Valletta
From St Juliens, the easiest, quickest and most scenic way to reach the UNESCO World Heritage city of Valletta is by bus and ferry. The bus route to the Sliema-Valletta ferry terminus traversed along the promenade with crammed holiday apartments and restaurants on the right, and beautiful ocean views of the left. The ferry leaves every half hour and only costs €2.80 return. If you happen to be at the front of the queue, a seat on the top deck of the ferry awaits. With a towering view down to the sea below and tantalising views across to Valletta in the distance, the hum of the ferry engine signals the start of a 20-minute ferry ride. The large white dome of the Carmelite church ever-present on the journey across. Once you reach the other side there is a steep climb up into the city itself. The grid layout of the city streets is similar to that of New York and its hard to find yourself lost. Once at the top of Valletta near the main square, the terrain is reasonably flat. However, walking from one side to another can be challenging even for someone who is reasonably fit. Be prepared for stairs, stairs, and more stairs. Good comfortable walking shoes or trainers are a must for exploring all corners of Valletta.
Ferry Crossing to Valetta
For a little respite from the glaring sun and midday heat, I made my way to Cafe Cordina to sit under the shade of the umbrellas and sample a local dessert called Kwarezimal. Kwarezimal is traditional Maltese Lenten sweet with hazelnut crumble base with spices,topped with honey and almond. I was only expecting a small slice with my expresso, rather than an enormous plateful. Without wanting to seem rude as this was a Maltese traditional sweet, I slowly ate my way through six pieces. Needless to say the Kwarezimal gave me enough energy to continue with my Valletta sightseeing.
Kwarezimal
I wandered around admiring the long grid-like streets and gazing up at the most fascinating, rustic architecture. Valletta’s architecture and 16th-century charm was simply stunning. Buildings remain relatively untouched from redevelopment and retain their old weathered and time-worn charm. Over-the-top ornate and elaborately decorated 16-century interior awaits you inside baroque St Johns Co-Cathedral. Magnificent views beckon whenever you reach the edge of the city. The views from the Upper Barrakka Gardens overlooking the Grand Harbour and The Three Cities were my favourite. Absolutely breathtaking.
View of the Grand Harbour
