The national museum of fine arts

Abstract

The national museum of fine arts The fir st stone of the City of Valletta was laid by Grand Master La Valette in March 1566. Little more than six months after the raising of the Great Siege. Initial work was concentrated on the lines of fortification but this was painfully slow because of the magnitude of the task and of the shortage of man-power. Speed in completing the work was essential because of the possibility of a fresh Turkish attack. Thousands of workers were brought from the south of Italy and Sicily, and by 1570 the work was in an advanced stage, the city street-plan laid down. and sporadic buildings were going up on selected sites.