Perched high on the fortifications of Valletta, the Upper Barrakka Gardens offer breathtaking views of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. Steeped in history, these lush gardens date back to the 17th century when they were exclusively reserved for the Knights of the Order of St. John. Located just below the gardens, the Saluting Battery comprises of a ceremony in which canons are being fired into the Grand Harbour daily at noon and 16:00. The tradition’s purpose was to inform sailors what time of the day it is so that they can adjust their clocks.
Throughout the centuries, every grand master and many knights donated gifts of high artistic value and made enormous contributions to enrich the church, with the best works of art by leading artists of the time. The church was intended to be a landmark that could be seen from almost anywhere on the island. The church was built by the Order’s military engineer and architect Gironimo Cassar (c. 1520-93).
Tour the ‘beaches’ of Sliema by walking to Fond Ghadir Beach to see the Roman Baths (3 ft holes carved into the rock). Next, walk along the water promenade to Exiles Beach.
Walk along the water promenade to Exiles Beach from Fond Ghadir Beach & grab a local beer ‘Cisk’ or soda ‘Kinnie' at the beach club. Offering a beach terrace with ample space for relaxing on sunbeds right at the edge of the sea entrance. Exiles restaurant is open for casual dining out with family and friends while watching the sun set below the skyline of St. Julian’s. The restaurant offers a variety of mouth-watering snacks: including freshly made pizzas, burgers, authentic seafood pasta dishes, fresh local salads and grill specialities. If you are looking for a lovely, low-key family outing on the Mediterranean, the Exiles Beach Club is your place. Swim, relax, enjoy delicious food and drinks while soaking up the abundant rays.
The Harbour Cruise will show you the city and island from the sea, while the North and South hop-on hop-off routes will let you explore the island itself. Use the South Route to visit Marsaxlokk fishing village, Blue Grotto, Hagar Qim & Mnajdra Temples & Ghar Dalam Cave. Visit the link below to see all available tours.
A day trip to Sicily from Malta can be made by taking a ferry from Valletta to Pozzallo. The ferry ride takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. There are different tours available but it can include quite a lot of travel if travelling to the larger sites such as Etna and Taormina, to truly enjoy Sicily we would recommend doing some research to find a one way ferry and spend the night or two then return later or continue your travels in Italy.