Vittoriosa and Fort St. Angelo

Woke up to a clearer day as the haze was gone.  We took a short ferry ride across the Grand Harbor to explore the largest village of the "Three Cities", Vittoriosa and its imposing Fort St. Angelo. 

 Looking across Grand Harbor from our balcony at the imposing Fort St. Angelo, Vittoriosa behind with its deep water marina that handles the super yachts visiting Malta.  There has been a fort at this point since the Phoenicians but what we see today was started in 1532 by the Knights of St. James .

Looking back at Vittoriosa on the right and part of Senglea's protective battlements's on the left from the middle of the bridge that connects the two villages 

 Victory Square with a statue of St. Lawrence, the patron saint of Vittoriosa and the majestic Band Club of St. Lawrence building in the center.  Band Clubs are charitable clubs that teach children how to play musical instruments for free.  In return they help volunteer to organize local fairs and festivals in the town or village.  They are very popular in Malta.  The buildings also house restaurants and rooms that help generate revenue for the clubs.  We stopped for a leisurely coffee and cake while soaking up the sun on the outdoor patio.
Spring wildflowers blossom along Vittoriosa's protective wall.  Across the bay is Cospicua, one of the "Three Cities" that are located on a finger of land across the Grand Harbor from Valletta


 Rita on top of one of the 50 cannons in Fort St. Angelo that were used to protect Malta.  Looking over at Cospicua on the left and Vittoriosa on the right.
A couple of the picturesque narrow streets of Vittoriosa
We decided to take a small traditional Maltese rowing boat called a dghajsa (die-sa) back to Valletta. It was fun but we were soaked by the time we got back.  
Looking at Valletta from inside our little boat in the middle of Grand Harbor.  At least we had a small motor or it would have taken us forever to make the crossing.  Thankfully, it only took 10 minutes.




  


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