Valletta

Valletta is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 council areas. It is located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west. As of 2021, the city had a population of 5,157 people. Valletta is a busy commercial center, known for its shops, bars, restaurants, and cafes.

The city was built in the 16th century by the Knights Hospitaller and was named after Jean Parisot de Valette, who led the defense of Malta against an Ottoman invasion during the Great Siege of Malta. Valletta has many beautiful old buildings in Baroque, Mannerist, Neo-Classical, and Modern styles. Sadly, the Second World War damaged some important places, like the Royal Opera House.

Valletta is very special because of its strong walls and beautiful palaces, gardens, and churches. In 1980, it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In 2018, it was chosen as the European Capital of Culture, and in 2016, it was listed as the sunniest city in Europe. With 320 monuments packed into just 0.55 square kilometers, Valletta is often called an "open-air museum" and is one of the smallest capital cities in Europe.

Demographics

Valletta had a population of 5,226 as of July 2024. This group included 2,675 males and 2,551 females. Out of these people, 4,400 were Maltese nationals, and 826 were from other countries.

History

See also: Mount Sciberras and Sciberras Peninsula

The land where Valletta now stands was once called Xagħret Mewwija, meaning a sheltered place. Over time, the area became known as Sceberras. Studies show that the name Xeberras likely comes from ancient times and means "the headland."

Valletta was built by the Order of Saint John after they successfully defended Malta in 1565. The city was named after the Grand Master, Jean de Valette. Help came from many European leaders, and the city's design was based on a grid plan with wide, straight streets. Building began in 1566, and by the 1570s, Valletta became Malta's capital.

The city grew with new buildings and defenses. Sadly, a explosion in 1634 took many lives. In 1798, French forces took over but were later pushed out by the British. Valletta faced difficult times during World War II due to air raids, but it continues to be an important city.

In 1980, Valletta became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has hosted important meetings and was named European Capital of Culture in 2018.

Government

Local government

Valletta, the capital city of Malta, was founded in 1566 by the Grand Master of the Knights of St. John. During the time of the Knights of Malta, Valletta had its own local council called the Università. This council was in charge of local matters until 1818, when a British governor took over all administrative duties. Local government was brought back to Malta in 1993 with the Local Councils Act.

Valletta’s local council was created in 1993, and the first election was held on November 20, 1993. Elections have happened regularly since then, with the most recent one in 2019. The council meets in a building on South Street.

Some of the mayors of Valletta have included Hector Bruno, Paul Borg Olivier, Alexiei Dingli, Christian Micallef, and Alfred Zammit.

National government

Valletta is the capital of Malta and serves as the country’s main administrative and business center. Since 2015, the Parliament of Malta has been located in Parliament House near the city’s entrance. Before that, it was in the Grandmaster’s Palace in the city center. The Grandmaster’s Palace now holds the Office of the President of Malta, and the Auberge de Castille houses the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta. The courthouse and many government offices are also in Valletta.

Geography

The Valletta peninsula has two natural harbours, Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour. The Grand Harbour is Malta's main port, with places to unload goods nearby. There is also a place for big ships to stop along the old wall that a leader from Portugal built.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Malta

Valletta has a warm Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild, rainy winters and long, hot, dry summers. The city stays warm, with daytime temperatures usually above 23 °C and cooler nights around 16 °C.

Summer is usually dry, but because Valletta is near the sea, the air stays humid. The sea also keeps winter temperatures mild. The city rarely sees frost or snow. The nearest weather station is at Luqa Airport, a short distance from Valletta. Temperatures there range from about 16 °C in winter to around 32 °C in summer.

Cityscape

Valletta has beautiful buildings from the 1500s to modern times. It is a cultural center with many churches, palaces, and museums that attract visitors. One important building is St John's Co-Cathedral, which has a large painting by the artist Caravaggio. Another is the Auberge de Castille et Leon, now the office of the Prime Minister of Malta. The Grandmaster's Palace used to be the home of the leader of the Knights of Malta and now holds the President's offices.

The city also has the old Admiralty House, a palace from the late 1500s, and the Manoel Theatre, one of Europe's oldest working theatres. The fortifications around the port, built by the Knights, add to Valletta's special look.

Neighbourhoods

Valletta has several unofficial areas. Strada Rjali is the main street, also called Triq ir-Repubblika. Other areas include l-Arċipierku, close to the Sacra Infermeria, and il-Baviera, named after Auberge de Bavière. Il-Biċċerija is near il-Baviera and was once close to a slaughterhouse. Il-Kamrata was once a spiritual retreat. Deux Balles likely got its name from the French occupation. Il-Fossa is near the Jews' Sally Port and is considered the worst-maintained area. Manderaggio was planned as a small harbor but became a slum before being rebuilt as housing.

Economy

Valletta has many workers, with about 91,000 people employed in the area in 2015. Tourism is very important for the city's economy, especially around the Grand Harbour. In 2002, work started on a big cruise terminal called the Valletta Waterfront Project. Valletta is also home to a media company, Allied Newspapers Ltd., which publishes two popular newspapers: Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta.

Education

Valletta has a campus of the University of Malta in the Old University Building. This campus helps offer special study programs for students from other countries.

There is also a church school called "St. Albert the Great" in Valletta. It is led by Mario Mallia, who is a politician from the Democratic Alternative party.

Culture

Valletta was named European Capital of Culture in 2018. The celebration began with an event called Erba' Pjazez (Four Squares), featuring shows in four main squares of the city: Triton Square, St. George's Square, St. John's Square, and Castille Square. A public art display called Kif Jgħid il-Malti (Maltese Sayings) was also unveiled, showing Maltese proverbs carved in gypsum to honor the local language.

Saint James Cavalier, once a defensive tower, now serves as a creative center with a small theater, cinema, music rooms, and art galleries. It has welcomed many visitors since it opened. The Valletta International Baroque Festival happens each January, and jazz music has a long history in the Strait Street area, popular with sailors during World Wars. Valletta is also where the Maltese Carnival takes place every February, leading up to Lent.

The city celebrates several feasts throughout the year, including Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16, Saint Paul on February 10, and Saint Dominic in August. There is also a procession in honor of St. Rita each year.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Malta

Valletta has friendly connections with several cities around the world. These include:

• [Palermo], Italy
• [Pisa], Italy
• [Cortona], Italy, since August 26, 2022
• [Rhodes], Greece
• [Byblos], Lebanon
• [Piran], Slovenia

Transport

Malta International Airport is located 8 kilometres away from Valletta in the town of Luqa. The city has a public transport system with buses that mostly go to and from Valletta, ending their routes just outside the city gate. Traffic inside the city is limited, and some main roads are areas where people can walk.

In 2006, a park and ride system started, allowing people to leave their cars in a Floriana car park and take a van to finish their trip. In 2007, a congestion pricing scheme was introduced to help reduce traffic and long-term parking while supporting local businesses. An automated system takes photos of cars entering and leaving the charging zone, and drivers are charged based on how long they stay.

Valletta has electric taxis that can take passengers from 10 different points in the city to any location within Valletta. Plans are underway for an underground Malta Metro system centered around Valletta, with a projected cost of €6.2 billion. Virtu Ferries provide services for passengers and goods to Pozzallo and Catania in Sicily.

Notable people

Main page: Category:People from Valletta

Valletta, the capital city of Malta, has been home to many important people throughout history. While the full list of notable individuals is extensive, Valletta has played a key role in shaping Malta's cultural and historical identity. The city continues to be a centre for many influential figures in various fields.

Sports

Valletta has many sports teams. There is an association football and futsal team called Valletta F.C., and a rugby team named Valletta Lions RFC. The city also has a rowing team at the Marsamxett Harbour that races on Victory Day, September 8th. Other teams include Valletta United W.P.C. for water polo, Valletta V.C. for volleyball, and two boċċi clubs: Marsamxett Boċċi and Valletta St. Paul's Boċċi.