Valletta

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La Valletta () is the capital of Malta. La Valletta is a settlement in the 18th century, with many buildings during the Maltese Knights, the long-standing rulers of the city. He is named after his founder, the great master Jean de la Valletta. In Maltese it is known in colloquial language as il-Belt, meaning "the city." The fortress was damaged during World War II air raids.

La Valletta is built on a peninsula with two natural ports, Marsamxette and the Grand Port. The city was founded in 1566 by building a church.

In La Valetta there are several churches, the most remarkable being the Cathedral of Saint John, in the past the Church of the Knights. Other tourist attractions are the Palace of the Great Masters (now the Maltese Parliament) and a National Museum of Fine Arts.

La Valletta was registered in 1980 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The name of the Republic of Malta and its capital, Valletta, is closely related to that of the Ioanite knights, also known as the Order of the Hospitalists. Established in 1099, this chivalrous military order was named after Saint John after the church in Jerusalem. In fact, Saint John was the patron of these knights whose actions were originally under the sign of the Crusades. It was a group of monks who went willingly to the Holy Land to help the sick and faithful pilgrims in suffering.

The monks, who became the "Hospitals of Saint John," were confirmed by the Pope in 1113, and then became protectors of those who started on the long journey. By the mid-18th century the order began to be ruled by a great master. Coming from the noblest Christian families, the monks were forced to leave Jerusalem after Saladin's recapture in 1187, and took turns in Margat, Acra, Cyprus, and finally in Rhodes, where they remained for a long time, calling themselves the "Knights of Rhodes."

In 1522, however, they were forced to leave, and the island was conquered by Süliman the Magnificent. In 1530 Carol Quint offered them Malta, in exchange for an annual tribute, consisting of a hunting hawk. By 1798, when they were driven out of here, these military monks became "Knights of Malta" and feared in the Christian world put their mark on the places.