Point of interest
Valletta
in Malta, Malta
Malta's compact baroque capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, laid out by the Knights of St John in the 16th century.
Where it is
Valletta, the capital, spreads across a compact peninsula between the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett on Malta's northeast.
Address: Valletta
What it is
As a place to stay and go out, Valletta charms with its grid of straight, steep lanes, squares and hidden bars, plus cultural venues like the Manoel Theatre and several museums. By day life centres on Republic Street; in the evening it shifts to the wine and cocktail bars of the side streets.
History
Founded in 1566 by the Knights of St John, the fortress city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 and was European Capital of Culture in 2018. In recent years the once strictly administrative, daytime-only centre has grown into a lively quarter of boutique hotels, bars and restaurants.