List of cities in Malta
This is a list of cities in Malta. By the usual standards that most other countries use when designating a city, Malta's cities would be too small to be considered such, and in fact Malta is sometimes regarded as a single city-state. Malta's cities are regarded as such because they received the designation of "città" at some point during their history. In Maltese law, no distinction is made between cities, towns, and villages; and city status is purely honorary. Malta is divided into 68 local councils. The local councils which have city status all feature a mural crown on the crest of their coat of arms. The table shows historical cities:
Local council | Historical city name | Year granted | Region | Image | Population | Notes | - |
Birgu | Città Vittoriosa | 1530 | South Eastern Region | 2629 | Capital city from 1530 to 1571, and one of the Three Cities. City status confirmed following the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. | - | |
Bormla | Città Cospicua | 1722 | South Eastern Region | 5395 | One of the Three Cities. City status granted in 1722 by Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari. | - | |
Mdina | Città Notabile | Northern Region | 292 | Capital city from antiquity to 1530. | - | ||
Qormi | Città Pinto | 1743 | Southern Region | 16779 | City status granted on 25 May 1743 by Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, following a request made by Don Giuseppe Vella. | - | |
Rabat | Città Victoria | 1887 | Gozo Region | 6901 | Capital city of Gozo. City status granted on 10 June 1887 by Queen Victoria, following a petition made by Bishop Pietro Pace and Chief Justice Adrian Dingli on occasion of Victoria's Golden Jubilee. | - | |
Senglea | Città Invicta | 1565 | South Eastern Region | 2784 | One of the Three Cities. City status granted following the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. | - | |
Siġġiewi | Città Ferdinand | 1797 | Southern Region | 8367 | City status granted on 30 December 1797 by Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, following a petition made by Don Salvatore Corso and the inhabitants. | - | |
Valletta | Città Umilissima | 1571 | South Eastern Region | 6444 | Capital city since 18 March 1571. | - | |
Żabbar | Città Hompesch | 1797 | South Eastern Region | 15404 | City status granted on 14 September 1797 by Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, following a request made by Don Carlo Caruana and the inhabitants. In 1801, the Hompesch Gate was built to commemorate this event. | - | |
Żebbuġ | Città Rohan | 1777 | Southern Region | 11903 | City status granted on 21 June 1777 by Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc, following a petition made by the inhabitants. In 1798, the De Rohan Arch was built to commemorate this event. | - | |
Żejtun | Città Beland | 1797 | South Eastern Region | 11508 | City status granted on 30 December 1797 by Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, following a petition made by Don Giacomo Michele Tortella and the inhabitants. Tarxien | Città Notabile |