| Page Views: 269 Last Visit to Valletta: - | Valletta, Malta by al_mary - last update: Nov 7, 2005 |
Valletta is the capital city of Malta, a great city full of history, a place that we
recommend that you visit if you are in the Med.
The foundation stone of Valletta was laid by the Grandmaster of the Order of
Saint John, Jean de Vallette, on 28 March 1566; The Order, which was the
long-time ruler of the city and the islan, decided to found a new city on the
Scebberras peninsula just after the end of the great Siege of Malta, so as to
fortify the Order's position in Malta, effectively binding the Knights to the island.
The city was designed by Francesco Lapparelli, while many of the most
important buildings were built by Gerolamo Cassar. Valletta, hence, is a
urban area which boasts many buildings from the 16th century and
onwards, but most of them were built during the time of the Knights of
St. John of Jerusalem, the Knights Hospitaller, or Knights of Malta.
After the Knights and the brief French interlude, the next building boom in
Valletta occurred during the British rule. Gates were widened, buildings
demolished and rebuilt, houses widened and civic projects installed.
However the whole city and its infrastructure were damaged by air raids in
World War II, notably losing its majestic opera house constructed at the city
entrance in the 19th century.
The city contains various historic cafes, meeting places, restaurants, banks,
hotels and Government offices. There are also public gardens which offer
fantastic views of the Grand Harbour and other surroundings ......
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|  | The Harbors
The Valletta peninsula, which is
fed by the two natural harbors of
Marsamxett and the Grand Harbor,
is Malta's major port, with unloading
quays at Marsa, a Cruise liner terminal
has been built recently in the Grand Harbour,
along the old sea-wall of the duty free stores
built by Grandmaster Pinto ......
Click On Photo to Enlarge
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Sights To See
** Buildings Of Historic Importance **
The most noteworthy being St John's
Co-Cathedral, formerly the Knights'
Conventual Church; Castille Place,
the Prime Minister's offices, also the
fortifications built by the Knights to
protect the city from attack, the former
Grand Master's Palace, now housing the
Maltese Parliament, and finally, the
National Museum of Fine Arts. It is was
designated as one of the UNESCO World
Heritage Sites ......
Click On Photo to Enlarge
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| In A Nutshell: | "A Very Historical Place To Visit" |
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