TheThe CapitalCapital CityCity of of MaltaMalta..

The The UpperUpper BarraccaBarracca GardensGardens..

• This is one of two gardens, one This is one of two gardens, one named Upper Barracca and the named Upper Barracca and the other Lower Barracca, facing the other Lower Barracca, facing the Grand Harbour. Both offer a Grand Harbour. Both offer a panoramic view since they’re panoramic view since they’re more centered and at a much more centered and at a much higher level. The garden was the higher level. The garden was the gift of an eighteenth-century gift of an eighteenth-century knight. Anglican Garrison Church knight. Anglican Garrison Church partly intredes upon it. The partly intredes upon it. The garden is built on top of a demi-garden is built on top of a demi-bastion. The Grand Harbour side bastion. The Grand Harbour side of the Gardens is surrounded by of the Gardens is surrounded by a wrought-iron fence. The view a wrought-iron fence. The view of the harbour from this vantage of the harbour from this vantage point is magnificent and many point is magnificent and many people spend hours taking it the people spend hours taking it the site. site.

TheThe SacraSacra InfermeriaInfermeria The The Order’sOrder’s Hospital Hospital..• The Hospital of the Order was built The Hospital of the Order was built

around 1575. The architect is around 1575. The architect is unknown. The courtyard and the unknown. The courtyard and the buildings around it were added buildings around it were added during the reign of Grand Master during the reign of Grand Master Perellos also built the medical Perellos also built the medical library for the hospital. The library for the hospital. The Cotoner brothers created a school Cotoner brothers created a school of anatomy and surgery and of anatomy and surgery and another for infectious diseases. another for infectious diseases. The Great Ward, destroyed during The Great Ward, destroyed during the last world war and since the last world war and since rebuilt, is 156 metres long, 10.5 rebuilt, is 156 metres long, 10.5 metres wide, and over 9 metres metres wide, and over 9 metres high, making it one of the longest high, making it one of the longest rooms in Europe.rooms in Europe.

• The Hospital now serves as a The Hospital now serves as a convention center and many convention center and many international conventions have international conventions have been held in the renovated and been held in the renovated and modernized buildingsmodernized buildings

TheThe BarraccaBarracca LiftLift..

• Until quite recently in history, Until quite recently in history, lifts connected the Upper lifts connected the Upper Barracca Gardens with Barracca Gardens with Lascaris Wharf. The lift was Lascaris Wharf. The lift was quite famous and was heavily quite famous and was heavily used by people who wanted to used by people who wanted to reach the hub of Valletta from reach the hub of Valletta from the wharf without walking all the wharf without walking all the way up the steep streets. the way up the steep streets. The site was also Malta’s The site was also Malta’s version of ‘Lovers Leap’ before version of ‘Lovers Leap’ before the lift was torn down. A few the lift was torn down. A few people decided to people decided to

• End their troubles by taking a End their troubles by taking a leap from this location.leap from this location.

FortFort St. ElmoSt. Elmo..• This was one of the first forts built by This was one of the first forts built by

the knights when they arrived Malta. the knights when they arrived Malta. Pietor Prado, a Spanish engineer, was Pietor Prado, a Spanish engineer, was give the task of building the fort. The give the task of building the fort. The plan was in the shape of a star. It was plan was in the shape of a star. It was completed in 1553. This was two years completed in 1553. This was two years after Dragut had attacked Malta. The after Dragut had attacked Malta. The fort was completely destroyed during fort was completely destroyed during the the

• Great Siege of 1565.Great Siege of 1565.• The fort was rebuilt by Lapparelli in The fort was rebuilt by Lapparelli in

1567. Various renovations and additions 1567. Various renovations and additions were made to the Fort in subsequent were made to the Fort in subsequent years. These include:years. These include:

• A Fausse-braie by Don Carlos de A Fausse-braie by Don Carlos de Grunnenberg, the Spanish King’s Grunnenberg, the Spanish King’s military engineer.military engineer.

• A triple range of casements by Chevalier A triple range of casements by Chevalier TigneTigne

• Outer bastions by Sir Alexander Ball, the Outer bastions by Sir Alexander Ball, the first Civil Commissioner of Maltafirst Civil Commissioner of Malta

• Deep pits with stone lids for grain Deep pits with stone lids for grain storage were also dug in the rock in storage were also dug in the rock in front of the Fort.front of the Fort.

TheThe Grand Grand HarbourHarbour..

• One of the most important One of the most important assets that the Maltese Islands assets that the Maltese Islands have had throughout their have had throughout their history is the natural deep-history is the natural deep-water Grand Harbour. water Grand Harbour. Through the control of the Through the control of the harbours of Malta one could harbours of Malta one could easily control the easily control the Mediterranean Sea. That is Mediterranean Sea. That is why all the main navel why all the main navel Mediterranean powers made it Mediterranean powers made it a point to control of the a point to control of the harbours of Malta one could harbours of Malta one could easily control the easily control the Mediterranean Sea. That is Mediterranean Sea. That is why all the main naval why all the main naval Mediterranean powers made it Mediterranean powers made it a point to control the islands at a point to control the islands at one time or another.one time or another.

TheThe OperaOpera HouseHouse RuinsRuins..

• The Opera House occupied a The Opera House occupied a whole at the corner of Republic whole at the corner of Republic Street and South Street. The Street and South Street. The Opera House was demolished Opera House was demolished during a raid in Word War II. during a raid in Word War II. Remains of the building still mark Remains of the building still mark the entrance to Valletta and some the entrance to Valletta and some small shops are located in part of small shops are located in part of the building still mark the the building still mark the entrance to Valletta and some entrance to Valletta and some small shops are located in part of small shops are located in part of the building facing Republic the building facing Republic Street. The bombed out area that Street. The bombed out area that formed the Opera House is formed the Opera House is currently used as a parking lot. currently used as a parking lot. The whole perimeter of the The whole perimeter of the parking lot consists of the outer parking lot consists of the outer walls of the street level walls of walls of the street level walls of the opera Housethe opera House..

ManoelManoel TheaterTheater..

• The theatre was The theatre was built during the built during the reign of Manoel de reign of Manoel de Vilhena. Building of Vilhena. Building of the theatre started the theatre started 1731 and is one of 1731 and is one of the oldest theatres the oldest theatres in Europe.in Europe.

BibliothecaBibliotheca..

• The Royal Malta The Royal Malta Library is housed in Library is housed in the building. It is an the building. It is an impressive building, impressive building, in and out. The in and out. The building was building was designed by designed by Stephano Ittar and Stephano Ittar and paid for by Bailli paid for by Bailli Jean Louis Guerin Jean Louis Guerin de Tencin.de Tencin.

TheThe LawLaw CourtsCourts..

• The new Law Courts, The new Law Courts, across Republic Street across Republic Street from the Great Siege from the Great Siege Square are a recent Square are a recent addition to public addition to public buildings in Valletta. buildings in Valletta. The site was formerly The site was formerly occupied by the occupied by the Auberge d’Auvergne. Auberge d’Auvergne. The Façade of the The Façade of the Auberge was Auberge was demolished during one demolished during one of the aerial bombings of the aerial bombings of Valletta in World War of Valletta in World War II. II.

TheThe SacraSacra InfermeriaInfermeria The The Order’sOrder’s Hospital Hospital..• The Hospital of the Order was built The Hospital of the Order was built

around 1575. The architect is around 1575. The architect is unknown. The courtyard and the unknown. The courtyard and the buildings around it were added buildings around it were added during the reign of Grand Master during the reign of Grand Master Perellos also built the medical Perellos also built the medical library for the hospital. The library for the hospital. The Cotoner brothers created a school Cotoner brothers created a school of anatomy and surgery and of anatomy and surgery and another for infectious diseases. another for infectious diseases. The Great Ward, destroyed during The Great Ward, destroyed during the last world war and since the last world war and since rebuilt, is 156 metres long, 10.5 rebuilt, is 156 metres long, 10.5 metres wide, and over 9 metres metres wide, and over 9 metres high, making it one of the longest high, making it one of the longest rooms in Europe.rooms in Europe.

• The Hospital now serves as a The Hospital now serves as a convention center and many convention center and many international conventions have international conventions have been held in the renovated and been held in the renovated and modernized buildingsmodernized buildings

HastingsHastings GardensGardens. .

• Hastings Gardens Hastings Gardens are located on top are located on top of the bastions on of the bastions on the West side of the the West side of the Kingsgate. They Kingsgate. They offer a magnificent offer a magnificent view of Floriana, view of Floriana, surrounding cities surrounding cities and Marsamxett and Marsamxett Harbour at one end.Harbour at one end.

St.St. John’sJohn’s Co-CathedralCo-Cathedral..

• On the south side of Great On the south side of Great Siege Square is the famous Siege Square is the famous ‘St. John’s Co-Cathedral ‘St. John’s Co-Cathedral (1673-77), one of Europe’s (1673-77), one of Europe’s finest churches designed by finest churches designed by Gerolamo Casssar, the first Gerolamo Casssar, the first architect of the Order of St. architect of the Order of St. John. Dedicated to St.John John. Dedicated to St.John the Baptist, it was built as the Baptist, it was built as his own expense by the his own expense by the French. Grand Master, Jean French. Grand Master, Jean l’ Eveque de la Cassiere as l’ Eveque de la Cassiere as the conventual church of the conventual church of the Order. In 1816 Pope the Order. In 1816 Pope Pius Vll granted the status Pius Vll granted the status of Co-Cathedral, ranking of Co-Cathedral, ranking equal with Mdina Cathedral. equal with Mdina Cathedral.

AubergeAuberge de de CastilleCastille..

• The Auberge de Castille et Leon The Auberge de Castille et Leon is the building that greets visitors is the building that greets visitors arriving in Valletta via Triq arriving in Valletta via Triq Girolamo Cassar. The auberge Girolamo Cassar. The auberge was designed by Girolamo Cassar was designed by Girolamo Cassar but later remodeled under Grand but later remodeled under Grand Master di Pinto, the Portuguese Master di Pinto, the Portuguese Grand Master of the langue of Grand Master of the langue of Castille et Leon. The architect, Castille et Leon. The architect, Domenico Cachia who had Domenico Cachia who had studied in Catania and Lecee, studied in Catania and Lecee, started this work in 1744, at the started this work in 1744, at the age of 44. It is symmetrical and age of 44. It is symmetrical and uniform. The building uniform. The building incorporates parts of Cassar’s incorporates parts of Cassar’s original building. The Auberge de original building. The Auberge de Castille is one of the finest works Castille is one of the finest works of the eighteenth century on of the eighteenth century on Malta. The building now houses Malta. The building now houses the offices of the Prime Minister. the offices of the Prime Minister.