Historic & Cultural Treasures Tour: Exploring Valletta

A statue of Queen Victoria, sculpted out of white marble, depicts the monarch wearing a shawl of Maltese lace, referencing her order of the lace in an attempt to revive the ancient craft.

A Baroque-style palace in Valletta, Malta, originally belonging to the Spinola family and featuring frescoes by Nicolau Nasoni, later divided into three parts, with two wings now used as the head office of Lombard Bank.

A national library containing collections of the Order of St. John, Università of Mdina and Valletta, and fine bindings, as well as maps dating from the 16th to the 20th centuries, with a focus on Melitensia.

A notable work of art, this painting depicts the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist by Caravaggio (1608), considered one of his masterpieces and the largest canvas he painted, displayed in the Oratory. It showcases his use of chiaroscuro style and a circle of light illuminating the scene.

A 17th-century church building dedicated to St Francis of Assisi, featuring precious works of art by Mattia Preti, Pietro Gagliardi, and Filippo Paladini, as well as the titular statue of St Francis.

A Roman Catholic church, built in the Baroque style, designed to service the spiritual needs of the knights of Provence. Its unique features include a gilded statue of the Immaculate Conception and an oval dome, a rare feature in local churches.

A 19th-century palace built by Architect Giuseppe Bonavia, featuring local timber balconies and an Italian-inspired design, protected as a Grade 2 national monument.

A historic opera house and performance venue in Valletta, Malta, built in 1866 and destroyed by aerial bombing during World War II.

A national museum, MUŻA, showcases a collection of works by Maltese and foreign artists, representing major European artistic styles. The museum features paintings, furniture, and silverware, including a rare fifteenth-century chalice of Parisian workmanship.