Historical Valletta

Valletta was designed in the 16^th century by Grandmaster Jean Parisot de la Valette (who bestowed his name upon the city although he didn’t survive to see the finished product), engineer Francesco Laparelli and Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar, and was built by the Knights of St John during their stay in Malta whilst under the ruling of  Grandmaster la Valette .

It is built in a grid-like pattern with most streets crossing each other at right angles, making navigating the city fairly straightforward, although the steep hills and steps could make certain streets less appealing to explore than others.

When walking through the Valletta streets remember to look up to fully appreciate the architectural splendour that the buildings have to offer.

You will also come across various corner niches dedicated to religious deities, a multitude of churches that sit side-by-side with high street shops and signs and decals on walls that have survived over the years and which offer a glimpse into times gone by.