From Valletta to the Citadel: Malta submits historic fortifications for UNESCO World Heritage status
The fortifications include Valletta, alongside the harbour fortifications on both the Marsamxett and Grand Harbour sides, Mdina, and the Citadel in Gozo.
Malta has taken a major step towards strengthening its presence on the UNESCO World Heritage List, officially submitting a new nomination dossier titled ‘The Maltese Fortifications of the Knights of St John’.
The proposed nomination brings together some of the islands’ most iconic defensive structures into one extended World Heritage property. These include Valletta, which is already UNESCO-listed, alongside the harbour fortifications on both the Marsamxett and Grand Harbour sides, the Santa Margerita Lines and Cottonera Lines, Mdina, and the Citadel in Gozo.
The nomination makes a strong case for the Outstanding Universal Value of Malta’s fortifications, highlighting their historical, architectural and strategic significance. The dossier will now be assessed by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, made up of 21 member states.
If successful, these fortifications would officially join Valletta as part of an expanded World Heritage site, following the same approach used in the past, when temples such as Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Tarxien and Skorba were added to the original Ġgantija inscription.
Which part of the fortifications do you like photographing the most?