on display are the awards and decorations received by Maltese servicemen and civilians during the War, for acts of bravery and sacrifice far beyond the call of duty.

The Domus Pauli Museum is located within an extension of the Chapter Hall of the Collegiate Church of St. Paul’s Shipwreck. The museum, in St Paul’s Street, exhibits antique and precious items from St Paul's Shipwreck Church.

St John's Co-Cathedral Museum adjoins the Co-Cathedral and contains Medieval and Renaissance art objects together with ecclesiastical artifacts. Amongst the contents of the museum are the tapestries of Grandmaster Fra Ramon Perellos de Roccaful, portraits of Grandmasters Fra Jean de la Cassiere, Fra Nicolas Cotoner and Fra Manuel Pinto da Fonseca and paintings that were once kept in the Co-Cathedral's many side chapels such as "St George killing the Dragon" by Francesco Potenzano.

Other works of art that were originally displayed in buildings of the Order, such as the Grand Master's palaces and churches, are now stored in the National Museum of Fine Arts.Prior to its conversion into a museum, the stately house had always served as a residence. It passed into the ownership of the Order in the mid-18th century, when it was radically transformed into an exuberant Rococo palace. The building and its contents were administered by the State following the departure of the Order from Malta in 1798.

Paintings and sculptures were brought together in the early years of the 20th century, forming the core of the Fine Arts Collection within the National Museum by 1922. Subsequently, public-spirited individuals and organisations made important donations and bequests to the collection, in addition to significant acquisitions made throughout the years. The highlight of the 19th century collection is a watercolour by J. M. W. Turner of the Grand Harbour, the only Maltese landscape known to be by his hand. A number of Old Master works, such as drawings by Pietro Perugino (1450-1523), Vittore Carpaccio (1465-1526) and Mattia Preti (1613-1699), may be viewed under controlled lighting.

The museum displays a number of bronze and plaster sculptures by the Maltese artist Antonio Sciortino (1879-1947) and paintings by Edward Caruana Dingli (1876-1950). Part of the display is also dedicated to Maltese silverware in the national collection, including liturgical artefacts from churches that formerly belonged to the Order, as well as a collection of silver snuffboxes and other silverware alongisde other displays and exhibits.

Valletta is home to a Toy Museum. Showcased on three floors are Maltese and international toys from the 1950s onward: of particular interest is a substantial collection of Corgi, Dinky and Matchbox cars.

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