Malta

Renzo Piano's new Parliament building and 16th century St. James Cavalier seen from the ruins of the old Opera House. Colour version in the note Renzo Pianos neues Parlamentsgebäude und das Bastionsbauwerk St. James Cavalier von den Ruinen des alten Opernhauses aus gesehen. Farbversion im PiP

Built in 1661 by Italian knight Fra Flaminio Balbiani on St. Peter & Paul Bastion the gardens were created for the Italian knights. In 1800 they were opened to the public. Erbaut 1661 von Fra Flaminio Balbiani auf der Bastion St.Peter & Paul, waren die Gärten ursprünglich zur Erholung der italienischen Ritter bestimmmt. Seit 1800 sind die Gärten der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Barrakka_Gardens whc.unesco.org/en/list/131

Looking east towards the entrance of Grand Harbour, Lower Barrakka Gardens to the left and Fort Ricasoli to the right.

That famous view from Upper Barrakka Gardens - City of Valletta, Grand Harbour and Fort Ricasoli whc.unesco.org/en/list/131

whc.unesco.org/en/list/131

Teatru Manoel was commisioned by Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena (see 1st inset) in 1731 and opened in 1732. The auditorium in its present shape is 19th century. Teatru Manoel is one of the oldest working theatres worldwide and a grade 1 listed building. www.teatrumanoel.com.mt/?m=content&id=135 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manoel_Theatre Teatru Manoel ist eines der ältesten Theater weltweit, die heute noch bespielt werden. Erbaut 1731 unter Großmeister Manoel de Vilhena, wurde das Theater im 19. Jh mehrfach umgebaut und auf heute 623 Sitzplätze erweitert .

The Sunday Challenge (TSC): TWIST The chapel of the Langue of Auvergne in St.John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta, is dedicated to St Sebastian. The 17th century altar painting is attributed to Lucas Garnier, the reredos with its spiral columns is probably one of the earliest installed in the church in the late 16th century.

...note the gas cylinders;-) HFF folks, stay safe and don't get too exuberant with the easing of restrictions:-)

NOT The Sunday Challenge Valletta's Strait Street used to be the sinful mile in catholic Malta. But when the numbers of servicemen and sailors went down in the 1970s the businesses in Strait Street also went down. These days it's starting to get a new life as a place of hip bars and less seedy nightlife.