VALLETTA or VALETTA, the capital of Malta (since 1570). Pop. (1931) 22,776. The nucleus of the city is built on a ridge of rock (Mount Sceberras) which runs like a tongue into the middle of a bay, which it thus divides into two harbours, the Grand Harbour to the east and the Marsamuschetto to the west, which are subdivided again by three other peninsulas into creeks. On two of these peninsulas on the east side of the Grand Harbour, and at their base, are built the aggregate of towns called the Three Cities—Vittoriosa, Conspicua and Senglea. (See MALTA.) On the main promontory, with Valletta, stands the suburb Floriana; Fort St. Elmo, with a lighthouse, stands on the ex tremity of the promontory; the suburb Sliema lies on the point which encloses the Marsamuschetto harbour; Fort Ricasoli is on the opposite point enclosing the east, Grand, or Great Harbour. The streets of Valletta, paved with stone, run along and across the ridge, and end on each side towards the water in steep flights of steps. There are several fine public buildings, as the gover nor's palace, the new opera-house, the public library and museum of Maltese antiquities, and the auberges or lodges of the Knights of Malta (especially the Auberge de Castile) which are now used for military offices, club-rooms, and other purposes. Roman
Catholic churches in Valletta are very numerous ; the cathedral of S. Giovanni, dating from 1576, is famous for its rich inlaid marbles, its Brussels tapestries, its roof painted by Matteo Preti (1661-1699), the picture by Michael Angelo da Caravaggio of the beheading of John the Baptist, numerous memorials of the knights and other relics.
The governor's palace was formerly that of the grand master of the Maltese Order, and it also contains relics of the knights, tapestries, armour, etc. The British government built here a naval hospital, military prison and other necessary institutions. Since the British occupation Valletta has been a naval and military sta tion of the first importance. The dock and victualling yards are spread over the shores on both sides of those arms of the great harbour known as "Dockyard" and "French" creeks, the dock yard being partly on the former, but principally on the latter creek. The large transit trade and the local trade of the island centre in Valletta. The influx of winter visitors adds to the wealth of the city.