La Valletta, MaltaMain port and capital of the island of Malta, Valletta is located on a rocky peninsula surrounded by two gulfs. The city has been a crossroad since the time of the Phoenicians because of its strategic location between Africa, Europe and the Middle East. It used to be a naval base for the British as recently as 1979. As from 1570, the city owes its name to the Great Order of Malta, Jean Parisot of Valletta. Built in the style of an ancient city, Valletta hides a superb collection of palaces and baroque style churches. Vallettas magnificent fortifications appear on the horizon like an elaborate sand castle. Within its walls are the riches of the crusading St. John, who fled here from Rhodes in 1530 and ammased great treasures of art and architecture, before they were expelled by Napoleon. |
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