Almost at the centre of the Mediterranean, the Maltese islands have been described as one big open-air museum – with its medieval walled citadels, and magnificent baroque churches and palaces. In Malta, you can retrace the footsteps of St Paul or see where the Knights of St John defended Christendom. Just the same, this rich heritage is not the only reason tourists flock to Malta and occastionally triple its population. They also come for its inviting blue waters, secluded bays and unspoiled beaches. Easily another dimension to Malta’s charm is its quaint villages - where life remains simple and serene despite the pressures of modern times.

Valletta

Located on a narrow peninsula nestled between two deep harbours on Malta's northeast coast, Valetta is rich in history. In 1530, Charles V of Spain granted the island of Malta to the Knights of the Order of St. John. It was named after Jean Parisot de la Vallette, grand master of the Knights Hospitallers, Many impressive 16th-century limestone buildings and fortifications from the Knights have endured, helping make the city of Valetta simply magnificent to experience today. The majestic Grand Master's Palace of the Knights of St. John remains one of the city's many points of interest.

Attractions

• St. John's Cathedral, founded by the Knights of the Order of St. John in the 16th century. The cathedral is the final resting place for many of the knights - their headstones line the cathedral floor.
• The National Museum of Archaeology, which houses collections of pottery, sculpture, statuettes, stone implements and personal ornaments recovered from the Maltese megalithic temples and other prehistoric sites.
• The Palace of the Grand Masters, completed in 1574, which contains portraits of the Grand Masters of the Order and European monarchs, interesting furniture and other works of art.
• The Upper Barrakka Gardens for a magnificent panoramic view of Grand Harbour.