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Hundreds of Brits are looking forward to a visit to Malta in May and they will travel there for all kinds of reasons. The first reason that comes to mind is the weather, but another reason why so many have booked flights to Malta is the omnipresence of historic and cultural treasures on the island.

In 1980, Valletta, the capital of Malta, was listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The architectural treasures date back to the 16th century and the character of this city is mainly Baroque, peppered with Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern areas. Unfortunately, Nazi and Fascist air raids throughout World War II have left major scars on the city. One of buildings that was lost because of the raids is The Royal Opera House, which was built at the city entrance in the 19th century. The city was named after Jean Parisot de la Valette because this French nobleman defended the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565. The locals, however, tend to call it Il-Belt nowadays, which is Maltese for The City.

An exciting way of learning about the interesting history of Malta is visiting the show Valetta Living History. This show tells tourists the story of the city, from its foundation by the Knights Order of St. John of Jerusalem in 1568 to its heroic role in WWII. It showcases the city's major milestones, its rich architectural heritage and how the population of the island used to live at every stage of its development. While it's great to start exploring other capital cities in Europe with a boat or bus tour, Maltese busses are the source of a lot of diesel fumes, noise and chaos. That's why Valletta Living History is the perfect head start before you explore Malta's capital yourself.