Valletta malta from the grand harbour capital city Baroque
Valletta (alternatively Belt Valletta, Città Umilissima, or Humilissima Civitas Valletta) is the capital city of Malta. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta. Valletta, the Città Umilissima, is essentially Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture in selected areas. The city shares its early history with the island of Malta. 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 decided to found a new city on the Xiberras peninsula just after the end of the Siege of Malta in 1565, so as to fortify the Order's position in Malta and bind the Knights to the island. The city was designed by Francesco Laparelli. Many of the most important buildings were built by the Maltese architect Gerolamo Cassar. Valletta is an urban area which boasts many buildings from the 16th century and onwards, many built during the rule of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitaller). La Valette placed the first stone in Our Lady of Victories Church. The city's plan was a departure from medieval Maltese architecture, which exhibited irregular winding streets and alleys. Laparelli designed the new city with rectangular grids, without any collacchio (an area restricted for important buildings). The streets were designed to be wide and straight, beginning centrally from the City Gate to end at Fort Saint Elmo overlooking the Mediterranean. Certain bastions were built 153 feet (47 m) tall. La Valette died on 21 August 1568, aged 74 and never saw the completion of his city. Originally interred in the church of Our Lady of the Victories, his remains now rest in St. John's Co-Cathedral. His tomb is surrounded by those of other Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta.
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Photo credit: © 19th era / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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