Valletta lies on a small peninsula with Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, across which can be seen the Three Cities.

Heavily damaged in WW II, many parts of Malta were derelict. It was the opening of the yacht harbour which started generating the revenue to enable massive restoration and construction projects.
 

Valletta's City Gate Project in 2015 revitalized the Triton fountain, restored the bridge across the former moat, converted the Opera House to an open air theater and constructed the modern parliament building.
 

From Valletta's two main pedestrianized streets, Republic and Market, side alleys sloping steeply down to the waterfront are full of delightful shops and restaurants.

St. John's Co-Cathedral is the grandest sight in Valletta, featuring eight ornate chapels dedicated to the language groups of the Knights of Malta, and the entire floor tiled with the tombs of the Grand Masters.

MUSA is the National Art Gallery where stunning paintings and sculptures  by Maltese artists throughout centuries are on display.

The National War Museum at Fort St. Elmo describes Malta's long history as a strategic site in the Mediterranean. From the Fort can be viewed the modern developments of Sliema across the Marsamxett Harbour.
 

The Tagne Point area of Sliema is rapidly developing with modern high-rise luxury apartments and high-end shopping malls. Its viewpoint takes in Fort Monoel and Valletta.

Our vacation rental was in Sliema, which together with St. Julian constitutes Malta's main resort area, and provides easy access by bus and ferry to other parts of Malta.
 

Sliema has historically been an affluent place to live. Along the shoreline of the "Sliema Front" on Tower Road, a series of cut-outs in the limestone shelves allowed residents to swim.

The Three Cities, easily reached by ferry or by traditional water-taxi dghajsa from Valletta, refers to the three fortified cities of Vittoriosa (Burgu), Senglea (Isla) and Bormla (Conspicua).

Vittoriosa, existing since the Middle Ages, is a rich historical area housing the Maritime Museum, Fort St. Angelo, the Inquisitors' Palace, and various buildings associated with the auberge of the Maltese Knights.
 

A tradition of public art adorning streets, plazas, store fronts and niches has been maintained since the Grand Masters decreed that there be artwork on every street corner.
 

Gallarijas, enclosed wooden balconies, often stacked above each other, are a prominent feature of Maltese architecture oozing in antiquity and tradition. 

Maltese buildings are also embellished with il-habbat, elaborate door-knockers. 

 The ancient Arabic fortified town of Mdina with its view over the entire island, was the capital of Malta for 2000 years.

Malta is studded with archeological sites such as megalithic temples and Roman ruins. In Rabat, there is a well-preserved Roman villa and St. Paul's catacombs, an underground network of ancient burial chambers.
 

Called the Silent City, Mdina is home to 300 families who still live in ancestral medieval and baroque palazzos lining quaint narrow streets.

Adjoining the walls of Mdina is Rabat which became home to many religious orders in the 15th Century when the area served as a shelter from constant pirate attacks.

During the French invasion of Malta in 1798, St. Paul's Bay became the main harbour of Malta. It, including nearby Bugibba and Qawra, now forms a rapidly-developing and densely populated suburb.

St. Paul's Bay has become a popular tourist destination, known for English language schools, an active seafront promenade, and Malta's National Aquarium, with its 51 tanks housing 250 species of fish.
 

The fishing village of Marsaxlokk is known for its pretty harbour full of luzza, brightly colored traditional fishing boats adorned with eyes on their bows. A Sunday fish market attracts many visitors and locals.

From Marsaxlokk, boat excursions are available to view the rugged shoreline, old salt pan mines, and the rock formation "Hole in the Wall," and to take people to the crystal clear swimming area, "St. Peter's Pool."