An online portal, iValletta.com, was launched yesterday to help the capital city regain its status as a veritable hub of activity.

The website, developed by Mediacoop and Bit Solutions, establishes a direct link between businesses, cultural organisations and customers, marketing the city as one integrated concept.

It indicates commercial and cultural activities, listing businesses, shops, cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues and allows establishments to introduce daily deals specifically for iValletta.com users.

“The portal even indicates which cafes and restaurants are open at a particular time.

“This is particularly useful if, for example, one has just finished watching a play at a late hour,” John Mallia of Mediacoop explained.

Asked if the initiative would boost activity during at night, when Valletta becomes much quieter, Mr Mallia hoped that people being better informed would achieve this goal.

The website provides visitors with gift ideas according to their budget and the recipient of the gift, as well as culture and events listings. In addition, it includes updates on infrastructural and restoration projects.

The iValletta.com blog opens up a space for creative discussion on issues concerning the city.

“The project is a virtual way of increasing accessibility to Valletta,” Small Business Minister Jason Azzopardi said.

Describing Mediacoop as “avant-garde”, he praised the company for “carving out a niche where it can develop itself”.

“iValleta.com is much more than a directory. It is a point of reference for anything that is Valletta.”

Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli said the council had employed a city centre manager to provide a direct link with the commercial sector.