Discovering one of Valletta’s Timeless Beauty of Basilica of St. Dominic and Porto Salvo.

Hello, travellers and welcome to our Malta journey! 👋

After exploring the historic Fort St. Elmo and learning about Malta's battles, soldiers' sacrifices and the fortress gave us a full picture.

We continued our journey through the beautiful streets of Valletta. We have our bottled water to keep us hydrated because of the weather.

Every corner seemed to tell a story. While walking through the city, we were amazed by the narrow stone streets, traditional Maltese balconies with bright, colorful wooden windows. Some balconies hang their laundry above. We were amazed by how old yet alive it all felt. The old town of Valletta felt alive with history.

As we walked to the beautiful streets, we came across another remarkable landmark-the Basilica of St. Dominic and Porto Salvo.

It was one of the hidden gems of Valletta became one of the peaceful moments of our trip.

Basilica of St. Dominic and Porto Salvo stand gracefully among the city's historic buildings.

Its architecture from the outside immediately caught our attention.
It was built from Malta's famous golden limestone. The Basilica of St.Dominicand Porto Salvo blended perfectly with the surrounding states.

The Basilica looked even more significant because of its warm color. And the stone seemed to glow under the bright Mediterranean sun.

Although the Basilica looks grand and it feels calm. Beautiful without being overly extravagant. It's just a classic Malta.

The curved center, the carved details, and the statues, each piece in its niche creates a visually balanced composition. The tall bell tower rises above the nearby buildings.

I was amazed by its craftsmanship, the people who built the Basilica. It shows how beautifully they made the large wooden entrance doors, detailed stone carvings and windows.

The Basilica is dedicated to the Madonna of Fair Havens and St. Dominic and completed in 1815. And it is a prominent landmark located on St. Dominic Street.

Surrounded by busy streets and tourists, the Basilica gave a peaceful feeling that invited everyone inside.

The Basilica of St. Dominic and Porto Salvo is a Baroque facade. Characterized by its distinct Baroque style. With the ornate sculptures and statues of saints
While standing in front of the basilica, I couldn't help but admire its timeless beauty.

Here's the tip:
Most churches require to dress modestly out of respect. Some churches provide shawls at the entrance. But during the tourist season they can run out quickly. Same with St. John's Co-Cathedral, one of the busiest church tourists wants to visit.

As we entered through the large wooden doors, it immediately changed the atmosphere. The noise of the busy and narrow streets faded away. It was replaced by a peaceful silence that filled the Basilica. Aside from its calming silence, it was cool inside. Giving us a refreshing escape from the weather outside.

The Basilica of St. Dominic and Porto Salvo interior design was absolutely breathtaking. It was a welcoming atmosphere and peaceful when the soft natural light streamed through the windows. With its elegant details, every corner was beautifully decorated that reflected history and faith.

It felt incredibly spacious because of its high ceilings and pure masterpiece of Baroque details. Soft greys and creams with gold leaf, patterns of swirling florals and star-shaped panels holding painted biblical scenes.

The second dome opens wider, with frescoes of angels and saints framed with clouds that seem to float above us.

This kind of masterpiece makes you forget the heat outside and just watch from above. From limestone outside to a masterpiece of golden ceiling inside

Another stunning masterpiece was the altar. It really caught my attention because of its gold accents, decorated with beautiful marbles and artwork. Such a centerpiece of the Basilica, we admired its beauty and had a moment of praying.

Everything was well-preserved, maintained carefully and clean. Especially the polished marble floors.

We truly appreciate the peaceful atmosphere. It was calm and gave us time to relax. We shared a quiet moment with my family, took a deep breath and just slowed down the moment.

Before we left, we spent time praying. You can see in the photo that my girls are wearing shawls. After we prayed, we spent more time appreciating the details.

The incredible dedication of the artist's craftsmanship shows in very detail. From the star- shaped panels holding biblical scenes, endless gold ornamentation and nothing here was rushed. They were a labor of faith.

Visiting the Basilica of St. Dominic and Porto Salvo was more than seeing another historic building. It reminded us to appreciate the beautiful place, slow down and be thankful for the opportunity to discover one of Malta's remarkable places.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of Valletta's Basilica. I can't wait to share our next Malta Adventure. See you in the next post!.