Malta's capital, Valetta is often called an open-air museum. This is due to the fact that in a relatively small space there are over 300 historic buildings from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. In 1980, the Old Town complex was entered on the UNESCO list.
The old town of Valletta is located on a promontory surrounded by walls. They created such a seat after arriving in Malta in 1530 Joannites. It is this powerful order that is associated with the period of the city's greatest splendor and its expansion in both military and cultural terms.
The most characteristic buildings of Valletta are the dome of the Carmelite church rising above the stone buildings and the tower of St. Anglican's Cathedral. Paul. However, there are many more magnificent buildings in the streets of the Old Town.
For centuries, Valletta was the seat of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John. The concathedral of St. John. Although somewhat inconspicuous from the outside, it conceals wonderful works of art, including Caravaggio's paintings and Casser's wall paintings. The Grand Masters of the order are buried in the cathedral.
Within the Old Town, you can also see the Palace of the Grand Masters with the Armory and the so-called taverns, or quarters of the higher order members. There are also museums in former palaces and tenements, including archaeological, fine arts and war museums.
