Valletta Capitale d’Europa is the title of a specialised exhibition showcasing Malta maps from the MUŻA cartographic collection including two of the Camocio Siege Maps that have just made it to the Unesco Memory of the World Register.

The focused selection of maps on display present the story of Valletta, from the Great Siege of 1565 to its development into a fully fledged military fortress by the end of the 18th century.

They showcased in three sections each exploring Valletta from a specific angle or narrative.

These include the military exploits of the Order of St John, particularly the Great Siege of 1565, the urban and military development of the city and Valletta’s Euro-Mediterranean dimension.

The purposely designed exhibition is showcased in the prestigious Sala dei Gigli, currently also showcasing Donatello’s bronze sculpture of Judith and Holophernes and extend into the nearby Sala del Mappa Mondo commissioned by Duke Cosimo I de Medici to the renowned Renaissance artist Giorgio Vasari.

This exhibition project, celebrating Valletta’s 2018 European Capital of Culture title, is a joint initiative between Heritage Malta and the Maltese Embassy in Rome in collaboration with Comune di Firenze, under the auspices of the Office of the Prime Minister.

A return exhibition sealing this twinning project between Valletta and Florence shall be hosted later this year at Heritage Malta’s MUŻA as part of its cultural, artistic and events programme for the second half of 2018.

The exhibition in Florence will run until May 9.