Located on the waterfront just outside Valletta, Pietà is one of Malta’s smallest harbour towns yet rich in history and character. The locality began to develop shortly after the Great Siege of 1565, when the surrounding land gradually recovered from the devastation caused by the Ottoman encampments. By the late 16th century, people began settling here, drawn by its proximity to the new capital city.

The name Tal-Pietà derives from the Italian word for Our Lady of Sorrows, reflecting the chapel that once stood beside a plague cemetery built during the epidemic of 1592–1593. Today Pietà is known for its scenic marina, historic villas, and cultural landmarks including Villa Guardamangia, once home to the young Princess Elizabeth.