The Church of Our Lady of Victory

You’re now standing beside the oldest church in Valletta. Just to be clear—it’s the building to your right, with the elegant double staircase. Though small and modest on the outside, the Church of Our Lady of Victory holds a significant place in Malta’s history. It was built in 1566 by the Knights of the Order of St John to celebrate their hard-fought victory over the Ottoman forces during the Great Siege of 1565. But the church’s story doesn’t end there. Before St John’s Co-Cathedral was completed in 1577, this church served for eleven years as the final resting place of Jean de La Valette, the 49th Grand Master of the Order and founder of the city that now bears his name.