Inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1980, Valletta is the capital city of the small island-state of Malta. The foundation stone was laid on 28 March 1566, and although still under construction, it was adopted as convent of the Order of St John on 18 March 1571. The Office of the Head of State and the legislative, judiciary, fiscal and executive arms of the Maltese Government have been amassed within its modest footprint ever since. In addition to housing hundreds of noble Knights from the major kingdoms of the Christian West, and a sizeable contingent of foreign administrators, thriving maritime activity connected Valletta with the entire Mediterranean littoral and further afar. Heritage Malta is the national agency of the Government of Malta set up in 2002 and entrusted with the management of national museums and heritage sites in Malta and Gozo, including seven sites inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. AUTHOR: Godwin Vella has occupied various posts at Heritage Malta, including Ministry for Gozo representative on the Board of Directors (2002-2004), Manager Gozo Museums and Sites (2004-2008), Senior Curator Ethnography, Fort St Angelo and Industrial Heritage (2007-2014), Head Curatorial Affairs (2014-2018), Manager Publishing, Didactic Resources, Libraries and Product Development (2018-present) and Executive Director Heritage Malta Services Limited (2020-present). Vella has published extensively on the archaeological, artistic, architectural, ethnographic and historic patrimony of the Maltese Islands, and is keenly interested in the valorisation of heritage resources and the enhancement of visitor experience through quality merchandise. SELLING POINTS: . Valletta is the capital city of the small island-state of Malta, inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1980 . Royalty, statesmen, diplomats, ecclesiasts, Grand Tour enthusiasts, merchants, missionaries, corsairs, slaves, infantry troops and seamen from all over the world have strolled Veletta's thoroughfares, piazzas, gardens and bastions . Heritage Malta is the national agency of the Government of Malta entrusted with the management of national museums and heritage sites in Malta and Gozo
