The warmest capital city in Europe has average daily temperatures of 22C which means it’s a perfect place to visit out of season.
As well as stunning weather, a tiny capital city in Europe is home to palaces, museums and grand Baroque churches.
Located in the Mediterranean Sea between Italy, Tunisia and Libya is one of Europe’s smallest, but most beautiful countries. The archipelago of Malta enjoys a subtropical-Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot summers. The capital city of Valletta sees average daily temperatures of 22.3C, which peak at 32C in the blistering heat of August, although they can dip to as low as 10C in January. The stunning destination is considered to be Europe’s sunniest place and averages 2,957 hours of sunshine a year.
It’s just over a three hour flight from the UK so for those after some winter warmth, it’s not too far to travel. But there’s so much more to Valletta than the high temperatures. Valletta was founded in the 16th century by the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and has undergone very little alteration in its urban fabric and its architecture since then. A huge number of important monuments have been kept intact, giving the impression of walking back in time when you visit.
Despite suffering substantial damage during the Second World War, it remains one of the most historically concentrated places in the world with 320 monuments within a 0.21 square mile area. Because of this it was granted UNESCO World Heritage site status in 1980. Valletta is Baroque in character but also has Neo-Classical and modern architecture for visitors to explore. There is a fascinating collection of museums, churches, palaces and gardens to wander around. St John’s Co-Cathredal houses the largest and only signed painting by Italian artist Caravaggio. The Baroque palace, Admiralty House, dates back to the late 1570s and was the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet during the British era from the 1820s onwards.
The city was also the location for the only home the late queen Elizabeth II occupied outside the UK. She and her Royal Navy Officer husband Prince Phillip, who was stationed in Malta, lived at Villa Guardamangia – a 5,000 square foot palazzo-style mansion with sea views from 1949-51. The couple enjoyed a relaxed life away there attending balls, dances and water-skiing.
Today the Maltese Carnival takes place every February and marks an important celebration of the island’s cultural history. There are also plenty of shops, bars and restaurants along the pretty waterfront, which is an ideal place to admire the views of the Grand Harbour and Fort St Angelo from while sipping on a cocktail. Restaurants serve everything from traditional Maltese food to fine-dining.
Recent visitors to Valletta have shared their experiences on Tripadvisor. One wrote: “Wow! Valletta really is a truly stunning city. The Christmas markets were still on and looked great, however we wanted to spend our day exploring everything the city had to offer. You can spend hours ambling around the beautiful little streets, in awe of the amazing buildings. There are several Churches to pop in also.”
Another shared: “If you are going to visit Valletta I highly recommend you use the local public buses to travel to the medieval capital city of Valletta. Valletta is a wonderful medieval city with so much to see and do. From its history to its shopping and also its restaurant, cafes, bars.” A third said: “I have travelled a lot in my time but have rarely come across anywhere as beautiful as the city of Valletta it is a must for everyone to see stunning is the only word I can think of.”
Have you visited Valletta? Let us know what you thought if it in the comments below.
