Valletta
Il-Belt Valletta
A fortified capital built on a grid by the Knights of St John in the 16th century; the entire city is a World Heritage Site, often called a “city built by gentlemen for gentlemen.”
Valletta was founded in 1566, after the victory over the Ottomans in the Great Siege, on the orders of Grand Master Valette, and is named after him. It is one of Europe's earliest planned cities. Less than 1 square kilometer in area, it holds about 320 historic buildings, and the whole city was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1980. Highlights: the city gate was redesigned by architect Renzo Piano and sits beside the new Parliament building and the open-air theater on the site of the former opera house. Along the main street, Republic Street, stand the Grand Master's Palace (the presidential palace, where the armoury can be visited) and the National Archaeology Museum. Also worth seeing are St. John's Co-Cathedral and, north of the city in Fort St Elmo, the National War Museum. Streets are steep, and buildings feature colorful wooden enclosed balconies (Gallarija), which are very distinctive. Take the lift beside the Upper Barrakka Gardens down to the harbor and catch a ferry to the Three Cities across the water. The city is entirely walkable, so wear comfortable shoes.
Opening hours
Open all day; museums about 09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- St. John's Co-Cathedral
- Grandmaster's Palace
- Upper Barrakka Gardens & Saluting Battery
- Lascaris War Rooms
- Fort St. Elmo & National War Museum
- Fort St. Angelo
- Birgu (Vittoriosa) & the Three Cities
- Sliema & Tigné Point