Valletta

Valletta, the capital of Malta, is located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, with a population of 5,157 as of 2021. Valletta, the capital of Malta, functions as a dynamic commercial center, providing a lively blend of retail, gastronomy, and café culture. It is the southernmost capital in Europe and, at 0.61 square kilometers, the smallest capital city in the European Union.

The city’s extensive history originates from the 16th century, when it was established by the Knights Hospitaller. Valletta is named after Jean Parisot de Valette, a Frenchman who was instrumental in the defense of the island during the Great Siege of Malta. The city’s architecture is primarily Baroque, featuring elements from Mannerist, Neo-Classical, and Modern styles. Nevertheless, the Second World War caused considerable devastation, particularly the obliteration of the Royal Opera House. Valletta was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 due to its historical and cultural value. The city features 320 monuments inside an area of about 0.55 square kilometers, rendering it one of the most densely concentrated historic regions worldwide. Valletta, frequently designated as an “open-air museum,” was recognized as the European Capital of Culture in 2018 and was declared the sunniest city in Europe in 2016.

Valletta is known for its formidable fortifications, comprising bastions, curtains, and cavaliers. The city’s Baroque mansions, gardens, and cathedrals contribute to its architectural magnificence. The Valletta peninsula is bordered by two natural harbors: Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour, the latter serving as Malta’s principal port. The Grand Harbour includes unloading quays at Marsa and a cruise-liner port along the Valletta Waterfront, built by Portuguese Grandmaster Manuel Pinto da Fonseca.

The city has a Mediterranean climate marked by mild, wet winters and warm to hot, dry summers. Valletta’s mean yearly temperature surpasses 23°C during the day and 16°C at night. The city experiences negligible precipitation in summer, with the majority of rainfall happening in winter. The official climate recording station is situated at Luqa Airport, many kilometers inland from Valletta. Average high temperatures fluctuate from approximately 16°C in January to about 32°C in August, and average low temperatures range from roughly 10°C in January to 23°C in August.

The streets and piazzas of Valletta exhibit a variety of architectural styles, spanning from mid-16th-century Baroque to modernism. The city serves as Malta’s primary cultural hub, including a distinctive assemblage of churches, palaces, and museums that draw a significant number of visitors. In 1830, Benjamin Disraeli, the future British Prime Minister, characterized Valletta as “a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen,” likening its grand architecture to that of Venice and Cadiz.

St. John’s Co-Cathedral, previously the Conventual Church of the Knights of Malta, is one of Valletta’s historic edifices and contains the sole signed work and largest painting by Caravaggio. The Auberge de Castille et Leon, formerly the official residence of the Knights of Malta from the Langue of Castille, Léon, and Portugal, currently functions as the office of the Prime Minister of Malta. The Grandmaster’s Palace, constructed from 1571 to 1574, previously served as the Maltese Parliament and currently accommodates the offices of the President of Malta.

Admiralty House, a Baroque house from the late 1570s, functioned as the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet during the British period. From 1974 to 2016, it served as the location of the National Museum of Fine Arts. The Manoel Theatre, built in 1731 at the behest of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, is among the oldest operational theatres in Europe. The Mediterranean Conference Centre, previously known as the Sacra Infermeria, was one of Europe’s most esteemed hospitals during the Renaissance. The defenses of the city, constructed by the Knights, comprise a variety of bastions, demi-bastions, cavaliers, and curtains, enhancing Valletta’s distinctive architectural character.

Valletta consists of various unofficial neighborhoods, each possessing its own flavor. Strada Rjali, the principal avenue, is referred to as Triq ir-Repubblika. L-Arċipierku, adjacent to the Sacra Infermeria, likely takes its name from “archipelago” owing to its numerous alleys forming “islands” of residences. Bavaria, situated near the English Curtain, derives its name from the Auberge de Bavière. Il-Biċċerija, adjacent to il-Baviera, derives its name from a former abattoir. Il-Kamrata, adjacent to the Sacra Infermeria, derives its name from the Camerata, a spiritual retreat that was supplanted by social housing in the 19th century. Deux Balles, located near il-Baviera, presumably stems from the French occupation. Il-Fossa, adjacent to the Jews’ Sally Port and Fort Saint Elmo, is regarded as the most poorly maintained district of Valletta. Manderaggio, located behind the Manderaggio Curtain, was initially designed as a small harbor but evolved into a slum area, which was subsequently dismantled and reconstructed as housing estates in the 1950s.

In 2015, the greater Valletta area had an estimated labor force of over 91,000 individuals, representing nearly 50 percent of Malta’s employment. Tourism constitutes a crucial economic sector, with the vicinity of the Grand Harbour representing the most prominent tourist region. The Valletta Waterfront Project, a cruise port situated in the Grand Harbour, commenced building in 2002 following several years of planning. Valletta hosts Allied Newspapers Ltd., a media enterprise that publishes the preeminent newspapers, The Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta.

Valletta was appointed the European Capital of Culture for 2018, inaugurated with an event named Erba’ Pjazez (Four Squares), which included performances in four plazas: Triton Square, St. George’s Square, St. John’s Square, and Castille Square. The subsequent event was the inauguration of a public art work, Kif Jgħid il-Malti (Maltese Sayings), which displayed Maltese proverbs in gypsum to promote linguistic heritage.

Saint James Cavalier, initially a raised gun platform, was transformed into a Centre of Creativity in 2000 as a component of Malta’s Millennium Project. It currently accommodates a small theater, a cinema, music rooms, and art galleries, featuring diverse exhibitions and attracting over a million people since its inauguration.

The Valletta International Baroque Festival, conducted annually in January, and the Malta Jazz Festival, established in the Strait Street region during the World Wars, are notable cultural events. Strait Street, referred to as The Gut, is undergoing revitalization. The dual band clubs of Valletta are the “King’s Own Band Club” and the “La Valette National Philharmonic Society.”

Valletta annually hosts the Maltese Carnival in February, preceding Lent. In 1823, the carnival witnessed a catastrophic mass crush, leading to the fatalities of no fewer than 110 youths. The city commemorates various feasts, such as the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16, Saint Paul’s feast on February 10, Saint Dominic’s feast on August 4, and the feast of Saint Augustine on the third Sunday following Easter. Residents annually hold a procession in commemoration of St. Rita.

Valletta has been represented in literature and the arts, featuring lyrical illustrations and artworks by painters such as T. C. Dibden, Samuel Prout, and Letitia Elizabeth Landon. Malta International Airport, situated 8 kilometers outside the city in Luqa, serves Valletta. The city’s public transportation system, predominantly bus routes, largely functions to and from Valletta, featuring a central terminus located outside the city gate. Traffic in Valletta is limited, with certain main routes designated as pedestrian zones. A park and ride system was established in 2006 to enhance parking availability, and a congestion pricing scheme was adopted in 2007 to diminish long-term parking and traffic while fostering commercial activity. Valletta is serviced by a fleet of electric taxis, and an underground Malta Metro is under consideration, with an estimated cost of €6.2 billion, focused on the Valletta metropolitan region.