Vittoriosa, Valletta
Vittoriosa, also known as Birgu, is an old fortified city on the south side of the Grand Harbour which served as the main port of Malta in the Middle Ages.
Vittoriosa, also known as Birgu, is an old fortified city on the south side of the Grand Harbour which served as the main port of Malta in the Middle Ages. It features sturdy fortifications, palaces, and churches from that era. It was made the capital of the island in the 16th century by the Knights of the Order of Saint John, who fended off the Ottoman invaders from here during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. Explore this breathtaking medieval city on the Mediterranean coast, and learn about its significance in Maltese history.
The main attractions in Vittoriosa are –
- Fort Saint Angelo – fortification built on the site of the medieval Castrum Maris by the Order of Saint John in the 16th-17th century. It stands on a promontory at the tip of the peninsula.
- Waterfront – gorgeous waterfront promenade with great views. Walk along the stretch to visit the yacht marina, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Palace of the General of the Galleys which houses the Rolling Greeks casino, and the former Royal Naval Bakery which is home to the Malta Maritime Museum, exploring the island's maritime history with a display of boats, ship models, anchors, amphorae, cannons, weapons, documents, paintings, uniforms, and a 1950s steam engine.
- Inquisitor’s Palace – Roman palazzo style building that was the seat of the Maltese Inquisition from 1574 to 1798, then known as Palazzo del Sant'Officio. Today it houses the National Museum of Ethnography.
- Malta at War Museum – explores the island's role in World War II. It is housed in an underground rock-cut air-raid shelter within Couvre Porte Counterguard.
- Collegiate church of Saint Lawrence – Baroque church established in 1681 by the Order of St John. It is dedicated to St. Lawrence of Rome, and organizes a feast in his honor every year during 31-July to 10-August.
- Freedom Monument – sculptural ensemble commemorating the departure of British forces from Malta in 1979.
- Monastery of St. Scholastica - built in 1679 by Lorenzo Gafà.
Other attractions include Our Lady of Annunciation Church or St. Dominic's Church, Vittoriosa 1565 Museum, Oratory of St. Joseph, St Philip Church, and 5 auberges of the Knights in the Colacchio, comprising the Auberge d'Angleterre (1534) and those of Provence, Auvergne, France and Aragon.
