Valletta
Sign in to saveValletta (; , ), also known as Città Umilissima (), is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157. As Malta's capital city, it is a commercial centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the southernmost capital of Europe, and, at just , it is the European Union's smallest capital city.
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Valletta is the capital city of Malta, located between two harbors and serving as a commercial hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment with a population of about 5,000 people. It holds the distinction of being Europe's southernmost capital and the smallest capital city in the European Union.
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Key facts
Article
27 sectionsContents
- History
- Order of Saint John
- French occupation and British rule
- Contemporary
- Government
- Local government
- National government
- Geography
- Climate
- Cityscape
- Neighbourhoods
- Economy
- Education
- Culture
- Saint James Cavalier
- Music
- Carnival
- Feasts
- In literature and the arts
- Twin towns – sister cities
- Transport
- Notable people
- Sports
- Further reading
- References
- Notes
- External links
Valletta (; , ), also known as Città Umilissima (), is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157. As Malta's capital city, it is a commercial centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the southernmost capital of Europe, and, at just , it is the European Union's smallest capital city.
Valletta's 16th-century buildings were constructed by the Knights Hospitaller. The city was named after the Frenchman Jean Parisot de Valette, who succeeded in defending the island against an Ottoman invasion during the Great Siege of Malta. The city is Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture, though the Second World War left major scars on the city, particularly the destruction of the Royal Opera House. The city was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. The city has 320 monuments, all within an area of 0.55 square kilometres (0.21 sq mi), making it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world. Sometimes called an "open-air museum", Valletta was chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Valletta was also listed as the sunniest city in Europe in 2016.