There are various European cities that make travellers feel as if they’ve stepped back in time, with many staying true to their history and eschewing modern architecture. Malta’s capital city, Valletta, is one such place, and it feels like being transported to a long-forgotten era when you go there.
If you’re looking for a European city where you can vividly imagine how it must have been to live there half a millennium ago, you may want to consider a trip to Valletta.
Imagining You Were There for the Legendary Siege
Aside from being an architectural marvel, Valletta is most famous for being the setting for one of the greatest sieges in history. Indeed, the Great Siege of Malta is so legendary that it has been represented in diverse ways in popular culture.
One of the most innovative and recent ways for people to learn about the siege is through Megaways slots, with Valletta Megaways immersing players in the epic battle that took place all those years ago. The game has a dark and forbidding theme, and players feel like they’re manning the walls of Malta, trying to stop the invaders from getting in.
There have also been various documentaries about the siege, including God’s Soldiers: Siege of Malta and Besieged Fortresses: The Great Siege of Malta. The battle has inspired various works of fiction as well, with The Religion and Ironfire: An Epic Novel of Love and War among the top books about the siege. On top of that, Mel Gibson is reportedly working on a series about the 1565 event.
Many people who visit Valletta love to imagine being part of that epic battle, when the people of Malta managed to defend the city from the Ottoman Empire. There are tours about it as well, so it’s possible to learn about the history from the people of the country.
Key Landmarks Anchor the City to the Past
There are various landmarks around Valletta that help to anchor it to the past and make it feel like a city frozen in time. St. John’s Co-Cathedral is a must-visit location, with its opulent and intricate Baroque design. A trip to the Upper Barrakka Gardens is another thing that should be on your itinerary, as this is a great place to see the Grand Harbour in its glory. You can even picture what it must have been like to see the huge Ottoman ships approaching during the Great Siege.
The Grandmaster’s Palace is another place to explore, as it offers insights into the daily life of the knights who once lived there. It’s easy to picture what life was like for people several centuries ago, when the knights and soldiers went down in history during the siege.
Aside from visiting the landmarks and taking in the views of the surrounding area, life in Valletta just feels slower. If you decide to travel there, you can take in this more relaxed pace, and that in itself gives a sense of travelling back in time.
By Gregory O'NeillGreg is a modern-day explorer with an insatiable love for travel. His passion for adventure has led him to far-flung corners of the world, where he immerses himself in diverse cultures and experiences. Greg's zest for life is epitomized by a continuous pursuit of new horizons and captivating journeys.
