Free Walking Sightseeing Tour #2 in Valletta, Malta

Legend

Churches & Art
Nature
Water & Wind
Historical
Heritage & Space
Tourism
Paid Tours & Activities

Tour Facts

Number of sights 18 sights
Distance 3.2 km
Ascend 122 m
Descend 129 m

Explore Valletta in Malta with this free self-guided walking tour. The map shows the route of the tour. Below is a list of attractions, including their details.

Activities in VallettaIndividual Sights in Valletta

Sight 1: Palace Armoury

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The Palace Armoury is an arms collection housed at the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta, Malta. It was the main armoury of the Order of St. John in the 17th and 18th centuries, and as such it was the last arsenal established by a crusader military order. Although today only a part of the original armoury still survives, it is still one of the world's largest collections of arms and armour still housed in its original building. The Palace Armoury has been open to the public as a museum since 1860.

Wikipedia: Palace Armoury (EN)

335 meters / 4 minutes

Sight 2: Basilica of Our Lady of Carmel

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Basilica of Our Lady of Carmel This photo was taken by Anton Zelenov.Please credit this with : Photo : Anton Zelenov in the immediate vicinity of the image. If you use one of my photos, please email me (account needed) or leave me a short message on my discussion page. It would be greatly appreciated. Do not copy this image illegally by ignoring the terms of the license below, as it is not in the public domain. If you would like special permission to use, license, or purchase the image please contact me to negotiate terms. / CC BY-SA 4.0

The Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a Carmelite Roman Catholic minor basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, located in Valletta, Malta. It is one of the major churches of Valletta, and it forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site which includes the entire city. The present church was constructed between 1958 and 1981 on the site of a late 16th century church which was destroyed during World War II.

Wikipedia: Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Valletta (EN)

62 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 3: Manoel Theatre

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Teatru Manoel is a theatre and important performing arts venue in Malta. The theatre is often referred to as simply "The Manoel", and is named after Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller, Fra António Manoel de Vilhena, who ordered its construction in 1731. The theatre is reputed to be Europe's third-oldest working theatre, and the oldest theatre still in operation in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Wikipedia: Manoel Theatre (EN), Website

115 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 4: Main Guard

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The Main Guard, originally called the Guardia della Piazza, is a building in Valletta, Malta, located in the square facing the Grandmaster's Palace in the city centre. It was originally built as a guardhouse in 1603 by the Order of St. John, and it remained in use after the British took over Malta in 1800. A Neoclassical portico was added in 1814, and a British coat of arms and a commemorative inscription were installed later on above the portico. These have become one of the main symbols of British rule in Malta. The building used to house the Office of the Attorney General.

Wikipedia: Main Guard (Valletta) (EN)

233 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 5: Casa Rocca Piccola

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Casa Rocca Piccola is a 16th-century palace in Malta, and home of the noble Maltese family de Piro. It is situated in Valletta, the capital city of Malta. There are daily tours from 10am till 5pm. The palace includes a restaurant called La Giara Restaurant.

Wikipedia: Casa Rocca Piccola (EN), Website

97 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 6: Church of the Madonna of Fair Havens and Saint Dominic

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The Basilica of St Dominic or also known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Safe Haven and St Dominic is one of the three parish churches of Valletta, Malta. It is administered by the Dominican Order whose convent is located behind the church.

Wikipedia: Basilica of St Dominic, Valletta (EN)

161 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 7: Greek-Catholic church Our Lady of Damascus

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The Church of Our Lady of Damascus is a Catholic church in Valletta, in Malta, observing the Byzantine rite. It is also called Id-Damaxxena.

Wikipedia: Church of Our Lady of Damascus, Valletta (EN), Website

98 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 8: Knisja tal-Ġiżwiti

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Knisja tal-Ġiżwiti Frank Vincentz / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Church of the Circumcision of Our Lord, also known as the Church of the Jesuits or the Church of the University, is one of the oldest and largest churches in Valletta, Malta. It was originally built between 1593 and 1609 by the Jesuit order, and it is located adjacent to the Old University Building, which originally housed a Jesuit college known as the Collegium Melitense. The church was rebuilt in the Baroque style by Francesco Buonamici after suffering extensive damage in an explosion in 1634. The church remained in use after the Jesuits were expelled from Malta in 1768, and it is also used for Masters and Doctoral graduation ceremonies of the University of Malta, the successor to the Collegium.

Wikipedia: Church of the Jesuits, Valletta (EN)

171 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 9: St. Paul's Shipwreck

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The Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul's Shipwreck, also known as simply the Church of St Paul's Shipwreck, is a Roman Catholic parish church in Valletta, Malta. It is one of Valletta's oldest churches.

Wikipedia: Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul's Shipwreck (EN)

286 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 10: Church of Saint James

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The Church of St James is a Roman Catholic church in Valletta, Malta. A previous Mannerist church was built on site in the early 17th century and demolished in the early 18th century to build the present baroque church. Built on the designs of Romano Carrapecchia, the church served for religious service to the Langue of Castille. It remain an active church, found in Merchants Street, and it is a scheduled cultural building in a World Heritage Site. The church has a number of artistic features, including its imposing façade and paintings, one drawn by Filippo Paladini and another dating back than the present church itself. Nowadays the church is also used for services by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Wikipedia: Church of St James, Valletta (EN)

139 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 11: Royal Opera House

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Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House, also known as the Royal Theatre, was an opera house and performing arts venue in Valletta, Malta. It was designed by the English architect Edward Middleton Barry and was erected in 1866. In 1873 its interior was extensively damaged by fire but was eventually restored by 1877. The theatre received a direct hit from aerial bombing in 1942 during World War II. Prior to its destruction, it was one of the most beautiful and iconic buildings in Valletta. After several abandoned plans to rebuild the theatre, the ruins were redesigned by the Italian architect Renzo Piano and in 2013 it once again started functioning as a performance venue, called Pjazza Teatru Rjal.

Wikipedia: Royal Opera House, Valletta (EN)

78 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 12: Church of Saint Barbara

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The Church of St Barbara is a Roman Catholic church situated in Valletta, Malta. The church was built to service the spiritual needs of the knights of Provence.

Wikipedia: Church of Saint Barbara, Valletta (EN)

64 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 13: National Museum of Archaeology

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National Museum of Archaeology Frank Vincentz / CC BY-SA 3.0

The National Museum of Archaeology is a Maltese museum in Valletta, with artefacts from prehistory, Phoenician times and a notable numismatic collection. It is managed by Heritage Malta.

Wikipedia: National Museum of Archaeology, Malta (EN)

150 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 14: St. John's Co-Cathedral

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St John's Co-Cathedral is a Roman Catholic co-cathedral in Valletta, Malta, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. It was built by the Order of St. John between 1573 and 1578, having been commissioned by Grand Master Jean de la Cassière as the Conventual Church of Saint John.

Wikipedia: Saint John's Co-Cathedral (EN), Website

170 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 15: Malta Law Courts

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The Courts of Justice building is a courthouse located in Republic Street, Valletta, Malta. It was built in the neoclassical style between 1965 and 1971 on the site of Auberge d'Auvergne, which had been destroyed by aerial bombardment during World War II.

Wikipedia: Courts of Justice building (Valletta) (EN)

117 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 16: Church of Saint Augustine

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St Augustine Church is one of the churches built during the creation of the new city of Valletta, Malta.

Wikipedia: St Augustine Church, Valletta (EN)

227 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 17: The Fortress Builders - Fortifications Interpretation Centre

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The Fortress Builders – Fortification Interpretation Centre (FIC) is an interpretation centre about the fortifications of Malta. It is housed in a late 16th-century warehouse located near the St. Andrew's Bastion in Valletta, Malta. The centre was opened in 2013, and it aims at communicating Malta's military architecture in an interactive way.

Wikipedia: Fortifications Interpretation Centre (EN), Website

656 meters / 8 minutes

Sight 18: Hastings Garden

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Hastings Garden Frank Vincentz / CC BY-SA 3.0

Hastings Gardens is a public garden in Valletta, Malta. It is located on top of St. John's Bastion and St. Michael's Bastion, on the west side of the City Gate. The garden offers views of Floriana, Msida, Sliema, and Manoel Island. Inside the garden is a monument placed by the Hastings family in honor of Francis, Marquis of Hastings, who was a governor of Malta. Lord Hastings died in 1826 and is buried in the garden.

Wikipedia: Hastings Gardens (EN)

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Disclaimer Please be aware of your surroundings and do not enter private property. We are not liable for any damages that occur during the tours.

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