Valletta Half-Day Guided Tour with Audio-Visual Show and Optional Tour of St. John's Co-Cathedral

Description

Our guided tour of Valletta's vibrant streets will allow you to discover the enchanting beauty and distinctive charm of Malta's capital city, a fortified city built by the Knights of St. John in 1566.

The Order of the Knights of St. John ruled over the islands for 268 years and left a unique cultural and architectural legacy, of which Valletta is the prime example. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety, and with a history spanning almost 5 centuries, it is regarded by many as an open-air museum!

With its imposing fortifications and bastions, amazing baroque palaces, marvellous churches, gorgeous gardens, and beautiful architecture ranging from mid-16th-century baroque to modernism, Valletta is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary and charming cities you will ever visit.

During our tour, we will walk through the bustling streets of Valletta, admiring the stunning buildings (some dating back to the 16th century) and the distinctive architecture of the city. The city is baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical, and Modern architecture. A visit to the Upper Barrakka Gardens is a must; here we can enjoy breath-taking views of the imposing Grand Harbour.

Then we will visit the marvellous co-cathedral dedicated to St. John the Baptist (optional visit), built by the Order of the Knights of St. John soon after the Great Siege of 1565 and completed in the year 1577. It is unquestionably one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals.

Here you will be able to appreciate and admire all its riches: the adorned interiors, carved stone walls, painted vaulted ceilings, beautiful paintings, precious relics, rich baroque art, and opulent altars.

One of the most remarkable features of the cathedral is the impressive marble floor, which is composed of nearly 400 tombstones of knights and officers of the Order. Each tombstone is inlaid with a coloured marble slab bearing the crest, coat of arms, and epitaph of the noble knight or high-ranking officer.

Amongst other valuable artworks, the cathedral also houses 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist' by renowned artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, which is regarded as one of his greatest masterpieces and is the only work signed by the painter.

Before the end of our half-day tour, we will enjoy a must-see audio-visual show. Educational, informative, and entertaining, the show runs through the turbulent history of a small island nation that has overcome almost unimaginable odds to survive and prosper. The audio-visual show will enrich your understanding of the islands, their people, and their rich history through beautiful imagery and gripping commentary.

During the whole tour, our knowledgeable and experienced guides will provide you with riveting information and enhance your experience through narration and engaging storytelling.

What should you know before you go?

• The time shown on the website or on your ticket is the approximate start time of the activity and not the time when you will be picked up from your hotel (or closest meeting point). At least a few days before the date of your activity, you need to make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pick-up location and pick-up time. Your pick-up time can be any time between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM, depending on where you are staying.

• To confirm your pick-up location (meeting point) and your pick-up time, please send an e-mail to internal-tours@robertarrigo.com at least a few days before the date of your activity. Make sure to include your booking reference number in the e-mail.

• The tour will be guided in the language that you have booked; however, please note that occasionally, due to operational circumstances, a multilingual guide (limited to a maximum of two languages) might provide the commentary in two languages.

• The tour in Polish will be conducted by either a Polish-speaking guide (subject to availability) or an English-speaking guide together with a native Polish host serving as a translator.

• The tour in Spanish will be conducted by either a Spanish-speaking guide (subject to availability) or an English-speaking guide together with a Spanish-speaking host serving as a translator.

• The entry ticket and tour of St. John’s Co-Cathedral are only included if you select the option that includes the cathedral visit.

• If you select the option that does not include the visit to the cathedral, while other guests will be visiting the cathedral, you will have some free time (approximately 30–40 minutes) to roam around the streets of Valletta until you meet again with the rest of the group at a designated time and place.

• The provider reserves the right to change the order of the visits without prior notice.

• No particular dress code is required; we suggest wearing comfortable clothes according to the forecasted weather. If you have selected the option, which includes a visit to St. John's Co-Cathedral, one should note some decorum is expected when visiting the cathedral (avoid wearing very short skirts, sleeveless shirts, see-through clothing, excessively revealing clothing, etc.).

• The tour is not wheelchair-accessible.

• Foldable strollers are allowed during the tour.

• Pets, large luggage, and large suitcases are not allowed during the tour.

• Any personal belongings, including backpacks or rucksacks, must be carried with you at all times and may not be left unattended on the coach or bus.

• The tour is not recommended for travellers with mobility impairments.

• The tour will operate as scheduled, rain or shine.

• Both electronic and paper vouchers are accepted.

What to bring?

• Comfortable shoes

• Sunglasses

• A hat or a cap (especially in summer)

• Sunscreen (especially in summer)

• An umbrella (if it's expected to rain)

• Some cash

Included on booking:

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off (from your Hotel or a close meeting point)

• A licenced tour guide

• Entry ticket to an audio-visual show about the history of Malta

• Entry ticket and tour of St. John's Co-Cathedral (if option including cathedral visit is selected)

Not included on booking:

• Food and drinks

• Tips (optional)

• The entry ticket and tour of St. John's Co-Cathedral are included only for guests selecting the option that includes the cathedral visit.