Valletta, which is the capital of Malta, has the charm of an
Italian city with its many Baroque palaces set on narrow steep
streets that form a grid pattern. The city was carefully planned by
its founder, Grand Master Fra Jean de la Vallette and the Knights
of the Order of St John. The city was 'built by gentlemen for
gentlemen' with the first stone being ceremonially laid in 1566
after Ottoman forces withdrew their siege of the Maltese Islands
and the Knights of St John took over. The purpose of the city,
built in a short span of 15 years on a plateau between two harbours
on Malta's northeast coast, was primarily to fortify the island and
secondly to provide palaces, Auberges (lodgings) for the eight
Knight's groupings (Langues), churches for worship and gardens for
recreation. The remnants of the Knight's occupation today
characterise Valletta in the form of some splendid Baroque
buildings and fortifications, but the majestic architecture manages
not to overwhelm the island's carefree personality.
