City history
A bastion of Mediterranean history, Valletta was founded by the Order of St. John and has served as Malta's capital through centuries of colonial and sovereign rule.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"N/A"
Since a specific indigenous name for the city site is not reliably documented, the area was historically known as the Sciberras Peninsula before the city's construction.
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The geographical term used for the peninsula prior to the construction of the fortified capital.
Named for Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette
The city was officially named to honor the leader of the Order of St. John who oversaw the defense of Malta.
Chapter two
During the British administration, timekeeping was influenced by maritime needs and colonial alignment with the British Empire's global networks.
Malta aligned its timekeeping strictly with Central European Time to facilitate economic and political integration within the broader European context.
Chapter three
The Order of St. John began building the fortified city following their decisive victory in the Great Siege of 1565.
The city's unique grid-based urban layout was implemented, reflecting Renaissance ideals of order, hygiene, and defensive strategy.
The arrival of British forces changed the administrative and temporal landscape of the city, linking it to global maritime timekeeping.
Malta transitioned from a British colony to a sovereign nation, maintaining its existing timekeeping standards under a new national authority.