At "Valletta 2018" the whole island will celebrate

In 2018, Valletta is next to the Dutch Leeuwarden one of the two Capital of Culture of Europe. But the whole country is celebrating. 

Valletta is the Capital of Culture 2018 
Copyright: Katharina Lenger

Valletta isn't only the beautiful capital of Malta, it's also the southernmost and smallest capital of the EU. Historic and, above all, charming - this is the best way to describe the capital of  Malta. Only barely 6000 people live here on an area of less than one square kilometre. Valletta has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1980 - every house in the old town is a listed building. The Grand Master's Palace is one of Valletta's most famous attractions, as the St. John's Cathedral. And Casa Rocca Piccola, the more than 400-year-old private home of the de Piro family, is visited of many tourists every year. Because of this success and honor, Malta celebrates its capital and country. But there are also shady sides.

More German than Maltese newspapers report about this event. SPIEGELONLINE for example talked with two Maltese. Both see the Boom of Valletta with different angles. On the one hand they are really happy that Valletta is the cultural capital. But on the other hand  they are a bit sceptical. The prices for rents and real estate have increased enormously.
Tabona says: 

"I am afraid that the character of Valletta will be lost, that the shops will no longer sell Pastizzi, but suddenly Belgian chocolate."

The Capital of Culture 2018 should further revitalize Valletta: More than 140 cultural projects and 400 events are planned - from classical opera to performance art and design to music and film. The opening event on January 20 will feature music, theatre, dance and video art in the squares of the city. On the main website of Valletta - European Capital of Culture visitors can inform themselves, where and which events will be in 2018. VisitMalta will also keep visitors up to date.

The Grand Master's Palace is one of Valletta's most famous attractions.
Copyright: Katharina Lenger

RP Online write in its article, that Malta hopes for 180,000 German tourists, in 2016 it was just under 157,000.

"The marketing strategy is the combination of culture and sun."

After all, apart from the hours of sunshine, Malta also has plenty of history outside of Valletta: the hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni, the picturesque Mdina, the important megalithic temples or the imposing Church of the Assumption in Mosta. In 2018 the streets in Valletta may be even busier than before. The city has a special charm, just because it is so small. 

"We have the most beautiful sunlight, lying on the same latitude as Hollywood, and our language is English next to Maltese," say the residents of Malta.