How did the Knights of Malta shape Valletta’s architecture and fortifications?

Following the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, the Hospitallers (Knights of St. John) transformed Valletta into a strategic fortress city and a center of architectural splendor. Named after the order's grand master, Jean Parisot de la Valette, the city was founded in 1566 to serve as a fortified capital, replacing the order's previous base at Vittoriosa.123

The Knights commissioned the Maltese architect Gerolamo Cassar to design many of the city's most significant structures, which blended military utility with grand aesthetics. Key contributions include:1

• Administrative and Residential Buildings: Cassar designed the Palace of the Grand Masters and various auberges—lodges built for the different langues (nationalities) of the Knights—such as the Auberge d’Aragon, the Auberge de Provence, and the Castille and León Auberge.1
• Religious Architecture: The order established numerous churches, most notably St. John’s Co-Cathedral. While its exterior was designed with an austere, defensive character, the interior was crafted to be exceptionally sumptuous.1
• Fortifications: The city was built on the Mount Sceberras promontory, creating a formidable defensive position between the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour.1