Page 5 - AIT0519_Valetta

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T he Maltese just call their capital il-Belt – the city – and thus show their innermost many Maltese churches and squares. Hidden within the walls of the St James’s Coun-
terguards adjacent to the squares is the main building of the Central Bank of Malta de-
feelings. Planned in 1566 by Francesco Laparelli as the ideal fortress town, in the
17th and 18th centuries Valletta developed into a magnificent Baroque city. Since 1980, signed by Richard England in 1988 and complemented with the so-called Laparelli
it has been a UNESCO cultural heritage site. Building by Bezzina & Cole Architects in 2017.
r 7.15 p.m. – For dinner, we order the popular national dish Fenek (stuffed rabbit) at
Saturday: Between history and hipster culture the D'office Bistro (12). Even more delicacies such as Maltese antipasti and any kind
of fish are available at In.fame (13) on the picturesque steps of St Lucia Street or, with
r 9 a.m. – We start in Scotland café (1) with a delicious breakfast. Very close is St a view of the harbour, in the considerablyx more upscale Harbour Club (14) by Chris
John’s Co-Cathedral (2), telling about the rule of the Order of Saint John – later named Briffa Architects. Afterwards, we enjoy a nightcap on the steps of the Bridge Bar (15) or
the Order of Malta after the island archipelago. on Strait Street. Also recommended is the unpretentious Yard 32 (16) or the stylish Al-
r 10 a.m. – Through Republic Street, we arrive at the Grandmaster’s Palace (3) desi- chemy Bar (17). Spending the night in style is possible in the renovated palazzos of the
gned by Gerolamo Cassar which was initially the government seat of the head of the hotels 66 Saint Pauls (18) and AX The Saint John (19).
Order, was later a parliament building and today is official residence of the president.
A striking component of the Renaissance façade is a 70 meters long viewing gallery of Sunday: issues of faith and beach whispers
varnished wood added 200 years later, a testimony to Muslim influence. A similar view
can be enjoyed from Casa Rocca Piccola (4) completed in 1580. r 10.30 a.m. – After a sumptuous breakfast at the Corner (20), we ride on rented scoo-
r 11 a.m. – Nearby is the palazzo of the Malta Society of Arts (5). We continue along ters into the metropolitan region with its numerous communities and little towns. The
Fort St Elmo to the Mediterranean Conference Centre. The former Sacra Infermeria (6) first destination is Santa Venera with its highlight, the impressive colour-intense Dar il-
of the Order of Saint John was one of the most modern medieval hospitals. Below the Hanin Samaritan (21) by Richard England. More easily accessible and also impressive
fortress city at Saint Lazarus Curtain is the most attractive bathing area of Valletta. is the Parish Church (22) in Fgura and St. Therese Sanctuary (23) in Birkirkara by
Here one can swim in the clear water of the large harbour with a view of the little Giorgio Pacini completed in 1982.
towns of Kalkara, Vittoriosa and Senglea. r 12.30 p.m. – Strolling around the campus of the university of Malta (24), we discover
r Noon – Since 1992, every day the bell of the Siege Bell Memorial has been ringing a number of buildings worth seeing: Designed by Richard England is the monumental
in memory of the Maltese who died in the Second World War. We now pause in the extension of 1991, the former faculty of architecture by Peter Richardson from the 1960s
Lower Barrakka Gardens where we supply ourselves with lunch delicacies from Caffe and the church of the students’ congregation of 1978 designed by Lino Gatt.
Cordina (7). We stroll along St Paul’s Street to Castille Place and visit the National Cen- r 1.30 a.m. – We arrive at the coastal town of Siema and take a break enjoying sweet
tre for Creativity (8). The historic officers’ mess was converted into a cultural venue delicacies under the arcades of the French Affaire (25) or in the Pastry Park (26). On
with an art gallery, a theatre hall and a cinema in post-modern style supervised by Ri- the boardwalk, we discover the Roman Bath (27). The bathing area is characterized by
chard England, the not undisputed but one of the most characterizing contemporary the artificially constructed rock pools which, however, date from the Victorian period
Maltese architects. and not from Roman times as the name suggests.
r 3.30 p.m. – Past the Auberge de Castille (the seat of the Prime Minister of Malta) we r 3.30 p.m. – Just a few minutes’ walk north, we arrive at Balluta Bay in Saint Julian´s
get to the Auberge D'Italie. Since recently, the former residential palazzo of the Italian dominated by the appearance of the Balluta Building (28). The art nouveau apartment
members of the Order of Saint John once again is the home of the National Museum building constructed in 1928 is considered to be the masterpiece of the architect Giu-
of Fine Arts MUZA (9). A team of three Maltese planning offices – Design and Technical seppe Psaila. Also well worth seeing is the neo-gothic Carmelite Church (29) planned
Resources DTR, CYAN Engineering and Martello Media – was in charge of the renova- by Emanuele Luigi Galizia and completed by Joseph M. Spiter.
tion and the new design. In Freedom Square, we look at the parliament building (10) r 5.30 p.m. – For dinner, a great suggestion is the hip Rocksalt (30) or the Gululu (31)
completed in 2015 with a city gate by Renzo Piano. Likewise by Renzo Piano is the ne- in Spinola Bay. But a marvellous end to the day is also possible in Hammett's Gastro
arby Pjazza Teatru Rjal, the royal opera house. Bar (32) in Sliema or by going to the Theatru Manoel (33) in Valletta.
r 5 p.m. – Through the new city gate, we arrive at Triton Fountain Square. The fountain r 9 p.m. – Back in the capital, we end the magnificent weekend with a stroll through
(11) from 1959 is by the sculptor Vincent Apap whose work characterizes the look of the Is-Suq tal-Belt market hall (34) newly designed by Archea Assesionati.

St. Lucia Street mit traditionellen Gallarijas und Restaurant In.fame (13) Festa für Our Lady of Grace Church in Zabbar Markthalle Is-Suq tal-Belt (34) von • by Archea Assesionati

044 • AIT 5.2019