A day in Valletta
17th April 2026
St Catherine’s Monastery is home to a community of Augustinian nuns. Since 2023 the cloisters, garden and crypt underneath the monastery have been made available to the public – known as the Mysterium Fidei museum. As this was right opposite our hotel we started there on our first full day in Valletta. After the many ornate churches we had visited in Gozo I found its simplicity a breath of fresh air.
However, simplicity did not last! Just round the corner from St Catherine’s is Black Friars, private chapels of the Dominican Order which have also recently been opened to the public after 300 years. We were back to ornate, and then some!
Even this did not prepare us for St John’s Co-Cathedral, built in the 16th century but given a wild Baroque makeover in the 1660s. It was overwhelming.
As a palate cleanser from all that we were happy to wander around outside for the rest of the day. The 1950s Triton Fountain at the entrance to Valletta from Floriana is attractive and we enjoyed an outdoor photography exhibition in the big square around it, although that was a bit harrowing – a documentation of women and girls in war zones by Iranian-French photojournalist Reza Deghati.
To finish with, a gallery of Valletta street scenes. You can see from one of them just how steep it is.
The next day we caught a ferry across the harbour to Vittoriosa.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Imagine who much money was spent on those churches. The Nun’s have a much better balance in life. It amazes me what each religion will put into a building.
The surrounding town seems like a gorgeous little spot. You kept going dodgy ankle and all!
LikeLike
I agree, there would be so many people living in poverty, and that’s what they chose to spend money on.
LikeLike
The Baroque makeover put that church over the top!
LikeLike
It certainly did. I found it uncomfortable to be in, it attacked my senses!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do quite like the ornate. But yes ,thinking about it does make you take into consideration how that money would have been better spent elsewhere. X
LikeLike
Most definitely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whenever I read your travel posts, I think that I ought to get out and about more. You see such interesting things. However, it is likely that I will continue to see the world by proxy.
LikeLike
This was one of my first foreign ventures for a while, though you might have noticed from Strava that the cyclist is off on his travels.
LikeLike
The churches are incredible…trying to outdo each other almost.
LikeLike
Completely different over the top!
LikeLike
While it might be ornate and pretty, it sometimes sickens me how much money the churches had/collected (and their reasons behind it) in those years. It surely could have gone to serve better purposes?
LikeLike
My thoughts exactly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recall going in to the The Grandmaster’s Palace with my youngsters back in 1979. In fact somewhere I have a photo of them sitting in the Grand Master’s chair. Probably wouldn’t be allowed now. But David and I avoided the cathedral. I’m not sure I am up to the steep streets now, but I love those enclosed balconies.
LikeLike
The balconies etc were very picturesque. We didn’t go to the palace – another time!
LikeLike
Sadly it was closed for renovations when I visited more recently with David.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m having to use my old atlas to discover all the places you are visiting. I could use Google but I’m an old die hard !! Your visits to all the places of religion go from the sublime to the ridiculous ! All have interest and charm but only the Augustine nuns show dignity in their calm and quiet surroundings. The city streets look very narrow and steep as you say….picturesque though! Thank you for your tour!
LikeLike
Can’t remember when I last opened an atlas! Google makes you lazy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved the simplicity of St Catherine’s monastery, rather restrained for Malta! And Reza Deghati ‘ s images are harrowing but she is clearly a very accomplished photojournalist
LikeLike
Yes, the simplicity is much preferable to my mind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We speak the same language!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely one to visit, Anabel xx
LikeLike
Yes, I think so!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also subscribe to the ‘less is more’ philosophy when it comes to decorating buildings, especially churches. But you seemed to get a bit of both. Possibly in the wrong order ….
LikeLike
I always shake my head in disbelief at how much all that bling must have cost, at a time when most of the population was probably very poor.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed. It might be easier if it was good to look upon too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The co-cathedral really is astounding, isn’t it?! And you must have found those steep streets challenging with your dodgy ankle – I found them so with two decent ankles (but one dodgy knee!)
LikeLike
Astounding – though not necessarily in a good way! With my dodgy ankle and John’s dodgy knees we were a right pair.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed, but nevertheless a must see! And I did find the collection of Caravaggio paintings and detailed descriptions of his techniques very interesting 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, we looked at that too – that was good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ok…my post would not take. Love to be here. I love seeing all the art in Cathedrals, my favourite is Gothic, but i do love the Baroque and the more ornate, Roccoco. I love the ornate floor in that church.
LikeLike
Both your posts came through! You are possibly in a minority liking all the ornate decoration.
LikeLike
I’d love to visit this place and I love all the cathedrals including the Baroque and the more nutsy Roccoco. Yes, gold, cherubs and everything you can think of. I love, love that floor!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like the simplicity of the monastery but the cathedral is just too much. They obviously never heard of ‘less is more’! Old Mint Street certainly looks steep and I like the colours of the doorways and upstairs windows in Saint Paul Street.
LikeLike
The monastery was so peaceful. I find all the over the top stuff a bit revolting actually.
LikeLike
I guess the memo for church design in Malta was something like , ‘too much is never enough’. They do seem to like things a bit extra!
LikeLike
Bling everywhere!
LikeLiked by 1 person