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    Valletta Malta Saluting Battery
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    Fascinating Valletta, Malta’s Must-See Attractions

    by Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac April 13, 2025
    written by Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac

    This epic port is itself an outdoor museum and the entire city is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Just being here animates the ancient history, feeling like you are acting out a movie or back in time experiencing the events.  I was absolutely enchanted by this port and love sharing tips on how best to enjoy the top Valletta Malta attractions. 

    Anglican Cathedral in Valletta and Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
    Anglican Cathedral in Valletta and Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

    About Valletta, Malta

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    Maltese Doors

    Malta is an island country, making up an archipelago, just 80 km south of Italy. Being in the center of the Mediterranean, it was a strategic target and occupied by numerous countries, such as, Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, Knights of St John, French, and British.  Currently, the Republic of Malta is the world’s 10th smallest country and very densely populated.  Valletta is the capital city.

    Valletta lies on a peninsula between the Grand and Marsamxett harbors. The Grand Harbor is Malta’s greatest geographical strength and it’s absolutely breathtaking.  The fortification of Malta is well-known as some of the most extraordinary military architecture in all of history. 

    Overall, there are 9 wonderful forts in Valletta’s Grand harbor including the prominent Saint Andrew’s, Manoel and Saint Elmo Forts. 

    The entire city of Valletta is an open-air museum with stunning architecture, monuments and art taking you back in time!

    During WW II, Malta became severely damaged by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.  Overall, Valletta experienced some of the worst bombardment in Europe.  Immediately, however, after the war the city was rebuilt, resurrecting it to the replica of its magnificent military and historic architecture.

    Top Valletta Malta Attractions

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    Victoria Gate to Valletta

    Cruising into Valletta’s Grand Harbor for the first time is one of the most awesome experiences of my life.  Mesmerized, my imagination ran wild. One moment it seemed we were back in ancient times among the forts, canons and castles performing a military coup. And another moment I imagined taking part in an epic movie scene. If you don’t arrive by ship, then take one of the Grand Harbor Boat tours to experience the historic harbor in its entirety. 

    Fort St. Elmo
    Fort St. Elmo and National War Museum

    Fort St. Elmo and National War Museum

    The most famous and oldest fort in Valletta is the star-shaped St. Elmo on the tip of the peninsula. It’s where Malta’s tragic event, “The Great Siege” happened, besieged for 30 days by the Ottoman Empire and killing almost all of the 1,500 defenders.  The fort also served as a significant defensive fort during WW II, being bombed and later rebuilt.  St. Elmo is featured in many movies, such as Midnight Express, World War Z, Murder on the Orient Express, Clash of the Titans, 13 Hours and American Assassin.

    Additionally, now, the fort houses the National War Museum for military buffs. Laid out in 5 sections, it retraces the military events from the Knights of St. John with the Ottomans to World War I & II.

    Additionally, other forts on Grand and Marasamxett Harbors include Manoel, Ricasoli, Rinella, St Rocco, St Angelo, St Michael, Tigne and San Salvatore.

    Fort Manoel
    Fort Manoel
    50840953423_7ec89d5518_o
    Upper Barrakka Gardens

    Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens

    A panoramic lift takes you to the the Upper Gardens, a nice sanctuary in the middle of Valletta with many flower gardens, arches and benches overlooking the Grand Harbour.  The Lower Gardens are further away, closer to Fort Saint Elmo and National War Museum.

    Saluting Battery

    Along the eastern historic ramparts, this battery aims into the middle of Grand Harbor. This is where they used to shoot at foreign invasive ships.  Every day at noon they shoot a canon to commemorate this battery. Furthermore, this may be the oldest battery still in use today. 

    Saint John's Co-Cathedral
    Saint John’s Co-Cathedral Mannerist style Exterior

    Saint John’s Co-Cathedral

    In the center of Valletta is this magnificent Saint John’s Co-Cathedral dedicated to John the Baptist.  Even though the exterior is rather plain in a Mannerist style, the interior is ornately gilded in Baroque. The vaulted ceiling, walls and altars are painted with the life story of John the Baptist. It’s one of the best examples of high Baroque architecture in all of Europe.  The most famous art in the cathedral’s Oratory is Caravaggio’s painting, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.

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    St. John’s Co-Cathedral Oratory with The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist painting by Caravaggio

    Republic Street and Merchant Street

    IMG_0445
    Triton Fountain

    Republic street is a 1 km stretch with historic landmark buildings and institutions, such as, Freedom Square, Archeology Museum, Grandmaster’s Palace and Royal Opera House.  It starts at the bronzed Triton Fountain in front of the City Gates and ends at the St. Elmo Fort. Merchant Street is an open-air market with merchandise, such as, books, antiques and clothing at bargain prices.   

    Lascaris War Rooms

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    Lascaris War Rooms

    Below the Upper Barrakka Gardens is the Lascaris War Rooms (LWR). It served as part of the British Combined War Headquarters, opening in 1940 to 1977. Beneath 40 m of bedrock, it consists of tunnels excavated to protect from bombing. It opened during “Operation Husky,” the invasion of Sicily. Overall, it displays many chambers, crypto rooms, communication stations, offices and dormitories. Guided or self-guided tours are available.

    Three Cities of Malta

    From the Upper Barrakka Gardens, you see across the harbour the 3 cities: Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua.   From the harbour front the Three Cities ferry is accessible at the Upper Barrakka Lift. These are preserved fortified cities of Malta to relive history and culture.  Also, highlights include the Malta Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa and the Safe Haven Gardens at Senglea Point for panoramic views of Valletta.

    Marsamxett Harbour

    Visit Gozo Island on Highspeed Ferry

    IMG_9062
    Dwerja Bay

    Gozo is the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago. A high speed ferry from Valletta takes you to this picturesque island in 45 minutes. The island is known for its nice beaches, hills and dramatic coastal landscapes.

    Overall, Valletta Malta Attractions

    For anyone that is a history or military buff, Valletta is a must-see destination. With some of the world’s most renowned military architecture and fortification rebuilt, Valletta takes you back in time. This is why we travel to immerse ourselves in another time and place.


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    by Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac April 13, 2025
    by Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac April 13, 2025

    Historic Dubrovnik is known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.”  It’s astounding scenery and architecture make for an incredible getaway to a cultural landmark in Croatia.  As an Acupuncturist-at-Sea, I spent 2 …

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Hello, Hola, Namaste, Ni hao, Ciao and Bonjour! My name is Trudy and I have been traveling like everyday is my last, over the last 10 years. I've visited 105 countries and still counting! As an Acupuncturist and traveler, I love sharing my experiences and tips on travel and wellness. Feel free to join below my community for coupons and latest travel guides.

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On the Vracar plateau, the Church of Saint Sava is On the Vracar plateau, the Church of Saint Sava is the largest Orthodox church in the Balkans and second largest in the world. Saint Sava is the founder of the Serbian Orthodox church. The church’s construction lasted from 1935 to 1989. It became delayed by WW II and the Yugoslavian communism, that didn’t allow for building churches. 

Shaped like a Greek Cross, the facade consists of white marble and granite in a Neo-Byzantine style. Its dome is one of the largest in the world. The mosaics are spectacular, with the central mosaic in the dome depicting the Ascension of Jesus.

To learn more about Belgrade, check out my blog:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/belgrade-serbia-top-attractions-in-2-days/

#belgrade #serbia #serbiatourism #churchesofinstagram #templeofsaintsava #balkans #europetravels #easterneurope #belgradephoto #belgradeserbia #travelblogger #wanderlust
Just 15 minutes from Mostar is the Blagaj Dervish Just 15 minutes from Mostar is the Blagaj Dervish Monastery. It sits at the source of the Buna River which flows out of a cave beneath a canyon wall. The beautiful tekke (lodge) displays Ottoman Sufi architecture from the 15th century. 

The white building reflects on the turquoise river. Inside you’ll find a small mosque, guest rooms and mausoleums. Dervishes of the Sufi orders stayed here for spiritual retreats over the centuries. Today, it is open for tourist of all faiths to learn about this sacred site and the Sufi tradition. 

We explored the riverside and view of Blagaj from across the river. Also, with our shoes off, we enjoyed an indoor tour of the monastery. 

To learn more about Mostar, check out my blog:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/mostar-tour-highlights/

#blagaj #dervish #monastery #mostar #bosniaandherzegovina #balkans #instatravelling #i̇nstatravel #easterneurope #europetravel #bosnia #traveladdict #retreat #wanderlust #solotraveling
Mostar is a gorgeous gem of the Balkans. Its uniqu Mostar is a gorgeous gem of the Balkans. Its unique blend of cultural diversity, riveting history and natural beauty offers an inspiring escape. I traveled solo in Mostar for 2 days, exploring the Old Town along with day trips. Mostar's main attraction is the bridge jumping tradition.

The iconic Stari Most is the symbol of Mostar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in Balkan Islamic architecture in the 16th century, its height is 24 m (78 ft 9 in). The bridge connects the two sides of the city divided by the Neretva River. During the Balkan War, the bridge was destroyed. However, it became rebuilt in 2004 with the stones from the original bridge. The bridge is steep and slippery with crowds often on it. So, wear good shoes and be aware when taking in its incredible views of the city and river.

The main attraction in Mostar is watching the tradition of locals jumping off the Stari Most into the river. This began in 1664 as a rite-of-passage for 16-year-old boys. Today, young men from the Mostar Diving Club take the plunge. Leading up to the plunge, assistants gather donations from the crowds.

To learn more, check out my blog:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/mostar-tour-highlights/

#mostar #mostarbridge #mostarbridgejump #mostarbosnia #bosniaandherzegovina #balkans #bridgejump #bridgejumping #instatravelling #instatravel #europetravels #easterneurope #wanderlusting #wanderlust #travelgirl #solotravel #travelblog #travelblogger #solotravel
After 3 days in Sarajevo, I wholeheartedly get why After 3 days in Sarajevo, I wholeheartedly get why National Geographic named it Top Destination for 2025. Here, east meets west with a fascinating blend of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian influences. However, wounds from the 90’s Bosnian War are still healing. Afterall, Sarajevo suffered the longest siege (almost 4 years) in modern warfare by the Bosnian Serbs. Thankfully, its citizens’ resilience prevailed otherwise.

To learn more, check out my blog:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/sarajevo-travel-destination-highlights/

Photos:
Abandoned Olympic Bobsleigh Track
Sarajevo '84 Winter Olympics
Tunnel of Hope during Sarajevo Siege
Sarajevo Rose Memorial (Where more than 3 people died in Siege)
Eternal Flame Monument - Honoring WW II victims
Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Old Bazaar

#sarajevo #sarajevobosnia #bosnia #bosniaandherzegovina🇧🇦 #bosniatravel #europetravels #balkans #europedestinations #solotraveler #solofemaletravel #wanderlusting #wanderlust #travelbloggers #nationalgeographictopdestination2025 #nationalgeographic #instatravel #europehistory
The Plitvice Lakes National Park is located in cen The Plitvice Lakes National Park is located in central Croatia’s mountainous karst area. It’s the largest national park in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is world-famous for its 16 turquoise, tufa lakes connected by 90 cascades and waterfalls. A confluence of many rivers and subterranean karst rivers created these lakes. 

Check out my blog/video:
https://truewindhealingtravel.com/plitvice-lakes-planning-tips/

#waterfallsofinstagram #croatiatravel #croatia #waterfalls #waterfall #adventuretravel #wanderlust #europetravels #cascade #travelingram #naturelovers #naturegrams #traveladdict #solofemaletravel #solotraveler
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