Valletta

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Valletta

Valletta, population 7048 (official estimate for 2000), is the capital city of Malta.

Name

The official name the Order of Saint John gave to the city was Humilissima Civitas Valletta - a city bound to humility. However, with the building of bastions, curtains and ravelins, along with the beauty of the baroque buildings along its streets, it became known as Superbissima - the 'Superb', amongst the ruling houses of Europe. In Maltese it is colloquially known as Il-Belt, simply meaning "The City".

History

The foundation stone of Valletta was laid by the Grandmaster of the Order of Saint John, Jean Parisot de la Valette, on 28 March 1566; The Order (which was the long-time ruler of the city and the island) decided to found a new city on the Scebberras peninsula just after the end of the Siege of Malta in 1565, so as to fortify the Order's position in Malta, effectively binding the Knights to the island. The city was designed by Francesco Lapparelli, while many of the most important buildings were built by Gerolamo Cassar. Valletta, hence, is an urban area which boasts many buildings from the 16th century and onwards, but most of them were built during the time of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitaller, or Knights of Malta).

After the Knights and the brief French interlude, the next building boom in Valletta occurred during the British rule. Gates were widened, buildings demolished and rebuilt, houses widened and civic projects installed: However the whole city and its infrastructure were damaged by air raids in World War II, notably losing its majestic opera house constructed at the city entrance in the 19th century.

Geography

The Valletta peninsula, which is fed by the two natural harbours of Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour, is Malta's major port, with unloading quays at Marsa; a cruise-liner terminal has been built recently in the Grand Harbour, along the old sea-wall of the duty free stores built by Grandmaster Fra Manuel Pinto de Fonseca.

The city contains several buildings of historic importance, amongst which are St John's Co-Cathedral, formerly the Knights' Conventual Church (alongside Republic Street); Castille Place, the Prime Minister's offices (found on the bastions); the former Grand Master's Palace, now housing the Maltese Parliament and the President's offices (opposite Palace Square along Republic Street); the National Museum of Fine Arts (in South Street); the National Museum of Archeology (Republic Street); and the fortifications themselves, built by the Knights to protect the city from attack. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Valletta has a suburb, Floriana, which was built on the outside part of the Valletta bastions and on the inner part of the Floriana Lines, hence leaving an area between these two lines to house those that could not afford a house in Valletta. Another area for such people is located within Valletta's own walls: In the original plans, the Order wanted a man-made creek to house the navy, however this could not be completed, and so the area, known as Manderaggio (in Maltese 'il-Mandraġġ'), was taken over by the homeless, so resulting in a jumble of buildings with dark alleyways in despicable sanitary conditions. The Manderaggio was partially demolished in the 1950s so as to build a housing area in Valletta. The area still remains a shabby area, yet still it is better than it was before.

Demographics

The population of Valletta has steadily decreased over the years, and is now reduced to about a third of its peak. This process was heavily accelerated after World War II as new development in outlying suburbs marked a shift of the population away from the capital city, but it continues as the center of Malta's commercial and administrative activity.

Transport

Malta's public transport system, which uses buses, operate mostly on routes to or from Valletta, with their central terminus just outside the city's entrance. Traffic within the city itself is restricted, with some principal roads being completely pedestrian areas. In 2006, Valletta is expected to become a traffic free zone, with the new Park and Ride initiative.

Culture

The city contains various historic cafes, meeting places, restaurants, banks, hotels and Government offices. There are also public gardens which offer fantastic views of the Grand Harbour and other surroundings.

The Manoel Theatre at Old Theatre Street has been staging performances since 1732. Built by Grandmaster António Manoel de Vilhena and recently refurbished to its original glory, it is one of Europe's oldest theatres. It specialises in the classical performing arts, but also stages poetry, jazz, folk and rock concerts.

The feast of Saint Paul is celebrated in Valletta on February 10, whilst the feasts of Saint Dominic, Saint Augustine and Our Lady of Mount Carmel are celebrated throughout the year with devotion. A procession of St. Rita is also carried out.

Valletta is also renowned for its football club Valletta FC, one of the best football clubs on the Maltese island.

Parts of the film Munich were shot in Valletta.

External links

Coordinates:

Capitals in Europe | Towns in Malta | World Heritage Sites in Malta | 1566 establishments

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