Valletta is called 'a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen.' The grand Baroque architecture reflects the Knights' stature as aristocrats from noble families in England, France, Spain, and other European countries. Once Valletta became the new military fortress of the Order of Saint John, the Knights set out to create a capital city equal to Europe's finest.
In 1530, the Spanish King, Charles V, gave Malta to the Knights. The city's history is tied to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, an 11th-century order that provided shelter for pilgrims in the Holy Land and took on a military role to defend Christianity. The UNESCO-listed capital of Malta stands proudly on one of Europe's grandest harbors, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and surrounded by some of the mightiest fortifications in the world. Valletta is a distinguished city with a legendary past.
