Valetta, fr. La V., Hptst. der Mittelmeerinsel u. des Staates Malta, 9000 Ew.; Renaissance-Kathedrale, Univ. (1769), Tiefwasserhafen, Schiffbau, Fischerei; 1566 von Jean de la Valette, Großmeister des Malteserordens, als Festung gegr.; ehem. brit. Flotten- u. Luftstützpunkt.
The capital of Malta; located on the northeastern coast of the island; Also called: Valetta, capital of Malta.
Capital and port of Malta; ; harbor area 101,700.
It was founded 1566 by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem and named for their grand master Jean de la Valette (1494–1568), who fended off a Turkish siege May–Sept 1565. The 16th-century palace of the grand masters survives. Malta was formerly a British naval base and came under heavy attack in World War II.