Perhaps the city’s most iconic landmark at a height of 42 meters, the oval-shaped dome of the basilica looms large on Valletta’s skyline. Although the church dates back to 1570, it was badly damaged during World War II and only reopened in its current form in 1981 after 23 years of rebuilding. The interior features prominent columns of marble, which were erected during the restoration, and a 17th-century painting of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, all amid a mix of rich Baroque elements and more simple decoration.
