Valletta

Valletta, the Capital City of Malta

If you’ve ever wondered what sort of prize you’d get for saving Europe, look no further than Valletta. Named after La Valette, the Grandmaster who masterminded Malta’s successful stand against the Turkish siege of 1565, Valletta became the city of the Knights of the Order of St John and the seat of Malta’s government. While [...]

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St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

St. John’s Co-Cathedral stands in St. John Square, one of the rare open spaces in Valletta. The square is dominated by the austerely impressive façade of the Co-Cathedral. The severe exterior of the Cathedral, built immediately after the ending of the Great Siege of 1565, is reminiscent of a military fort. This was the Order’s [...]

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Valletta, the first planned city of Europe

Following the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, La Valette, the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta and a cultured man with vision, decided that the new city should not only serve as a powerful fort, but should also become a strongpoint of culture, economy and politics in the world. He therefore decided that [...]

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