Foto: The historic fortress city of Valletta. (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Malta - Valletta is the capital of the Republic of Malta and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. The city was built in the 16th century, with the foundation stone laid on March 28, 1566. Pope Pius IV commissioned engineer Francesco Laparelli to design the city. Valletta is named after Grand Master Jean de la Valette (†1568), who successfully defended the island against a Turkish siege in 1565. The city has a unique late-medieval center with fully intact fortifications. It houses the Maltese government and parliament. Valletta is a key transportation hub and boasts a beautiful harbor. While the city center is home to about 7,000 people, the greater metropolitan area is home to roughly 300,000 [citation needed]. Valletta was a planned city, which is evident in the grid-like street layout. Locally known as 'Il-Belt' (The City), it was built by the ruling Order of Malta. The knights came from various European regions, called "langues", each of which had its own headquarters or "auberge" in the city. Many of these auberges have been well preserved, such as the Auberge de Castille, now the office of the Prime Minister. The Grandmaster's Palace originally housed the order’s leader, and later became the president’s office.
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