I was struck, as every visitor to Malta must be, by the sheer numbers of balconies on Valletta’s buildings. There seems to be no easy answer as to why the balconies, which became fashionable in the mid-18th century, are enclosed. Some cite North African roots, or Turkish, or Spanish. In any case, the other thing I noticed about the island’s distinctive architecture was the homogeneous nature of it. Designs of old buildings are repeated in the new ones, creating a beautiful and harmonious whole. In all my travels, I’ve never seen anything like it.
My home in Valletta, the window far right of the large balcony.
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