Mdina (2)

The town is a warren of narrow streets and passageways, meriting its name as the Silent City.

Another post where I'll let the photos do the talking.

Mdina (1)

We really made the most of our bus passes for the week, not free like in the UK for us oldies but good value and with a great network of lines throughout the island.

Proof!

Mdina (nicknamed the Silent City) is the old capitol of Malta. Here we see the main gate...

...and the old walls.

All buildings in the beautiful warm sandstone...

...especially St Paul's Cathedral...

...with its very ornate baroque style.

Two harbours cruise

As you can see Valletta lies on a peninsula with two natural harbours around it. One day we took the ferry from just in front of our apartment across the Marsamxett Harbour to Sliema where we started our cruise around the two harbours.

(Thank you, Google Maps)

Our abode viewed from the water

Fort Saint Elmo lies at the end of the peninsula, commanding the entrance to both harbours 

Lascaris Quay in the Grand Harbour... 

...and the quay for the huge cruise liners, arriving each day.

Over the water La Guardiola tower at Senglea. Can you spot the ear sculpted on the turret? There's also an eye, symbolising watchfulness.

The waterfront at Birgu (Vittoriosa)...

...with its beautiful skyline... 

...St Lawrence's Church...

...and a few inexpensive boats.

We think this is the site of the old slaves' prison but memory is failing us!

Back in the Marsamxett Harbour: part of the old quarantine hospital of Lazzaretto...

...and a restored masted ship.

St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta

Malta's main cathedral is St Paul's in Mdina but since the 1820s St John's has been designated a 'co-cathedral'. It is certainly a marvellous example of Baroque-style architecture.

Although the exterior is beautiful in its simplicity there is no warning of the interior style

I'll let the photographs do the commentary:

More Valletta

Just up the steps from our address on the harbour front was a very imposing square where the Grandmaster's Palace is situated.

Sentries marched back and forth in the daytime

A plaque on the wall commemorated the George Cross awarded to Malta after World War II

The main entrance looked very impressive...

...and you can wander in an internal garden to the rear...

...complete with ferocious lion & tamer.

Opposite there's another impressive building but it wasn't clear what purpose it had (to the right is the Italian Cultural Institute)

One of our favourite squares was by the national library...

...with the fabulous Caffe Cordina...

...celebrating 180 years in 2017! I wonder if the cakes have always been as amazing.

An aptly named grocer's on the main shopping street

We visited the National Museum of Archaeology...

...with its wonderful old sculptures...

...and beautiful architecture.