World Heritage Sites in Malta
City of Valletta
(35.90 N 14.50 E)
The capital of Malta, Valletta was placed on the World Heritage List
in 1980. The city was built after the Great Siege of Malta in 1565,
which checked the advance of Ottoman power in southern Europe, it was
named after Grand Master de la Valette of the Knights of
St. John. The knights had a long series of grand masters, then the
island of Malta was taken by the French in 1798, but a Maltese revolt
against the French garrison led to Valletta's seizure by the British
in 1800. After 1814 the city became a British Mediterranean naval and
military base. Its prime location in the Mediterranean caused it to
be subjected to severe bombing raids during World War II and after
withstanding another great siege the entire islands population was
awarded the highest British civilian award, the George Cross. Malta
became an independent democratic republic in 1974.
Megalithic Temples
(36.03 N 14.25 E)
The site has been extended from the
Ggantija Temples on the Island of Gozo and now includes
five prehistoric temples situated on the islands of Malta and Gozo.
Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
(35.87 N 14.50 E)
Located near the center of the town of Paola, Island of Malta.
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World Heritage List
Lynn Salmon <>{
Last updated: August 25, 2009