Reminiscing: Valletta, Malta

We've been to Malta twice now on our sea voyages. Both cruises included a stop in Valletta on the Island of Malta ... one of them also included a stop in Mgarr/Victoria on the Island of Gozo.

Our first visit to Malta was on Insignia's sister ship, Nautica ... on what was our "testing Oceania" cruise in advance of our RTW2017 voyage. We explored the city on foot ... no specific destination or sights in mind. Just a meandering stroll that took us to places near and far ... up and down. Our aching feet at the end of the day was proof that we'd pretty much left no stone unturned.

Our second visit to Valletta was in 2018. On that occasion, we joined a private tour organized by a fellow passenger ... thus, our feet fared better because a van was part of the experience.

One of the highlights of this tour was Caravaggio's "Beheading of St John the Baptist," which hangs in the oratory at the Co-Cathedral ... the church of the Order of the Knights of St John.

Our explorations took us then to Vittorioso for a meandering stroll through ancient streets where unique door knockers grabbed my attention ... to the Neolithic subterranean structure of Hypogeum in Paola, which dates back to 3300 – 3000 BC ... to Mdina, the original capital of Malta, where we enjoyed lunch-with-a-view @ the Palazzo Piro.

An overnight stay in Valletta in 2018 allowed the cruise line to bring aboard a folklore troupe to entertain us, and it also gave us a chance to enjoy the city walls all lit up after night fell. A colorful ending to a day exploring fascinating sights.

What will we do this time? You'll have to wait and see 😉Baca lagi