The Battlements of Valletta (in reverse) - Malta 25 Aug 2018

The Battlements of Valletta (in reverse)
Malta
Distance 8.6km Climb 165m
Saturday 25 August 2018

Following a great holiday in Malta last year, we decided to return again this year. Last year we did a walk "The Battlements of Valletta" from a booklet "Malta 10 Great Walks". Today we would do much the same walk however we would do it in reverse, with a few little differences. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the booklet please follow the link Malta 10 Great Walks. The booklet gives a good description of routes and points out loads of interesting information. 

Like last year, I feel it would be wrong of me to include all the historical and interesting information from the booklet on my blog so I am only writing of the walk we took. I would recommend this booklet to anyone interested in doing this walk.

We took the number 42 bus into Valletta from our hotel and started the walk from the bus concourse. Last year there had been a lot of screens covering a large area near the bus concourse, were there was worked going on. Today we could see that the work was now completed and the bus concourse opened up onto a large open area with the Tritan Fountain centre stage. It was stunning.  

We turned from the city and headed south west towards the Maglio Gardens and the Independence Memorial. There is a Geocache near here, I had found it on a previous day on our holiday.

Across the square we could see Middlesea House.

Walking right across the square, south west, we passed the cap stones of the former granaries and headed towards the parish church of Floriana, St Publius. A stage was being set up on the square, hence the scaffolding.

Continuing along the Triq Sarria we passed this impressive looking fountain. The Wignacourt Water Tower.

Following the road around to the left (south east) we passed the old folks home and came to the Lion Fountain and the Chick King café on the Triq Sant Anna, a very busy main road junction.

This was were we deviated from the book slightly and after working our way across the busy road we continued south east inside the walls. Passing through a few narrow streets until we reached an area where there was a view overlooking the Valletta Waterfront.

After a little while, looking over the walls in the area we turned north east, joined the It-Teigha and walked along to the Valletta Waterfront. Another Geocache is located on the Waterfront, although I found the place unfortunately the cache was not there.

Anne had to have a look in the gift shops before we left the Waterfront continuing north east onto Ix-Xatt ta' Lascaris.

Just before Lascaris Bastion we turned left, below the Upper Barracca Garden.

Where we took the steps, the very many number of steps up to the Upper Barracca Gardens, there is a lift but we ignored that. At the top we had a short rest and enjoyed the views across the Grand Harbour.

Looking across the Grand Harbour we could see the Three Cities and the Fort St Angelo.

Leaving the Upper Barracca Gardens we turned right and right again dropping down onto San Anton Anthony Street.

Down passed the British Hotel heading towards the Victoria Gate.

Once over the Gate we were near another Geocache, found a few days earlier.

There is a short climb up to the Lower Barracca Gardens. A short wander round the Gardens. Looking through the arches you can see the Siege Bell, part of the impressive World War Siege Memorial. 

Leaving The Lower Barracca Gardens onto East Street, we stopped for a rest and refreshments at a local bar, before continuing along East Street heading east towards the Siege Bell Memorial.

Looking north from the Memorial we could see our route down below the Battlements.

We followed the coastal road north passed The Holy Infirmary, now The Mediterranean Centre. On the corner we saw this powerful looking building. 

Returning a few meters we turned and walked down a flight of steps that led us to a small quay on the waters edge of the Grand Harbour. We knew from last years walk that this was an interesting stretch of the walk, we were walking along the edge outside the walls of Fort St Elmo.

At the peninsula on the steps leading to a bridge and a breakwater, I took a photo looking west along the northern edge of Valletta, Marsamxett Harbour.

From the steps we walked a stone road cut between high sided rock walls. Around the corner we could see that work was being made on repairing the massive walls. Last year along here we had seen small huts where families were staying. Today they were all empty, most of them behind scaffolding.

As our walk followed the curve of the land around St Elmo's Bay we passed the Jew's Gate. This was also currently shrouded in green covers and scaffolding.

A little further and our walk turns following the coast into Marsamxett Harbour. We noticed a number of strange natural stone sculptures.

Passed the water polo pitch.

Further along we passed the Sliema Ferry jetty, and took the path that climbed up towards the city centre.

Passing under the bridge, at the top of the bank the road turns left onto the Triq San Mark. We took the steps on our right, up Triq San Bjagju. After a steep climb the path led to a carpark, beside Hastings Gardens.

Looking across Marsamxett Harbour we could see the impressive Fort Manoel on Manoel Island.

We were in Hastings Garden, along here we passed another Geocache we had collected earlier.

Hastings looks a little bit weather beaten.

We left the Gardens and turned left down a street beside a fort known as St John Cavalier.

Reaching the corner we turned right onto Ordnance Street. It was a short walk back to the bombed out Opera House and Freedom Square. There is another Geocache near the Opera House we collected a few days earlier.

We decided to take a short walk back down Ordnance Street to a local bar for refreshment after a well done walk. We had covered 8.6 km with a climb of 165 m. It had been very warm. I would recommend anyone visiting Valletta to get one of these booklets. 

After our refreshments we had a short walk around the shops before returning to the bus concourse and the number 41 bus back to our hotel. 

Although we were tired we were looking forward to do another walk from the Malta 10 Great Walks booklet.

More to follow

Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Malta or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to my next walk in Malta Around Sliema (in reverse) 27 August 2018.