Valletta and Hagar Qim, Malta

November 19-20, 2018

Valletta is the capital of Malta. It is a walled city built on a small peninsula between two harbors. Everywhere you look is a great view. The city was built in the mid 16th century, so most of it is very old stone buildings. It was packed with tourists. This is off season, I don't know how you walk around during the popular vacation times.

Triton Fountain in front of the city gate of Valletta.

Valletta City Gate and the New Parliament Building

The New Parliament Building is a very beautiful modern structure.

There are 13 white sculptures depicting Maltese proverbs around the city. 

Victory Church was the first building built in Velletta in 1566.

Ceiling of Victory Church.

Another of the 13 Maltese proverbs sculptures.

Part of the wall surrounding Valletta.

Looking across Grand Harbour area to Senglea

The Saluting Battery. They fire a cannon everyday at noon. The crowds were so thick I couldn't see it, but you could certainly hear it.

Lower Barracca Gardens - A small beautiful garden overlooking the entrance to the harbor.

Typical street in Valletta, very narrow and lots of traffic.

Interesting building decorations. This one is on the Grandmaster's Palace.

Nice looking building with the painted red timber windows.

I like the different colored timber windows on this building.

More building decorations.

Looking across Marsamxetto Harbour to Ta'Xbiex from Valletta.

Hagar Qim dates back to 3600 - 3200 BC. It is among the oldest religious sites on earth. The temple is built of limestone and is subject to weathering, so large tents have been built over the temple sites.

Looking through one of the Hagar Qim temples.

Passage way inside the temple.

Chamber inside the temple.

Exterior walls of the temple.