Valletta, population 9,129 (1994), is the capital of Malta. Valletta is a 16th century site, with many buildings from the time of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitaller, or Knights of Malta), the long-time rulers of the city and the island. The city was damaged by air raids in World War II.
The city contains several churches; the most noteworthy being St John's Co-Cathedral, formerly the Knights' church, with many monuments; the former Grand Master's Palace (now the Maltese Parliament), and a National Museum of Fine Arts.