Valletta

Valletta, population 7048 (official estimate for 2000), is the capital city of Malta - The city is located at 35°54'16" North, 14°31'32" East (35.904444, 14.525556).http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html

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 Pinto.

Related Topics:
Peninsula - Port

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The city contains several buildings of historic importance: the most noteworthy being St John's Co-Cathedral, formerly the Knights' Conventual Church; Castille Place (The Prime Minister's offices), the fortifications built by the Knights to protect the city from attack, the former Grand Master's Palace (now housing the Maltese Parliament), and the National Museum of Fine Arts. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Related Topics:
St John's Co-Cathedral - Fortification - UNESCO - World Heritage Site

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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, 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.

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