Situated on a peninsula between two natural harbors in the heart of the Mediterranean, Valletta, the capital of Malta, is an ideal base for exploring the island and offers travelers a fascinating introduction to Malta’s rich history and multicultural heritage.

With notable historic architectural sites in and around Valletta, including Neolithic temples and Maltese Baroque palaces, the city is a visual microcosm of Malta’s storied past as a powerful center of trade in the Mediterranean.

Artisans of Leisure travel specialist Maria Merrill just spent time in Valletta and noted, “Learning the history of Malta is amazing. In just one day, we saw prehistoric ruins, architectural and cultural influences from the island’s various occupations by different civilizations throughout history and sites related to Malta’s involvement in World War I and World War II. It’s fascinating.”

“We also enjoyed fantastic meals!”

Some of our favorite historic sites and interiors around Valletta that we incorporate in our private Malta tours include:

St. John’s Co-Cathedral

Valletta is inextricably tied to the religious military order The Knights of St. John, who founded the city in the 16th century and conceived it as an ideal Renaissance town. Today, Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved Baroque architecture, bastioned fortifications and Renaissance urban planning.

One of the city’s most iconic landmarks is St. John’s Co-Cathedral, a masterpiece of Baroque art and architecture built in the 16th century by the Knights of St. John. The ornate interior is filled with gilded carvings, marble inlays, walls adorned with coats of arms of various knights and ceilings covered in frescoes depicting the lives of important Grand Masters.

One of the treasures in the cathedral is Caravaggio’s The Beheading of St. John the Baptist (1608), located in the oratory. Commissioned by the Knights of Malta as an altarpiece, the painting is widely considered one of his masterpieces. Another work he created for the order, St. Jerome Writing (1607/1608) is nearby.

We recommend having us arrange an exclusive, after-hours tour of the Co-Cathedral with an expert guide.

Grand Master’s Palace

Once the seat of power for the Grand Master of the Knights of St. John and now the Presidential Palace, this has been the administrative heart of Malta for centuries. Constructed in the 16th century and enlarged over time, it has majestic Baroque architecture and sumptuous interiors.

We take our travelers to explore the opulent State Rooms, including the Throne Room, the Hall of the Ambassadors and the Council Chamber, known for its complete set of 17th-century French Gobelins tapestries depicting scenes from the Americas. Every Grand Master was required to bestow a gift on the order, resulting in an impressive collection of fine and decorative arts.

The renowned armory—one of Europe’s largest collections of arms and armor—offers visitors a glimpse of the order’s prestige and military rule over Malta.

Fort St. Elmo

Part of the Knights of St. John’s impressive network of military fortifications, Fort St. Elmo was constructed in the 16th century to guard the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour. The star-shaped fortress was a key stronghold in the defense of Valletta and is known for its critical role in holding off the Ottoman invasion in the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.

It also played a role in defending Valletta and the Grand Harbour in the early days of World War II and remained operational throughout the war. Today, it offers visitors panoramic views over the harbors and houses the National War Museum, which covers over 7,000 years of Maltese military history, from the Bronze Age to the 20th century.

Historic Palaces, Country Estates and Gardens

We arrange private tours of Malta’s historic palaces, country estates, and gardens that reflect the island’s prosperous past, particularly under the Knights of St. John.

One of our favorite privately owned palaces is the 16th-century Casa Rocca Piccola. Originally built for Admiral Don Pietro la Rocca, a Knight of St. John, it has been the private home of the noble de Piro family for generations.

Rooms filled with antiques, artworks and family artifacts—including a notable collection of Maltese lace—offer visitors insight into Maltese aristocratic life and historic residential architecture.

Other features include air raid shelters used during World War I and a private garden that was unusual for residential architecture in Valletta in the 16th century.

We arrange for our travelers to enjoy an exclusive, after-hours tour of the palace and garden with the homeowners to learn more about their family, the palace’s history, and Maltese life and culture.

Prehistoric Megaliths

Occupied since the Neolithic period, Malta has a number of impressive prehistoric sites, including ancient temples that are among the oldest freestanding stone structures in the world. In proximity to Valletta are Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, a vast Neolithic underground burial complex, and the UNESCO-listed megalithic temples of Hagar Qim and Mjandra, which are extraordinary for their impressive scale, sophisticated architecture and intriguing decoration.

Artisans of Leisure arranges private tours of Malta, including special-interest touring, such as design tours, culinary tours, active tours in the scenic landscapes, and history tours that feature other notable prehistoric sites, Renaissance and Baroque architecture and World War I and World War II sites.

We love combining time in Malta with Sicily and other favorite destinations in Italy.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to begin planning a private Malta tour featuring our favorite historical sites and magnificent interiors in and around Valletta.