A port city, Valletta is the capital of the island country of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. Valletta is located on the eastern coast of the largest island, which is also named Malta. Valletta lies on a peninsula—a land mass surrounded by water on three sides. It borders Marsamxett Harbor to the north and Grand Harbor to the south. The eastern end of the city juts out into the Mediterranean. Valletta was planned in the 16th century by the Italian architect Francesco Laparelli. To make traveling through Valletta easier, Laparelli designed the city in a grid pattern with straight streets that crossed each other and ran the entire width and length of the town. Valletta was one of the first towns to be laid out in this way. Places of interestValletta features a number of buildings that date from its early years. Perhaps the most notable of them is St. John's Co-Cathedral, which was built between 1573 and 1578. The outside of the church is rather plain, but the inside is elaborate. The cathedral and an adjacent museum contain famous paintings, sculptures, and religious artifacts. The Palace of the Grand Masters was constructed in 1574 and is now the home of the president of the Republic of Malta and the seat of the House of Representatives. The Auberge of Castile, dating from the same year, is now the office of the prime minister. Both the National Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts are housed in buildings dating from the 1570s. EconomyValletta's harbors make it the center of Malta's trade with other countries. After World War II (1939–45), Valletta's naval dockyard was converted for use by businesses. In addition, the city's artistic treasures and warm climate attract many tourists. HistoryFort Saint Elmo was built in 1551 at the northeastern end of the peninsula on which Valletta sits. The Turks invaded the peninsula in 1565 but were defeated. After this event, known as the Great Siege of Malta, the city of Valletta was built. Valletta became the capital of Malta in 1570. In the centuries that followed, the city and islands came under the rule of the French and then the British. After 1814 Valletta served as a British naval and military base. During World War II it was bombed many times. Malta achieved independence in 1964, and Valletta remained its capital. In 1980 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Valletta a World Heritage site because of its numerous historic sites. Population (1999 estimate), 7,100. |