VALETTA, an important fortress and beautiful city, capital of the island of Malta. on the n.e. side of which, in lat. 35° 53', long. 14° 31', it is situated. It occupies a tongue of land, which runs out in a n.e. direction, is 3:200 yards long, and generally about 1200 yards across, except at the extremity, where it narrows considerably, and forms the famous point of St. Elmo, on which are a powerful fort and a light-house. From this point to its landward end, the neck of land, which is well named the " Hog's Back," rises gradually; and there is a downward slope from the central ridge to the Great har bor on the right, and to the Marsa-Musceit, the quarantine harbor, on the left. Eight principal streets traverse the peninsula,. and are intersected by cross-streets, that pass ever the central ridge, and afford communication from harbor to harbor. These cross streets are necessarily very steep at the extremities, where they rise from the shores by long flights of stairs. The town and harbors are defended by a series of fortifications of great strength. They are mostly hewn out of the solid rock, and, mounted with the most powerful artillery, are considered impregnable. The city is divided into five
quarters—the atta Nuova, or Valetta proper, Floriana, Vittoriosa, Sanglea, and Bar mola. Besides the enormous forts, balconies, and battlements, which are the principal architectural characteristics of the city, Valetta contains many noble edifices. The gov ernor's palace—formerly that of the grand masters—is unadorned without, but magnifi cent within, and possesses an interc.3ting armory: the " con-" (i.e., joint) cathedral of St. John is a superb structure; and the church of San Pubblio, with its famed sotteraneo (vault) of embalmed monks and skeletons; the public library, 60,000 vols.; the univer sity; and the aqueduct, which brings water to the city from the far side of the island, a distance of 81 miles, are worthy of notice. The city was founded by the grand master Valette—from whom it derives its name—in 1566. Valetta is the center of the com merce of the island, for which, as well as for the principal historical incidents with which its name is associated, see MALTA. Pop. upward of 60,000.