Street Photos and Portraits: Valletta, Malta

Stefan Ferreira , , , , , , ,

Maltese travel guides are full of references to a chequered history made up of Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman, French and British influences. They talk at length about the legacy of the Knights of St. John, the interesting architecture and the great food that characterise this Mediterranean island with its temperate December days.

It’s all there in abundance, especially in the capital Valletta, where the old town’s rustic streets are lined with traditional, independent family businesses and architecture from these bygone eras. It’s an interesting place to visit for a weekend and a fantastic location for street photography and portraits, even if the atmosphere is tainted by a peculiar strain of crass commercialism and some freaky twists of pop culture.

Do you enjoy doing your Christmas shopping in streets echoing with the 100 Greatest XMas Panpipe Hits? Then hurry over. Are you a closet Euro Disney fan? Then come right in. This beautiful world heritage site turned slightly odd retirement village won’t disappoint you. Enjoy.

Valletta old town
Steep steps and old buildings in Malta's old town
Waiter and vaulted ceiling of elegant cafe
Two old woman talking in the street
A woman turns around to look at a fashion model posing in a photo shoot
Old woman standing pensively in the street
Rustic blue haberdashery shopfront
Bicycle, menu, umbrellas and restaurant tables
Malta shopfronts at sunset
Woman in purple jokes with a person dressed as a giant teddy bear
A woman eats her ice cream standing next to a plastic yellow donkey
A woman in wearing the hijab looks at a person dressed as Mickey Mouse
Green door, stone wall and sign reading "Family Store"
Church door with religious posters and notices
Green door, white wall and green sign
Two woman, dressed in black, walking and talking
Three old woman chatting whilst sat on a bench in the street
Two women dressed in black walking down the street
Old woman in grey coat walking down an alleyway at night
A female shopper removes her shades and takes in her surroundings
Elegant old man and woman walking down the street
A porcelain Jesus overlooks a deserted hallway
Collection box figurine outside of a church, overlooking Maltese shopping street at sunset
Blue church door with posters and an image of a nun
Maltese poodle dressed up in a colourful jumper
Two young men dressed as clowns, posing
Boy in green, wearing shades, walks past a mini Santa Claus
Red phonebox with blue phone
Steps with pigeons and old buildings in Malta's old town
Van Gogh portrait sculpture
Suited old man with a cap
Woman in black walking past a red postbox
Nun dressed in white with black bag
Valletta old town
Steep steps and old buildings in Malta's old town
Waiter and vaulted ceiling of elegant cafe
Two old woman talking in the street
A woman turns around to look at a fashion model posing in a photo shoot
Old woman standing pensively in the street
Rustic blue haberdashery shopfront
Bicycle, menu, umbrellas and restaurant tables
Malta shopfronts at sunset
Woman in purple jokes with a person dressed as a giant teddy bear
A woman eats her ice cream standing next to a plastic yellow donkey
A woman in wearing the hijab looks at a person dressed as Mickey Mouse
Green door, stone wall and sign reading "Family Store"
Church door with religious posters and notices
Green door, white wall and green sign
Two woman, dressed in black, walking and talking
Three old woman chatting whilst sat on a bench in the street
Two women dressed in black walking down the street
Old woman in grey coat walking down an alleyway at night
A female shopper removes her shades and takes in her surroundings
Elegant old man and woman walking down the street
A porcelain Jesus overlooks a deserted hallway
Collection box figurine outside of a church, overlooking Maltese shopping street at sunset
Blue church door with posters and an image of a nun
Maltese poodle dressed up in a colourful jumper
Two young men dressed as clowns, posing
Boy in green, wearing shades, walks past a mini Santa Claus
Red phonebox with blue phone
Steps with pigeons and old buildings in Malta's old town
Van Gogh portrait sculpture
Suited old man with a cap
Woman in black walking past a red postbox
Nun dressed in white with black bag