Following their heroic defence of Malta during the Great Siege of 1565, the Knights of St. John set about constructing a new, impregnable fortress city, named after its founder, the French Grand Master Jean de Valette. Over the ensuing centuries, the new city was embellished with an impressive array of buildings, designed by some of the best European architects of the era, and filled with priceless works of art. Today, Valletta is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and elegant cities in the world. A masterpiece of Baroque architecture, it is one of the most concentrated historic areas anywhere, boasting some of Europe's finest palaces and churches.
What was the story behind its construction?
What were the most important buildings?
Who were the important characters in its development?
What was it like living there in the time of the knights?
