TRIP TO MALTA, THE ISLAND
OF THE KNIGHTS OF SAINT JOHN
Day
2: Visit to Valletta
 |
|
The view of Valletta from Sliema's pier |
The new
capital of the island, Valletta, was founded in 1566 by the Order of
the Knights. Increasing their power and wealth, the Knights left an
architectural and artistic legacy on the island.
 |
| Fort St. Elmo with its breakwater |
They
managed to imprint their cosmopolitan character on Malta and its
inhabitants, even though they had little social contact with them. It
became a city with magnificent palaces and unparalleled
fortifications.
|
|
Triton Fountain at the entrance of the city
|
|
|
Triton Fountain |
|
|
2 on wheels in front of Triton Fountain !
|
The old
town is a place with a long history, with cobbled streets, full of
shops, well-kept gardens, such as the Upper and Lower Barrakka
Gardens, houses with beautiful balconies and large mansions.
 |
| Statue at Lower Barrakka Gardens |
The Fort St.
Elmo with its breakwater and surrounding harbour dominates the city,
as do impressive churches, such as St. John's Cathedral with its
museum, and the Basilica of the Madonna of Carnation (Bażilika Santwarju tal-Madonna tal-Karmnu). There are
theatres, museums, fountains, such as the Triton Fountain near the
Valletta Gate, and statues, and of course the magnificent Grand
Master's Palace.
In St.
John's Cathedral there are two paintings by the Italian painter
Caravaggio. Caravaggio travelled to Malta on a ship of the Knights of
St. John, arriving in July 1607. He was soon accepted into the order,
despite his turbulent past, and on 14 July 1608, Grand Master Alof de
Wignacourt, received him as a Knight of Obedience with papal
permission. While in Malta, Caravaggio painted "The Beheading of St.
John the Baptist" and "The Writing of St. Jerome", both of which survive
in the Cathedral.
 |
| "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist" |
 | |
| "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist" |
 |
| "The Writing of St. Jerome" |
During his stay in Malta, Caravaggio also painted a
picture depicting a “Sleeping Cupid” and the “Portrait of a
Knight of Malta” (Fra’ Antonio Martelli), which are now on
display in the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. He also painted the
“Portrait of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt with a Page”, which
is on display in the Louvre in Paris.
The painter seemed to have
entered a period of relative calm in his turbulent life, but in late
August 1608 he was involved in a brawl in which several knights were
injured, arrested and imprisoned in Fort St Angelo. Dishonored and
unable to paint, Caravaggio did not wait for his trial but escaped
and fled Malta. At a meeting of the Public Assembly held in the
Oratory of St. John's Church on 1 December 1608, Caravaggio, in front
of his masterpiece, the "Beheading of St. John the Baptist",
was "expelled and thrown out like a rotten and wretched member"
from the Order.
 |
| St. John's Cathedral |
 |
| St. John's Cathedral |
 |
| Parliament of Malta |
It is worthy having a drink in one of the many bars located on the steps between
St. Paul's and St. Ursula's streets, Stairs Triq Sant' Orsla, and
having your coffee in historic cafes, such as the Cordina cafe. Of
course there are plenty of options for a quick lunch or dinner!
 |
| Many bars located on the steps between St. Paul's and St. Ursula's streets, Stairs Triq Sant' Orsla |
 |
|
It is worthy having a drink in one of the many bars located on the steps, we drank ours at Cheers bar |
 |
The historic Caffe Cordina at the centre of Valletta |
Also very
impressive are the cannonades that take place every morning at 10:00
and every afternoon at 16:00 at the War Museum, Fort Lascaris and you
can watch them from the Upper Barracks gardens.
 |
|
The cannons and cannonades at the War Museum, at Fort Lascaris below the Upper Baraka Gardens |
 |
The cannons and cannonades at the War Museum, at Fort Lascaris below the Upper Baraka Gardens |
No comments:
Post a Comment