Valletta
Valletta
| |
|---|---|
| Nickname: Il-Belt | |
| Motto: City Built By Gentlemen For Gentlemen | |
Map of the Maltese Archipelago with Valletta | |
| Coordinates: 35°53′54″N 14°30′45″E / 35.89833°N 14.51250°E | |
| Country | Malta |
| Region | Port Region |
| District | Southern Harbour District |
| Capital city | 18 March 1571 |
| Founded by | Jean de Parisot Valette |
| Borders | Floriana |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Olaf McKay (PL) |
| Area | |
| 0.61 km2 (0.24 sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 256 km2 (99 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 56 m (184 ft) |
| Population (Jan. 2019) | |
| 5,157 | |
| • Density | 8,500/km2 (22,000/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 480,134 |
| Demonym(s) | Belti (m), Beltija (f), Beltin (pl) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | VLT |
| Dialing code | 356 |
| ISO 3166 code | MT-60 |
| Patron saints | St. Paul, the Apostle St. Dominic Our Lady of Mount Carmel St. Augustine |
| Day of festa | 3 August 10 February |
| Website | Official website |
| Official name | City of Valletta |
| Criteria | Cultural: i, vi |
| Reference | 131 |
| Inscription | 1980 (4th Session) |
| Area | 55.5 ha |
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Valletta (/vəˈlɛtə/ ⓘ və-LET-ə; Maltese: il-Belt Valletta, pronounced [ɪlˈbɛlt vɐˈlːɛtːɐ]) 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 0.61 square kilometres (0.24 sq mi), 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.
The city is noted for its fortifications, consisting of bastions, curtains and cavaliers, along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches.