Valletta’s Secrets and the Heritage of the Knights: A Walking Tour

Malta’s capital is often called an open-air museum, with historical treasures on every corner of its compact streets.

On this walking tour, you’ll discover how the Knights of St. John transformed a barren peninsula into one of Europe’s most formidable fortress cities. You’ll also encounter magnificent palaces, baroque churches, and panoramic viewpoints that reveal the city’s strategic importance across centuries.

This tour starts at the iconic Triton Fountain just outside the city’s main gate. You’ll walk through the imposing entrance and along Republic Street, passing Renzo Piano’s striking Parliament Building. Along the way, you’ll discover the opulent St. John’s Co-Cathedral with its Caravaggio masterpiece, explore the Grand Master’s Palace where Malta’s rulers held court, and learn how the Knights shaped every aspect of the city from its defensive bastions to its hospitals. The tour ends at the Upper Barrakka Lift, one of Valletta's most iconic sites.

During this 90-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens for spectacular panoramic views over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities
• Admire the architectural splendor of the Knights’ auberges, including the Baroque masterpiece Auberge de Castille
• See the Victory Church, the first building constructed in Valletta after the Great Siege
• Explore Merchant Street and discover the Italian Knights’ headquarters at Auberge d’Italie
• Learn about the National Library and its rare collection of historical documents dating back to the Knights’ era
• View the impressive Grand Master’s Palace, seat of power for every ruling authority in Malta’s history
• Discover Casa Rocca Piccola, a 16th-century noble palazzo still inhabited by the same family

By the end of this tour, you’ll have immersed yourself in the living heritage of a UNESCO World Heritage city where Knights, conquerors, and defenders have left their mark on every stone and corner.