Valletta, Malta

My favorite port of call on our Mediterranean cruise this year was Valletta, Malta. Valletta is the capital city of Malta. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for history, stunning Baroque architecture and vibrant cultural environment. It was founded by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century. The view from the ship as we sailed into port was absolutely picturesque. It looked like we were arriving to a medieval city. At noon and 4pm they fire cannons from the port as part of history. The Barrakka Lift connects the harbor to the city of Valletta. For 1 Euro per person you can ride the elevator to the top and explore the city. The streets are cobble stone and all the building are classic Baroque architecture. It is the most beautiful city I have been too. Unfortunately, it rained the day we were in port, but we still were able to wander the city a bit and enjoy drinks at a couple of local places. This is one place I would love to go back to and spend more time exploring. Some notable places to visit are the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. John's Co-Cathedral, Grandmaster's Palace, the National museum of Archeology, Upper Barrakka Gardens, and Fort St. Elmo and the National War Museum. I highly recommend visiting Valletta whether to stay for a few day or as a port stop. We would try a hop on hop off bus tour next time to get around to more places than just walking the city.