Yachts moored in Vittoriosa marina below St Lawrence's Church

On the Footsteps of The Knights

Languages:

English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, and Croatian

Duration:

4.5/5 hours from the agreed meeting time

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Photo Gallery

Valletta at sunset with the Carmelite basilica dome and St Paul's Pro-Cathedral spire

The Malta at War Museum in Birgu (Vittoriosa)

Narrow street and historic buildings in Birgu (Vittoriosa)

View from the Upper Barrakka Gardens across the harbour to Senglea and Vittoriosa

The ornate interior of St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta

Malta's history books are a fascinating read.

One of the most captivating periods in Malta's history is the period when the island was under the rule of the Order of St. John. When they came to the island, they settled in Birgu. After the Great Siege of 1565, which was led by the formidable Grand Master Jean de Valette, the Knights vowed to improve the defence of the island, a feat which saw them construct a new city, Valletta, and fortify the island to ensure that Malta will never suffer a siege like the one of 1565.

Let us trace the footsteps of the Knights on this walking private tour. A rich history with a plethora of amazing details will be retold. Together with your guide, you will visit Valletta, the city that bears the name of Grand Master de Valette and Vittoriosa, the Victorious city that miraculously was never won!

Detailed Overview

This tour is a delight for history lovers.

It is the incredible tale of the Knights of the Order of St. John, who landed in Malta in 1530 and set up their residence and headquarters in Birgu or Vittoriosa, building their first hospital, Auberges and also the fortifications. When the Ottomans attacked the island in 1565, with the aim of taking it out of the hands of the Knights, the Knights and the Maltese people fought side by side to oust the Muslim invaders. The Great Siege of Malta is itself an epic tale of fierce fighting, with the Ottomans bombarding the island with artillery and assaults on the fortifications while the Knights mounted a defence from fortified positions, including Fort St. Elmo in Valletta. This was a siege that dragged on all summer, and under the leadership of Grand Master de Valette, the Knights and the people kept up their resistance despite facing severe hardships, including water and food shortages. On the 8th of September, the Ottomans, fearing reinforcements from Europe, abandoned the campaign, giving a decisive victory to the Knights and Christian Europe. Birgu was given the name Vittoriosa, meaning victorious.

On this private tour, your guide will kick off the story in Valletta as you explore the historic centre of the iconic city that Grand Master de Valette set out to build to strengthen the Knight's seat in Malta. The city was to become a masterpiece conceived by military engineers of that time and enriched by the works of famous artists. As we walk through the city, you will appreciate that it encapsulates an incredible set of buildings that are a legacy of the religious, artistic, noble and military influences of the Order. We will leave Valletta by descending the lift from the Upper Barrakka Garden on our way to the Three Cities- Valletta ferry.

On our ferry trip across the Grand Harbour, you will be able to appreciate how the Great Siege was fought with the Ottomans stationed on what was later to become Valletta and the Knights headquartered in Birgu. Once in Birgu or Vittoriosa, we will retrace the story of the Knights from this location covering areas like their original quarters, the Collachio, and the fortifications. The tour officially ends in Valletta, but you might prefer to do your own exploring in Vittoriosa.

Highlights

Discover Malta's capital city, Valletta and the man after whom it is named, Grand Master Jean de Valette, who led the Great Siege of Malta, managing successfully to defend Malta and thwarting the invasion by the Ottomans.
Enjoy a full walking guided tour of the historic centre of Valletta, a monumental and epic project that La Valette himself commissioned and oversaw in the months after the Great Siege.
Feast your eyes on the impressive vistas of the Grand Harbour before descending with the lift from the Upper Barrakka Gardens to the Three Cities-Valletta ferry.
Embark on the ferry on which we will cross the Grand Harbour on our way to Vittoriosa.
Explore the city of Vittoriosa, which was the headquarters of the Knights during the Siege.
Immerse yourself into the story of the Great Siege of 1565, a story of intense combat under the scorching summer sun, naval battles and brutal warfare, but above all, the story of extreme resistance and victory against all odds!
Return to Valletta or linger at The Three Cities as you prefer.