HAPPY BIRTHDAY VALLETTA! THE CAPITAL CITY IS 452 YEARS OLD.

Happy birthday Valletta! The capital city is 452 Years old.

Valletta is celebrating its 452nd birthday this week.

The foundation stone was laid by Grand Master Jean de Valette in March 1566.

Think you know all about Malta's wonderful capital city? Think again!

Here are some facts you probably didn't know about Valletta, Europe's capital of culture for 2018.

1. The foundation stone of Valletta was laid on March 28, 1566.

2. It took around 9,000 people to build Valletta.

3. Valletta is named after the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, Jean Parisot de Valette. Unfortunately, he died from a stroke in 1568 and never saw the completion of his city.

4. Valletta is actually the third capital city of Malta. Mdina was the first and Vittoriosa the second one.

5. The city has been a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1980.

6. Valletta has played host to some pretty big Hollywood films, including Assassin's Creed, World War Z and 13 Hours.

7. Valletta is officially the sunniest city in Europe, according to the Met Office.

8. Occupying a space of 0.8 square kilometres, Valletta is the smallest capital city in the EU.

9. Valletta's Commonwealth Walkway was officially opened by The Queen in 2015 and links the city's top cultural attractions.

10. Valletta boasts no less than 320 monuments, all within walking distance of each other.