Valletta
The capital and administrative centre of the country; named after its builder, Jean Parisot de la Valette, the French Grand Master, who led the defence of the islands during the 1565 siege laid by the Ottoman Emperor. Dubbed a “city built by gentlemen for gentlemen” by Sir Walter Scott, Valletta is a bustling mini metropolis. Within its small perimeter - 55 hectares - are 320 monuments making it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.
Valletta’s main entrance is through City Gate, where all bus routes end. City Gate leads to the main thoroughfare - Republic Street, a shopper’s paradise. Parallel to it is Merchant Street which, as its name suggests, offers a wide variety of retail outlets plus a flea market, the Monti.
Valletta is also renowned for its cafés, a few of which have become national institutions. There is also a brace of fine restaurants, yet most tend to be informal and meals can turn out to be long drawn out but thoroughly enjoyable affairs.
Situated on a peninsula, Valletta is linked by buses to the rest of the island and by a regular ferry service to Sliema - across Marsamxett Harbour. Needless to add that it is on virtually every sightseeing itinerary.
Valletta is also linked to the rest of the Island by what is known in Malta as the Park and Ride service. Motorists may leave their car parked in a special area, a couple of miles away from Valletta and take the Park and Ride service into the capital. The journey into Valletta on the Park and Ride service is free and so is parking.
