La Goulette is the first town you visit as you travel North from Tunis towards more touristy places like Carthage,
Sidi Bou Said , and Gammarth. It is the main passenger and cargo port in Tunisia. Like most Goulettois I took my first trip at the age of 18 aboard the famous ferry Al Habib en route to Marseilles and onwards to Paris.
The harbor's surroundings were fertile grounds for daydreaming and amusement for my friends and I when we were young. We often went there for fishing, daredevil swimming, or simply watching the ships sail away towards other Mediterranean cities. Our adolescent rites of passage were also conducted there...away from the adult world's watching and watchful eyes.

Port Code: TNLGN
Country Code: TN
Currency: Tunisian Dinar (TND)

The new city, with its strong bastions and deep moats, became a bulwark of great strategic importance. Valletta’s street plan is unique and planned with its defence in mind. Based on a more or less uniform grid, some of the streets fall steeply as you get closer to the tip of the peninsula. The stairs in some of the streets do not conform to normal dimensions since they were constructed in a way so as to allow knights in heavy armour to be able to climb the steps.

PLACES TO SEE:

The Grandmaster's Palace
Dominating Palace Square, the Grand Master's Palace has always been the house of government in Malta, first by the knights, then the British and now hosts the President’s office. When parliament is not in session you can visit the palace for free, and there is an awful lot to see in here.

St. John's Co-Cathedral
The Cathedral is a showcase to Mattia Preti who intricately carved stone wall designs, as well as the painted vaulted ceiling and side altars with scenes from the life of St John. Among the treasures found in the Cathedral are the unique Caravaggio painting depicting the beheading of St John, the extraordinary paving of more than 300 marble tomb slabs (the burial place of several former European princes), and the splendid vaulted central nave with frescoes of Mattia Preti.

Caravaggio's Stroke of Genius
Commissioned by the Grand Master, Caravaggio's Beheading of St John was made in 1608 for the chapel of the Co-Cathedral. It is the largest work the artist ever painted (12 feet x 17 feet) and the only one he ever signed. This painting is described as his all-time masterpiece.
The painting depicts the moment in Biblical history where St John is beheaded by King Herod to satisfy the blood lust of the seductive dancer, Salome. The scene is the courtyard of a prison and the grisly murder is observed by two other prisoners looking through a grille, while a young woman and an old crone stand ready to take the severed head and put it on the waiting platter. The blood flowing from St John's neck drips towards the bottom of the frame and in its red stream, Caravaggio signed his name.
On the oratory's right wall hangs Caravaggio’s smaller painting of St Jerome. Stolen in 1984 and rescued in a dramatic operation some months later, the painting depicts an elderly man sitting with a pen in his hand.

Churches
Despite measuring 900 metres by 630 metres, Valletta boasts over 25 churches, a testament to the centuries-old ingrained Catholic faith of the Maltese. In fact, the first building that went up in the city is the Church of Our Lady of Victories along South Street, which commemorates the lifting of the Great Siege. The churches are the following:

• St John’s Co-Cathedral - St John’s Square
• St. Francis of Assisi – Republic Street
• Parish Church of St. Augustine – Old Bakery Street
• Sanctuary Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
• Carmelite Church – Old Theatre Street
• Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul – Independence Square
• Church of Christ Redeemer
• Church of the Jesuits
• Collegiate Church of St. Paul's Shipwreck – St Paul Street
• Church of St. Mary of Jesus
• Scots Church of St. Andrew
• Church of Our Lady of the Pilar – West Street
• Church and Monastery of St. Catherine
• Parish Church of Our Lady of Fair Heavens and St. Dominic
• Church of St. Mary Magdalene
• Church and Chapel of St. Anne
• Chapel of Sacra Infermeria – Mediterranean Conference Centre
• Church of St. Nicholas
• Church of St. Roque – St Ursula Street
• Church and Monastery of St. Ursula – St Ursula Street
• Church of Our Lady of Damascus
• Church of St. James
• Church of St. Barbara – Republic Street
• Church of St. Catherine of Italy – Victory Square
• Church of Our Lady of Victories – South Street
• Church of the Blessed Virgin of Notre Dame De Liesse – Liesse Hill
• Church of the Holy Family's Flight from Egypt
• Church of St Lucy.

National Museum of Archaeology
The National Museum of Archaeology in Republic Street displays an exceptional array of artefacts from Malta’s unique prehistoric periods, starting with the first arrival of man in the Ghar Dalam phase (5200 BC) and running up to the Tarxien phase (2500 BC).
The collection is housed in the Auberge de Provence, one of the first buildings to be erected after the Great Siege in the late 16th century.

Casa Rocca Piccola
Casa Rocca Piccola is a privately owned and a much loved family home. 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. One can also see a collection of furniture, silver and paintings that add to the aesthetic riches of Valletta.
Casa Rocca Piccola contains over 50 rooms, the majority of which are open for viewing. Over the last few years a Museum of Costume has been opened in the property and also the World War II Air Raid Shelters have provided a dramatic and exciting addition to the tours of the house. This has all been made possible from the contributions that come in from the thousands of tourists who come to Malta and Valletta every year.

Barrakka Gardens
Named the Upper Barrakka and the Lower Barrakka, both gardens offer a stunning view of the Grand Harbour.
The Upper Barrakka garden, especially, is a must. Built on top of a demi-bastion, both locals and foreigners relish spending hours taking in the sights. A number of statues and monuments adorn the gardens, including one dedicated to Winston Churchill.
A monument dedicated to Captain Ball is located in the centre of the Lower Barrakka Gardens.

Hastings Gardens
Located on top of the bastions on the west side of City Gate, the recently-embellished Hastings Gardens offer a magnificent view of Floriana, surrounding cities and Marsamxett Harbour.

Auberge de Castille
Designed by Girolamo Cassar but later remodelled under Grand Master di Pinto, Auberge de Castille, situated in Castille Place, is one of the finest architectural works in Malta, as evidenced by its spectacular fascade.
Finely proportioned and strictly symmetrical, the building was badly damaged during World War II but was later carefully restored. The building now houses the office of the Prime Minister.

This is the ancient port as well as the oldest city in France. Today Marseilles is the second largest city after Paris. You will enjoy a walk through the picturesque old port of this cosmopolitan city rich in history, culture and folklore.

Marseille, the largest port in the Meditterranean and the second largest city in France, serves as your gateway to the lush fertile region of Provence and all its cultural contributions to gastronomic excellence, Impressionistic art, and ancient architecture.

Worthseeing Places

Marseille
This port city is a worthwhile stop on your Southern France excursion if not just to experience the down-to-earth warmth of Marseille's residents. This cosmopolitan city with a generous heart boasts a trading history that goes back more than 2,500 years.

Avignon
Inland from Marseille, Avignon has an immaculately preserved old center, enclosed by medieval walls built by the last of nine popes who were based here during the 14th century. You'll also find museums, monuments, eateries of all kinds and ample opportunities to shop.

Aix-en-Provence
About 16 miles from Marseille is Aix, a picturesque college town filled with youthful energy and students from all over the world. Birthplace of Paul Cezanne, this master painter found inspiration all around him, such as Mont Ste-Victoire, which became a favorite subject at the end of his life.

Port Code: FRMRS
Country: France
Country Code: FR
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Currency Description: On 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries.

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