Top 10 Malta & Gozo (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

131 Pages·2007·31.72 MB·English

by  DK Publishing

tOP 10
Malta & GOZO
Mary-ann GallaGher
eyeWITneSS TraVel
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s Left Fish market, Marsaxlokk CentreMnajdra Temple RightHistorical re-enactment, Valletta
t
n
Contents
e
t
n
o
C
Malta’s Top 10
Produced by Coppermill Books Grand Master’s Palace,
55 Salop Road London E17 7HS
Valletta 8
Reproduced by Colourscan, Singapore
Printed and bound in China
by Leo Paper Products Ltd St John’s Co-Cathedral,
First American Edition, 2007 Valletta 10
07 08 09 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Published in the United States by Ħaġar Qim and
DK Publishing, Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014 Mnajdra Temples 14
Copyright 2007 ©
Dorling Kindersley Limited, London Mdina and Rabat 16
A Penguin Company
All rights reserved under International and Pan-
American Copyright Conventions. No part of this Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar 18
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, Marsaxlokk 20
recording or otherwise, without prior written
permission of the copyright owner. Published in
Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum,
A CIP catalogue record is available from Paola 22
the British Library.
ISSN 1479-344X
The Citadel,
ISBN: 978-0-7566-2491-0
Rabat/Victoria, Gozo 24
Within each Top 10 list in this book, no hierarchy of
quality or popularity is implied. All 10 are, in the
editor’s opinion, of roughly equal merit.
Dwejra, Gozo 26
Floors are referred to throughout
in accordance with British usage;
ie the “first floor” is the floor Comino 28
above ground level.
The information in this DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide is checked regularly.
Every effort has been made to ensure that this book is as up-to-date as possible at the time of
going to press. Some details, however, such as telephone numbers, opening hours, prices,
gallery hanging arrangements and travel information are liable to change. The publishers
cannot accept responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of this book, nor for
any material on third party websites, and cannot guarantee that any website address in this
book will be a suitable source of travel information. We value the views and suggestions of
our readers very highly. Please write to: Publisher, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides,
Dorling Kindersley, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL.
Cover: Front – ALAMY IMAGES: Cephas Picture Library/Mick Rock bl; Roger Cracknell clb; Wild Places
Photography/Chris Howes main. Spine – ALAMY IMAGES: John Stark b. Back – ALAMY IMAGES: Cephas
Picture Library/Mick Rock ra; CORBIS: Massimo Listri ca; DK IMAGES: Peter Wilson cla.

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Left Golden Bay Centre Gobelin Tapestries, Grand Master’s Palace RightMarina, Vittoriosa C
o
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Moments in History 32 Around Malta
t
e
Temples and Ancient Sites 34 Valletta 60 n
t
s
Grand Masters 36 Sliema, St Julian’s
and the Three Cities 68
Churches and Cathedrals 38
Northern Malta 78
Museums and
Central Malta 84
Arts Centres 40
Southern Malta 92
Areas of Natural Beauty 42
Gozo and Comino 98
Walks and Drives 44
Beaches and Resorts 46 Streetsmart
Festivals and Other Practical Information 106
Events 48
Places to Stay 112
Outdoor Activities 50
General Index 118
Children’s Activities 52 Acknowledgements 125
Culinary Highlights 54 Phrase Book 126
Restaurants 56 Selected Map Indexes 128
Left Blue Lagoon, Comino RightPalazzo Parisio, Naxxar

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Malta’s
top 10
Highlights
6–7
M
Grand Master’s Palace,
Vallettaa
8–9l
t
St John’s Co-Cathedral,
Vallettaa
10–13’
s
Ħaġar Qim and
Mnajdra Templest
14–15o
Mdina and Rabatp
16–17
1
Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar
0
18–19
Marsaxlokk
20–21
Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum,
Paola
22–23
The Citadel,
Rabat/Victoria, Gozo
24–25
Dwerja, Gozo
26–27
Comino
28–29
Top 10 of Everything
32–57
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Malta and Gozo Highlights
The tiny Maltese archipelago, floating on the cusp of Europe and Africa, has
been coveted and invaded throughout its history. The Knights of St John (later of
Malta) bequeathed palaces, fortresses and the glorious golden capital Valletta,
0
while the British left red telephone boxes, iced buns and a predilection for tea.
1
It was the islands’ earliest settlers who left the most spectacular legacy: the
p
extraordinary megalithic temples, unparalleled elsewhere in the world. Malta,
o
T the largest island, has the most cosmopolitan resorts and the edge in cultural
s treasures, while sleepy Gozo
a’ and tiny Comino offer unspoilt
alt countryside and a gentler pace. (cid:42)(cid:233)(cid:317)(cid:68)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:69)(cid:69)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:227) (cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:51)(cid:35)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:81)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:90)(cid:77)(cid:66) (cid:42)(cid:82)(cid:93)(cid:82)
M
(cid:42)(cid:233)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:76)
(cid:19)(cid:39)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:68)
(cid:18)(cid:38)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:79) (cid:59)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:233)(cid:85)(cid:68)
(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:88)(cid:205)(cid:76)(cid:77)(cid:68) (cid:53)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:18)(cid:57)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:68) (cid:49)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:85)
(cid:59)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76) (cid:48)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:91)(cid:68)(cid:85) (cid:59)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:77)(cid:68) (cid:52)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:68)
(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87) (cid:42)(cid:233)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:77)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:80) (cid:48)(cid:227)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:85)
(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:82) (cid:10)
£Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra (cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:82)
These hauntingly beautiful
!Grand Master’s Palace, temples made of creamy limestone (cid:204)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:68)
ThisV isa lale fittttaingly splendid home arureg gseedt ocnlif fa- twopil d and (cid:46)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:71)(cid:66)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:74)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:70) (cid:70) (cid:46)(cid:70)(cid:35)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:90)(cid:272)(cid:66)
for the supreme head of the overlooking the
Knights. The opulent apartments sea. Ħaġar Qim
are filled with treasures ranging is fascinatingly (cid:40)(cid:272)(cid:66)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:66)
from paintings and armour to complex, while (cid:35)(cid:66)(cid:90) (cid:59)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:77)(cid:68)
elaborate friezes (see pp8–9). Mnajdra’s South (cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:48)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:68)
Temple is the best preserved of all (cid:42)(cid:233)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:81)
Malta’s ancient sites (see pp14–15). (cid:55)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:233)(cid:68) (cid:48)
$Mdina and (cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:349)(cid:79)(cid:16)
Rabat (cid:36)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:77)(cid:68) (cid:55)(cid:74)(cid:68)
Mdina, Malta’s
ancient capital, is (cid:37)(cid:68)(cid:233)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:77)(cid:68)
a magical little city
girdled by sturdy (cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:16)
walls and filled (cid:48)(cid:72)(cid:48)(cid:85)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:75)(cid:79)(cid:68)
@St John’s Co-Cathedral, with medieval (cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:76)
Valletta palaces and fine
This, one of the world’s finest churches. Next-
Baroque churches, still belongs door Rabat boasts
to the Knights of Malta. The some of the most
Oratory contains Caravaggio’s important Christian
masterpiece, The Beheading of sites in Malta
John the Baptist(see pp10–13). (see pp16–17).
%Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar
This splendid private palace
was utterly transformed by the
6th Marquis of Scicluna in the
early years of the 20th century.
Its opulent salons and glorious
gardens were embellished by
the finest craftsman from Malta
and Italy (see pp18–19).
 Preceding pagesArmour of the Knights of St John, in the
Armoury of the Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta
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&Ħal Saflieni
Hypogeum, Paola
More than 55 centuries
ago, men hewed this
extraordinary necropolis
out of solid rock. The
M
chambers are spread over
three levels and are a
magnificently carved and l
t
decorated (see pp22–3). a
’
s

T
o
p

1
^Marsaxlokk 0
In this enchanting little
fishing village, traditional,
brightly painted luzzus bob in
the blue bay. Maltese families
pour in on Sundays to visit the
famous fish market on the
(cid:10) quays, and then to linger *The Citadel, Rabat/Victoria
(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:82) in one of the excellent The tiny walled Citadel sits high on a lofty
seafront restaurants promontory right in the centre of Gozo; from
(see pp20–21). this vantage point, views unfold across the entire
(cid:66)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:74)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:70) (cid:70) (cid:46)(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:272)(cid:66) icslluatncdh aonf dfa bsecyinoantdin tgo mMuasletau.m Wsi t(hsiene i tpsp w24a–ll5s) .is a
(cid:35)(cid:66)(cid:90)
(cid:54)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:347)(cid:86)
(cid:44)(cid:86)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:86)
(cid:48)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:233)(cid:68)
(cid:40)(cid:272)(cid:66)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:66) (cid:59)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:77)(cid:68) (cid:52)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:35)(cid:49)(cid:66)(cid:66)(cid:90)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:8)(cid:84) (cid:37)(cid:88)(cid:227)(cid:52)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:90)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68) (cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:68)
(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:48)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:68) (cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:349)(cid:43)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:71)
(cid:37)(cid:68)(cid:233)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:16)(cid:76)(cid:205)(cid:16)(cid:204)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:233)(cid:68)(cid:84)
(cid:55)(cid:88)(cid:42)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:233)(cid:76)(cid:55)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:233)(cid:349)(cid:77)(cid:79)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:16) (cid:48)(cid:227)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:37)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:317)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:37)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:233)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71) (cid:51)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:80)(cid:93)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:45)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:49)(cid:84)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:42)(cid:91)(cid:233)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:54)(cid:233)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:45)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:349)(cid:86) (cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:205)(cid:72)(cid:54)(cid:89)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:68)
(cid:36)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:77)(cid:68) (cid:55)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:1)(cid:48)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:45)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:84) (cid:48)(cid:82)(cid:47)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:77)(cid:68)(cid:68) (cid:37)(cid:42)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:93)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68) (cid:57)(cid:11)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:12)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:68) (Dwejra, Gozo
(cid:37)(cid:68)(cid:233)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:77)(cid:68) (cid:36)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71) (cid:232)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:81) (cid:57)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:68) Gozo’s wild, dramatic
(cid:9)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:53)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:14) (cid:52)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:76) (cid:54)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68) (cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:68) western coastline is
(cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:16) (cid:232)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:88)(cid:91)(cid:76) (cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:68) (cid:61)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:85) spectacularly
(cid:48)(cid:72)(cid:48)(cid:85)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:75)(cid:79)(cid:68) (cid:317)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:229) (cid:232)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:16)(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:17) beautiful around
(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:76) (cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:349)(cid:37)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:77)(cid:68) (cid:54)(cid:76)(cid:227)(cid:227)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:76) (cid:43)(cid:47)(cid:88)(cid:92)(cid:84)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:88)(cid:80) (cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:48)(cid:317)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:44)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:16)(cid:46)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:68) Dthwe ehjruag,e w Ahzeurree
(cid:42)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:68) (cid:42)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:68)(cid:84) Window frames
(cid:48)(cid:84)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:69)(cid:68)
(cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:16)(cid:37)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:68) (cid:52)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76) (cid:46)(cid:54)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:83) (cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:78)(cid:78)(cid:16) (cid:44)(cid:79)(cid:16)(cid:37)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:93) osft utnhnei nregc veideiwngs
(cid:232)(cid:9)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:227)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:52)(cid:77)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:13) (cid:317)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:84) (cid:37)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:318)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:227)(cid:68) (cid:46)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:35)(cid:84)(cid:66)(cid:66)(cid:89)(cid:90)(cid:77)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:76) cliffs. It’s perfect
hiking territory,
(cid:232)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:85) (cid:37)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:233)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:68) and the diving is
(cid:20) (cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:84) (cid:17) (cid:76)(cid:78) (cid:20) among the best in
the Med (see pp26–7).
)Comino
The smallest inhabited island in the
Maltese archipelago, tiny Comino is an unspoilt
wilderness where the air is still spicily scented
with the cumin that gives it its name. You can
swim in the Blue Lagoon or hike to spectacular
cliffs (see pp28–9).
Note that Malta and Gozo both have towns named Rabat. 
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Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta
This handsome palace was built between 1573 and 1578 by the celebrated
Maltese architect Gerolamo Cassar (1520–86), who was also responsible for
the Co-Cathedral of St John. Today it is the President’s office and seat of the
0
Maltese Parliament, but for more than two hundred years it was the
1
residence of the Grand Master, supreme head of the Order of the Knights of
p
St John. Here, the Grand Master would greet foreign envoys and important
o
T guests, and the State Apartments are suitably crammed with reminders of the
s Order’s fabulous wealth and influence. The palace’s armoury contains a
a’ spectacular array of weaponry and armour spanning more two centuries.
t
al Top 10 Features
M 1 Neptune’sCourtyard
2 CorridorsoftheKnights
3 TapestryChamber
4 GobelinTapestries
5 SupremeCouncilHall
6 GreatSiegeFrieze
Supreme Council Hall
7 Ambassador’sRoom
8 StateDiningHall
The Palace may be
9 Armoury
closed if Parliament
is in session; check 0 ParadeArmour
with the tourist
office in advance. !Neptune’s
Courtyard
There are numerous Theimpressivestatuethat
cafés in the vicinity. givesitsnametothemain
Drop into the elegant courtyard(below)is
wine bar Ambrosia attributedtotheFlemish-
(see p67) for a bornsculptorGiambologna
delicious light meal. (1529–1608).Itissaidthat
AdmiralAndreaDoria,a £Tapestry Chamber
•Triq Il-Merkanti friendofGrandMasterde Inthiselegantroom,
•Map J2 laVallette,volunteeredto theseniorKnightsattended
•2124 9349 posenakedforthestatue. today-to-daybusinessand,
•Palace: Open 10am– inlateryears,theMaltese
4pm Fri–Wed. Adm Lm2 parliamentmet.Itisnow
(concessions Lm1, litdimlytopreservethe
children 50c) sumptuousGobelintapestries.
•Armoury: Open 9am–
4:30pm daily. Adm Lm2 $Gobelin Tapestries
(concessions Lm1, KnownasLes Tentures
children 50c) des Indes(theIndies
•www.heritagemalta. Tapestries)(below),fortheir
org (armoury only) @Corridors of the depictionsofexoticscenes,
Knights theyweredonatedin1710
Onthefirstfloor(the byGrandMasterPerellos.
piano nobile)ofthepalace,
lavishlydecoratedmarble
corridors(main picture)
overlookNeptune’s
Courtyard.Theyarelined
withportraitsoftheGrand
Masters,theircoatsof
armsandsuitsofarmour.
 In Jan 2008, Malta abandons the Maltese lira (Lm) and adopts the
euro (€). As this book goes to press, Lm1 is equivalent to €2.33.
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%Supreme Council Hall
Thisisthegrandestroominthepalace,
alsoknownastheHallofStMichaeland
StGeorge.Ithasglitteringchandeliers,a
cofferedceilingandastunningfrieze(left)
whichvividlydepictstheGreatSiegeof1565.
M
Theminstrel’sgalleryatoneendofthehall
^Great Siege Frieze oncedecoratedthepalacechapel,but a
Thisdynamicfrieze(above) cameoriginally l
t
recountingthekeyeventsin fromthewarship a
theKnights’celebrateddefence Grand Carrack ’s
oftheislandwaspaintedby inwhichthe
MatteoPerezd’Aleccio(1547– Knightsdeparted T
1616)between1575and1581. fromRhodes. o
p

1
0
&Ambassador’s
Room
TheGrandMastersused
thishandsomechamber
(above)forprivate
audiencesandtoimpress
foreigndignitaries.Matteo
Perezd’Alecciopainted
thefrieze,which
representsimportant
momentsinthehistory
oftheOrderofStJohn.
The Maltese Cross
Theeight-pointedcross,
symboloftheKnights
*State Dining Hall ofMalta,canbefound
Badlydamagedby throughouttheGrand
aerialbombardment Palace.Itissaidthatthe
duringWorldWarII,this eightpointssymbolize
beautifullyproportioned theeightBeatitudesas
chamberislinedwith wellastheeightoriginal
portraitsofBritish Langues(national
monarchsandMaltese “tongues”,orchapters)
headsofstate. oftheOrder.Thefour
(Armoury armsofthecrossare
ThePalaceArmoury )Parade Armour supposedtorepresent
(above),locatedinthe Thehighlightofthe thefourcardinalVirtues:
formerstables,contains Armoury’scollectionis Fortitude,Justice,
morethan5,000pieces exquisitelydecorated Temperanceand
ofmilitaryhardware. paradearmourmadefor Perseverance.Although
Therearecannons, theGrandMasters. thecrossistraditionally
gunsandentirewalls Themostelaborate saidtodatebacktothe
linedwithevil-looking isasuitmadefor foundingoftheOrderin
devicesfor GrandMaster the11thcentury,this
hacking, MartinoGarzes particularstyleofcross
spearing (1595–61), didn’tcomeinto
andspiking whichhas commonuseuntilthe
your anintricate mid-16thcentury.
opponent. etchedpattern.

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