Malta’s capital city is Valletta. The historical city has a population of 6,444 people, while the surrounding metropolitan area has a population of 393,938 people. Valletta is Europe’s southernmost capital.

Valletta, a harbor city, has preserved most of its 16th century architectural legacy, which was developed by the Hospitallers. Valletta was one of the first places on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was named for its creator, Grandmaster Jean Parisot de la Valette, and is commonly known as Il-Belt (“The City”).

Valletta – Info Card

Tourism in Valletta

Valletta’s street and plaza architecture spans from mid-16th century Baroque through Modernism. The city is the island’s primary cultural center, with a one-of-a-kind collection of churches, palaces, and museums that serve as one of the city’s major tourist attractions. When future British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli visited the city in 1830, he described it as “a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen,” adding that “Valletta equals, if not excels, in its noble architecture, any capital in Europe,” and in other letters called it “comparable to Venice and Cádiz” and “full of palaces worthy of Palladio.”

St. John’s Co-Cathedral, once the Conventual Church of the Knights of Malta, is a historic structure. It has Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s only signed piece and biggest picture. The Auberge de Castille et Leon, previously the official residence of the Knights of Malta of the Langue of Castille, Léon, and Portugal, is now the Prime Minister’s office in Malta. The Maltese Parliament was housed at the Magisterial Palace, which was erected between 1571 and 1574 and was previously the seat of the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta. It is currently housed in a purpose-made edifice at the city’s entrance. The President of Malta’s offices are still housed at the Magisterial Palace.

Climate of Valletta

Valletta has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and moderate, rainy winters.

The city’s closeness to the sea keeps winter temperatures bearable. As a consequence, winters in Valletta are moderate. Average high temperatures range from around 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in August, while average low temperatures range from around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit) in August.

Geography of Valletta

Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour are two natural harbours on the Valletta peninsula. Malta’s main port is the Grand Harbour, with unloading quays at adjacent Marsa. A cruise-liner terminal is situated along the Valletta Waterfront’s historic seawall, which Grandmaster Manuel Pinto de Fonseca erected.