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Valletta, Malta

Valletta
Il-Belt Valletta
Città Umilissima
Humilissima Civitas Valletta
City and Local council
Belt Valletta
From top: Skyline, Saluting Battery, Lower Barrakka Gardens, St. John's Co-Cathedral and the city walls
Flag of Valletta
Flag
Coat of arms of Valletta
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Il-Belt
Valletta in Malta.svg
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
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.


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Wikipedia

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