Discover Malta’s luxurious side while you’re in port on this shore excursion to the palaces and noble houses around Valletta. Malta has a long history with varied influences, including Roman, Greek, Arab, French and British, which has led to some beautiful architecture and sophisticated residences. As you visit Palazzo Parisio, Casa Rocca Piccola and the Upper Barrakka Gardens, you’ll see frescoes, magnificent marble, mirrored walls, trompe l'oeil art, paintings, extravagant gilding and other fantastic decor.
Pickup included
From these gardens you can enjoy unrivalled views across one of the world's largest and deepest natural harbours, Grand Harbour, and over to the Three Cities.
This 16th century palazzo is a private residence, which is open to the public. The value of Casa Rocca Piccola lies in its ability to provide unique historical evidence into the customs and traditions of the Maltese nobility over the last 400 years. You can also see a collection of furniture, silver and paintings that add to the aesthetic riches of this country.
Palazzo Parisio is a stately home with a history, architecture and interior unique in Malta. The house owes its splendour to the Marquis Giuseppe Scicluna, whose vision and passion in the late 1890s inspired its magnificent interior. Described as a miniature Versailles, this opulent house is a showcase of Maltese craftsmanship at the turn of the 19th century. It houses the most ornate ballroom on the Islands, lavishly-decorated ceilings and frescoes, magnificent antique furniture, paintings and bronzes. Its gardens originally stretched for half a mile, and today are still an impressive example of classic, baroque formality. The Palazzo has been carefully restored by the family and is open to the public.
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Note:In the unlikely event that your ship docks in Senglea (across the harbor from Valletta), the ship will provide a complimentary boat transfer across to Valletta. Please take this shuttle and proceed through the terminal building as per the normal instructions to the meeting point. We pick up from all hotels. Just let us know where you are staying and we will organise.
• Please note the Casa Rocca Piccola is closed on Sundays and public holidays and the Palazzo Parisio is closed on New Year's Day • Please note the order of sights visited may vary • Please note all museums are closed on the 24th, 25th and 31st December, the 1st January and on Good Friday • Please note certain sites of interest may be closed or have restricted entrance hours on certain days, in which case the utmost will be done to replace the visit with another site of interest Opening hours are: 08:30 - 13:00 Monday to Friday 13:45 - 17:00 Monday to Friday