Valletta is a
seaport and capital city of Malta. It is situated on the Northeast coast of the island.
The city was built by the grand master of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, Jean
Parisot de la Valette. It was built on the promontory of Mount Sceberras that runs
like a tongue into the middle of a bay. It thus devides the bay in two harbours, the Grand
Harbour to the east, and Marsamxett Harbour to the west. It was built after the Great
Seige of Malta in 1565.
Valletta always played an important role in the Maltese history. The Knights of St.
John were driven out of Valletta and actually from Malta by the French in 1798. A Maltese
revolt against the French garrison led to Valletta's seizure by the British in 1800. After
1814, the city became 
a British Mediterranean naval and military
base. It was subjected to various bombing raids in World War II. Valletta was the
place where the Italian fleet surrendered in 1943. In 1989 it was the city which hosted
the jouralists to comment the summit between George Bush and Michail Gorbachev, which led
to the end of the cold war.
Valletta hosts various important buildings. However, St. John's Co-Cathedral is
considered the most important of them all. It was the conventual church of the Order of
St. John and is now equal in rank with the Archbishop's Valletta hosts various important
buildings. However, St. John's Co-Cathedral is considered
the most important of them all. It was the conventual church of the
Order of St. John and is now equal in rank with the Archbishop's Cathedral at Mdina. It
was designed by the Maltese Architect Cathedral at Mdina. It was designed by the Maltese
Architect Gerolamo Cassar and was built between 1573 and 1578. It also hosts the House of
Representatives, the Aragon Auberge, the Provence Auberge, the Castille Auberge and the
León Auberge together now hosting the Prime Minister's Office. Other Auberges such as
those of France and Auvergne were destroyed in World War II. The Italian Auberge was also
heavily damaged in the war. At Valletta, one can also find the National Malta Library,
built in the late 18th century, and the Old University Of Malta which was founded by Pope
Clement VIII in 1592. There is also one of the most beautiful theatres on the
island, the Manoel Theatre, which is dated 1731-1732. The National Museum of Fine Arts,
which was opened in 1974, is housed in a residence dated 1571. The museum hosts the most
important artists in Malta and Gozo. One can also find the remains of the Royal Opera
House which was completly destroyed in the bombings of World War II. Valletta is
surrounded by some of the most beautifuly built bastions found in the Mediterranean Sea.
Nowadays, Valletta hosts various commercial shops and shopping archades, together with some catering outlets. In the past, Valletta had what was considered the best nightlife on the island. However, when places like Sliema, Paceville and other similar towns started to host various bars, restaurants, discoteques and cinema, Valletta started to lose its charisma with the younger generations. In the past years, with the introduction of the local councils, Valletta is being given a new identity. The private sector is also giving a hand by restoring commercial outlets to attract more people to the city.