The Bite Magazine - Summer 2019 - Issue 25

bite travel Hastings Gardens, the second most popular park is located on top of St John’s and St Michael’s Bastions and offer plenty of opportunities for visitors to sit down, rest their feet and simply enjoy the peace and quiet. While admiring the view, you will see the beautifully restored Triton Foundation lo- cated just on the periphery of the City Gate of Valletta on one side and, on the other, you can enjoy views of the Mar- samxett Harbour, Msida, Sliema, and Manoel Island. Built by the architect Adriano DeVina, the gardens were named after Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings who served as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Malta from 1824 to 1826. Here, you will find a khachkar monument that was unveiled by the Armenian community in Malta in 2009. Interestedly, it was specifically made in Armenia and then delivered to Malta. The sign next to the khachkar says, “In token of friendship between the Maltese and Armenian people. Armenia thanks Malta for its support to Armenians who found refuge on this island in the tragic years of 1375 and 1915.” If you’re visiting Lower Barrakka Gardens, you will find the gardens perched atop St Christopher’s Bastion. Here you will get a fantastic view of the Grand Harbour, Valletta Break Water, Fort Ricasoli, Bighi Palace, Fort St. Angelo as well as the creeks of Birgu and Kalkara, and the Memorial Siege Bell. You could literally spend hours just sitting peace- fully on a shaded bench, watching the Mediterranean Sea and cruise ships, as well as other vessels, entering and leav- ing Malta’s impressive port. Perhaps the most impressive church in all of Malta, St John’s Co-Cathedral designed by the architect Gerolamo Cassar, is amazingly beautiful. It was built between 1573 and 1578, taking over from the Church of St Lawrence in Vittoriosa as the place where the Knights gathered for communal wor- ship. The interior, revamped in the 17th century, adopted an exuberant Maltese baroque style, and past the plain façade there is a huge painting of John the Baptist by Caravaggio. The nave at St John’s Co-Cathedral is long and low, with every wall, pillar, and rib encrusted with rich ornamenta- tion, giving the effect of a dusty gold brocade. The floor is incredible as it has an iridescent patchwork quilt of mar- ble tomb slabs while the vault contains paintings by Mattia Preti that illustrate events from the life of St. John the Bap- tist. Further on, the oratory contains two paintings by Car- avaggio. There are also carved stone wall designs, a painted valued ceiling, and side altars. Found in the Palace Square; the Grandmaster’s Palace was one of the first buildings to be built in Valletta in the late 16th century. Both this building and the State Rooms are built around two courtyards, one of which features a statue of Neptune. Inside, the famous Council Chamber is deco- rated with priceless Gobelins tapestries featuring tropical scenes set in South America, the Caribbean, India, and Af- rica woven in France especially for Grand Master Ramón Perellos y Roccaf. Just as the tapestries are well reserved, so are the other rooms and passages of the Grand Masters Palazzo which are splendidly furnished with artefacts and armour. These rooms include the Palace Armoury which deserves a visit