History buffs will find much to love on a visit to the Mediterranean Island of Malta. The capital city of Valletta is considered a UNESCO site in its entirety, and is the legacy of the Knights of Malta. And no visit to Valletta is compete without witnessing the spectacle of the In Guardia Parade.
During this re-enactment around 50 re-enactors dressed in period military uniforms demonstrate the inspection of Fort St Elmo and its garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St John. Tickets for this 40-minute performance also enable visitors to explore the upper part of the fort. Dates for 2024 are: September 15th & 29th, October 13th & 27th, November 10th & 24th, December 1st & 15th
Valletta is also home to St Johns Co Cathedral, which is the burial place of all grand masters, and houses the only signed Caravaggio in existence: “The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist”. Another notable must-see is the recently refurbished Grandmaster’s Palace, which has one of the largest collections of weaponry anywhere in the world.
More recently, Valletta played a crucial part in the Allied war effort as a base supplying British armies in Egypt and a base for British air and sea forces mounting attacks on Axis ships supplying supplies and reinforcements to North Africa. The resulting siege of Malta and the bravery and sacrifices of the islanders were recognised in the whole island being awarded the George Cross in 1942. A tour of “Underground Valletta” is now available (run by Heritage Malta), offering an insight into how people lived during the Blitz of Valletta: the most heavily bombed capital city of WW2.
With over 7,000 years of history and some of the oldest free-standing temples in the World, Malta has also played host to the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Knights of St. John, Napoleon and the British Empire. Learn more here and call our team on 0800 412 5678 to arrange your visit to the island.
