Valletta – Little Capital with Big History

Valletta is Europe's smallest capital city but holds a historical and cultural concentration that few other cities can match. Founded in 1566 by the Order of St. John following the Great Siege, the city was designed as a fortress and today stands as an extraordinary urban landscape on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The straight streets are lined with honey-colored limestone buildings, baroque palaces, and discreet courtyards that bear witness to the knights' power and wealth. St. John’s Co-Cathedral is an absolute highlight with its lavish interior and Caravaggio's famous paintings. Valletta is also strongly tied to the sea; from the city's bastions, dramatic views open over Grand Harbour and the historic Three Cities, which have been at the center of Malta's maritime history for centuries. The city boasts an impressive collection of museums, including the Grandmaster’s Palace, which tells the story of the knightly state, colonial times, and modern Malta. At the same time, Valletta is a vibrant city with local markets, cafés in old palazzi, and an active cultural scene, where history is experienced up close and in constant interaction with the present.