Valletta

Valletta Il-Belt Valletta Città Umilissima Humilissima Civitas Valletta
City and Local council
From top: Skyline, Saluting Battery, Lower Barrakka Gardens, St. John's Co-Cathedral and the city walls
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Il-Belt
Coordinates: 35°53′4″N 14°30′25″E / 35.88444°N 14.50694°E / 35.88444; 14.50694Coordinates: 35°53′4″N 14°30′25″E / 35.88444°N 14.50694°E / 35.88444; 14.50694
Country	Malta
Region	South Eastern Region
District	Southern Harbour District
Established	28 March 1566
Capital city	18 March 1571
Founded by	Jean de Valette
Borders	Floriana
Government
• Mayor	Alexiei Dingli (PN)
Area
• City and Local council	0.8 km2 (0.3 sq mi)
Elevation	56 m (184 ft)
Population (March 2014)
• City and Local council	6,444
• Density	8,100/km2 (21,000/sq mi)
• Urban	355,000
• Metro	393,938
Demonym(s)	Belti (m), Beltija (f), Beltin (pl)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	VLT
Dialing code	356
ISO 3166 code	MT-60
Patron saints	St. Dominic Our Lady of Mount Carmel St. Paul St. Augustine
Day of festa	3 August 10 February
Website	Official website
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	City of Valletta
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, vi
Designated	1980 (4th session)
Reference no.	131
State Party	Malta
Region	Europe and North America

Valletta (/vəˈlɛtə/; Maltese pronunciation: [ˈvɐlɛ.tɐ]) is the capital city of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt (IPA: [ˈil.bɛlt]; lit. "The City") in Maltese. Geographically, it is located in the South Eastern Region, in the central-eastern portion of the main island of Malta having its western coast with access to the Marsamxett Harbour and its eastern coast in the Grand Harbour. The historical city has a population of 6,444 (as of March 2014), while the metropolitan area around it has a population of 393,938. Valletta is the southernmost capital of Europe and the second southernmost capital of the European Union after Nicosia.

Valletta contains buildings from the 16th century onwards, built during the rule of the Order of St. John also known as Knights Hospitaller. The city is essentially Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture in selected areas, though the Second World War left major scars on the city, particularly the destruction of the Royal Opera House. The City of Valletta was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.