Valletta has a new resident - its founder

A 2.5 metre statue of Grand Master Jean de Valette has been placed in the centre of a new square created on the site of the former police station and other buildings in Valletta. The square, between St Catherine Church and the old theatre, is currently being surfaced and is expected to be named Piazza de Valette. It forms part of the City Gate project designed by Renzo Piano. De Valette founded Valletta but there was no statue of him. The previous Gate, Porta Reale, had featured statues of Grandmasters de Valette and L-Isle Adam, but they were damaged during the war and removed. The new statue was made of silicon bronze by Sculptor Joseph Chetcuti. Its location is just a few metres away from where the grand master laid the foundation stone of the city in 1566. De Valette is shown wearing armour and holding the city’s plan in one hand and the sword of victory in the other.  Work on the 750kg statue started in summer of last year.