Valletta

Valletta, the capital of Malta, is a magnificent, compact baroque city built in the sixteenth century by the Knights of St John, a UNESCO gem of honey-coloured limestone on a fortified peninsula between two great harbours. One of the smallest capitals in Europe, its grid of steep streets is packed with grand palaces, auberges, and above all St John's Co-Cathedral, whose austere exterior hides a breathtaking gilded baroque interior and a masterpiece by Caravaggio, all with sweeping views over the Grand Harbour.

History

The peninsula was earlier known as Xagħret Mewwija, the sheltered place, and later as Sceberras, a name scholars now trace to a Punic word for the headland or middle peninsula. The Order of Saint John proposed a city here as early as 1524, when the only building was a small watchtower of 1488, replaced in 1552 by Fort Saint Elmo. In the Great Siege of 1565 the fort fell to the Ottomans, but the Order won with Sicilian help, and Grand Master Jean de Valette at once set out to build a fortified city on the peninsula, named La Valletta after him: Pope Pius V sent his military architect Francesco Laparelli to design it, Philip II of Spain sent money, and de Valette laid the foundation stone on 28 March 1566, in what became the church of Our Lady of Victories (Wikipedia, Valletta).

What's there

• St John's Co-Cathedral - the gilded baroque interior and Caravaggio.
• The Grand Harbour - the views from the Upper Barrakka Gardens.
• The palaces and streets - the Grand Master's Palace and steep lanes.
• The fortifications - the mighty walls and bastions.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather and thinner crowds; summer is hot and busy, especially when cruise ships dock. The city is compact and walkable, best explored on foot, with its steep streets and harbour views lovely in the softer light of morning and evening.

What to expect

It is small, so it is seen in a day, and it can be crowded when cruise ships are in. The steep streets and steps are tiring. St John's Co-Cathedral charges entry and enforces a dress code, with no stiletto heels to protect the marble tomb floors. Its baroque splendour and harbour setting, though, are genuinely magnificent for such a small capital.

Nearby

The Three Cities across the harbour, Mdina and the whole small island are close.

Key facts