Pass through CITY GATE; the door 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 during the City Gate Project. 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 have also 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. 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.
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. 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 Order 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.
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DAY ONE:
VA L L E T TA & T H R E E C I T I E S
MORNING Spend the morning exploring Malta’s compact capital city by foot or Segway tour. Valletta’s beautiful baroque architecture and rich heritage earned the city the accolade of being the European Capital of Culture in 2018. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to elegant winding streets, over 320 historical monuments and a wealth of boutique hotels.
