Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA

  KONT TAF? — VALLETTA, MALTA A living Renaissance capital: history, architecture, identity and conservation Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA | Learning • Knowledge • Growth Introduction Did you know that Valletta is both Malta’s capital and a deliberately planned Renaissance city? Established after the Great Siege of 1565, its grid of streets, fortifications, churches and civic buildings reveals the political, military and cultural ambitions of its founders. UNESCO inscribed the City of Valletta on the World Heritage List in 1980, recognising its exceptional urban ensemble (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, n.d.). This article explores its foundation, historical layers, landmarks, everyday life and the responsibilities of protecting a living city. Learning Objectives Readers will learn why Valletta was founded, how geography shaped its plan, what major buildings reveal about institutions, how the city evolved, and why conservation must consider residents as well as visitors. A bastion is a pr...