Vittoriosa Things to Do

The Apostles table is another custom that we have. Infact one can visit many exhibtions like these all over the Maltese Islands not only in Vittoriosa or Bormla. Locals prepare a table and lay a table with plates either filled with coloured rice and shape them in a way to show pictures to do with the whole story of the passion of Christ or then they lay it out with food that the Apostles would have ate. There are many different types of exhibitions. Locals put alot of their time every year to prepare for these exhibitions and everyone tries his best to be orginal using different types of mediums.

At Easter time all the Churches in Malta and Gozo are decorated with white flowers however there is custom that a part of the Church at times even a side altar is decorated more than the rest so that people can go and visit to pray in front of the altar. On the day before Maundy Thursday and on the the day people go around to visit 7 churches to say prayers - this is a custom around the Maltese islands however it is optional and not a must but many people keep up with this tradition.

The stretch of water between Vittoriosa and its other neighbour Kalkara is known, not surprisingly, as Kalkara Creek!. From this creek there is also a fine view of Fort Angelo - you can just imagine how grand it must have been in its day.

The Fort had a moat around it as part of its impressive defences. The fort was also used as a prsion for rebellious Knights! The entrance to the prison was across this narrow bridge which can be seen in this pic - best viewed from rooftop of new hotel/waterfront development.

Walking around the fort in its neglected state and devoid of life was quite eerie. Broken windows, loose wires in the barracks - not a safe place really...
This is a view inside the Fort. Inside the fort are two chapels - one 12th century, the other 16th century. The early Grand Masters are buried here as well as many Knights who died in defence of the city.

In later years Fort Angelo was the British Naval headquarters and base for the Allied naval operations in the Med. during the WW2. The fort is now derelict and forlorn - hopefully regeneration projects in this area will include the fort. You can walk around it - there was no entrance fee - and there are great views from its bastion look out towers.

Vittoriosa was the maritime centre for the Knights and the museum here - just throught the arch after St Lawrence Church is worth a short visit. It was set up and opened in 1992 and is housed in the former British naval bakeries -a mid-19th century colonial building erected on the site of the old covered slipway of the Knights of St John. Exhibits include 2 ceremonial barges of the Grandmasters Wignacourt and De Vilhena, several models of sailing ships and galleys of the Order of the Knights of St John, and a number of authentic guns and cannons. The boats moored outside nowadays are more likely to be expensive yachts though.

The museum is open summer daily 7.45 a.m. - 2 p.m. , winter - Mon - Sat 8.15 a.m. - 5pm. and Sun 8.15 a.m. - 4.15 p.m.

In between the main Square of Vittoriosa and the waterfront is an area of three small squares known as Church Close. It is surrounded by the oratories of the Holy Crucifix (1721) and St Joseph's (the side chapel of St Lawrence) on the other side (1849). If here in the morning then you can go inside St Josephs oratory museum to see the hat and sword of Grandmaster La Valette - the founder of Valletta.