Caravaggio in Malta

Michelangelo Merisi Caravaggio is widely respected as one of the greatest painters of all time, and by good fortune (ours) and not so good fortune (his), he ended up living and working on the island of Malta for about 3 years whilst at the height of his powers.

After a disputed tennis match in Rome, (or because he was into the other man's wife, or possibly because of an unpaid debt) Caravaggio got himself involved in street brawl and killed a gent called Tomassoni, reputed to be a pimp with powerful familial connections.  The threat of these connections inspired Caravaggio to flee Rome and he ended up in Malta in 1607.

Top 10 Things to Do in Valletta

As with the Malta Top Ten list, this is a compilation of the views held by other people, books, bloggers, sites and so on, as well as my own. 

There are a lot of things to do in this tiny city, so I have narrowed it down to a Top 10 for you to try:

10.  Fortification Interpretation Centre
A new attraction and not on a lot of lists, but I think worthy of a place on this one.  This museum gives you a window into the history of the city, via the fortifications which have defended it (or tried to) over the centuries.

9.  Museum of Archaeology or Malta Experience
Two choices for a rainy day (or an escape from the heat) The first is a small museum but worth popping in to take a look at the prehistoric 'Sleeping Lady' statuette.  The second is a 45 minute film about Malta's history, which by all accounts is pretty good.

"Notte Bianca" Valleta

Grand Master's Palace

'Notte Bianca' is the name of the Night of Culture in Valletta, which happens the last weekend of September every year.  It's the night when you get to sample the cultural life of Valletta without having to pay for entrance into places like the Co-Cathedral, the Grand Master's Palace or any of the museums and exhibitions.  There is also live music by local acts at venues around the city, dance, theatre, film and various other entertainment to be had, free and gratis.

Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta)

 A rare public park among the browns and whites of built up Malta, the Upper Barrakka Gardens are on the east of the city - just turn right when you go through the main gates.  Nice place to sit down and take the load off for a few minutes, and a particularly good vantage point looking out over the Grand Harbour.  The saluting battery of cannons is situated just below the gardens, and if you are there at noon you can see (and hear) them go off.

Valletta - Crucial Information.

The tiny capital city of Malta.  It is very very small.  Really. 

Interesting Facts about Valletta:

•  This is Europe's smallest capital city, and only about 7,000 people live here.
•  The chess olympics were held here in 1980.  I don't know who won.
•  Oliver Reed died here while filming 'Gladiator'.  He had a heart attack in a pub called 'The Pub', which now attracts more customers as a result.  Circle of life.
•  Valletta contains more monuments per square metre than any other city in the world.
•  Valletta is the capital of Malta, but Birkirkara is the biggest city.  Although 'city' is being generous to Birkirkara and rather insulting to actual cities.