Valletta’s restaurants

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DAY ONE:

MORNING Pass through CITY GATE; the entrance to the city of Valletta. The impressive gate marks the beginning of REPUBLIC STREET and was designed by architect Renzo Piano. Wander through the streets of Valletta and marvel at the NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING and the ROYAL OPERA HOUSE also designed by the Italian architect.

The exterior of the contemporary New Parliament Building resembles the limestone that the Maltese Islands are recognised for; the holes in the structure replicate the erosion of limestone over time. The ruins of the Royal Opera House, destroyed during an air raid in 1942, have been converted into an open-air theatre for all to enjoy. Visit the UPPER BARRAKKA GARDENS; a beautiful public garden in Valletta. The gardens offer a stunning panoramic view of the Grand Harbour and date back to 1661, when it was a private garden for the Italian Knights.

AFTERNOON Enjoy lunch at ST JOHN’S SQUARE and try traditional Maltese pastizzi; a delicious savoury filo pastry pasty filled with either rich ricotta cheese or mushy peas.

EVENING Visit BRIDGE BAR to take in spectacular views of the Grand Harbour, whilst drinking Maltese wine and listening to atmospheric jazz music throughout the evening.

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MORNING Discover ST JOHN’S CO-CATHEDRAL. The jaw dropping interior elaborately adorned by Mattia Preti is widely considered to be the best example of baroque style anywhere in Europe. The magnificent Cathedral is also home to the only signed work and largest painting by Caravaggio.

Explore the LOWER BARRAKKA GARDENS, which offer a picturesque view of the Grand Harbour and the breakwater. The gardens include the Monument to Sir Alexander Ball, which is a prominent feature in the form of a neoclassical temple located at the centre of the garden. The terrace area features a number of commemorative plaques dedicated to the Hungarian revolution of 1956, the Prague spring, Giuseppe Garibaldi and the 50th anniversary of the European Union, amongst others.

Discover CASA ROCCA PICCOLA, a 16th century palace, providing a unique insight into the customs and traditions of the Maltese nobility over the last 400 years. The house is furnished by a historical collection of furniture, silver and paintings. Casa Rocca Piccola houses Malta’s largest private collection of antique costumes from the 18th to the 20th century.

Visit GRAND MASTER’S PALACE, once the residence of the Grand Masters of the Knights of St John. From Malta’s independence in 1964 until 2015, the palace was the seat of Malta’s parliament, before moving to the New Parliament Building.The Armoury is housed in what was once the Grand Master’s stables. AFTERNOON Visit THE HARBOUR CLUB to enjoy a delicious Mediterranean dish, which aims to remind diners of the renowned Grand Harbour and its rich history. The view from the terrace is not to be missed.

Visit VALLETTA’S WATERFRONT before taking a traditional Maltese Dghajsa boat trip to THE THREE CITIES. The beautifully restored waterfront is of great historical value and heritage, dating back more than 250 years. Today, the waterfront boasts a number of upmarket bars, retail outlets and restaurants.

Enjoy a ROLLING GEEKS TOUR of The Three Cities; a collective description of the three fortified cities of Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua in Malta. The oldest of the Three Cities is Birgu, which has existed since the Middle Ages. The other two cities, Senglea and Cospicua, were both founded by the Knights of Saint John in the 16th and 17th centuries. Please note that a driving license will be needed to operate the five-seater self-drive electric cars, complete with pre-programme GPS.

Contact Rolling Geeks directly to book a tour of The Three Cities.

EVENING Spend the evening taking in the spectacular view of the The Three Cities’ marina from Birgu’s waterfront. If you’d like to enjoy another traditional Maltese meal, try Malta’s national dish Fenek; rabbit stew or delicious ravioli packages filled with cheese made from sheeps milk.

DAY TWO: V A L L E T T A & T H R E E C I T I E S

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