This is a confusing nomination. It concentrates on the fortifications around the grand harbour of Valletta, yet the old city of Valletta is already a WHS on its own, and its military aspects are prominently mentioned in the description. The nomination text mumbles something about other harbour fortifications, but doesn't bother to mention what exactly they mean. Do they want to include all the watchtowers scattered around Malta ? Or the Victoria lines coastal forts, which are part of another tentative site ? The core of this tentative site still seems to be the harbour forts of Valletta, meaning Fort St.Elmo at the tip of Valetta, Fort St Angelo on the opposite side of the harbour, and the various bastions next to them (although the nomination text does not even mention them by name !).

On the positive side, it's very easy to tick this site of when visiting Valletta. In fact, it is almost impossible to not visit some part of the fortifications when there, and the great views above the grand harbour is a must-see anyways. Fort St Elmo was extensively modified during the second world war and nowadays houses an interesting museum about the military past of Valletta, although the fort itself looks a bit neglected. I have only seen St Angelo and the various bastions from the outside.

All in all, this tentative site is a clear case for an extension of the already existing Valletta WHS, instead of making it a site on its own. There is no way that old Valletta can be separated from its own fortifications, which were in fact the reason why the city is there at all.

Visited in April 2019.

Importance 4/5 Beauty 3/5 Uniqueness 3/5 Environment 5/5 Experience 4/5