Lost buildings and urban areas of the order of St John in Valletta

Abstract

In this dissertation I have tried my best to portray as many lost buildings and urban areas in Valletta as is possible. In this way I have tried to bring these structures back to life thereby acting as if they are still extant even today. Our capital city, Valletta has undergone many changes during its chequered history. However, I have limited my time frame to the period of the Knights of the Order of St. John. Sometimes, it was very difficult to find information on the buildings that have been lost. Nevertheless, I have researched this particular period and have synthesized my findings in this dissertation. I have focused on lost churches, auberges, public buildings, houses, palaces and urban areas. The loss of these buildings and urban areas may be seen as hampering the architectural unity that the Knights of the Order of St. John left behind. However, with this dissertation I do not only intend to describe the lost buildings and urban areas therein referred to but also to contextualize the same within the urban reality that is Valletta and at the same time, bringing them back to life. My conclusions discuss some very economically viable measures that may yet help future generations to conceive the natural beauty of what has unfortunately been lost.