Malta

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Homer called Malta, `The Centre Of The Sea'. This island situated in the heart of the Mediterranean and was important to both the orient and the occident. After the Phoenicians and the Punier came the Romans followed by the Arabs and the Normans: but it was the Knights Of Malta who made the most indelible mark here. Valletta is also known as The City Of Palaces and is Malta's main city, full of historic buildings, and in 1530 the Order of the Knights of Malta moved its main residence to this part of the island. The St. John?s Co-Cathedral was built in1577 by Gerolama Cassar as a monastic church of the Order Of The Knights Of Malta and its splendid interior was financed by the profits gained from hostilities mounted by the Order against Muslim trading ships. Mosta is situated in the middle of the island, a busy small town with a famous landmark, Mosta Cathedral, a huge sacred building whose mighty dome can be seen from almost anywhere on the island. The rugged southern coast of Malta contains small fjord-like features and numerous grottos, the most spectacular of which is the Blue Grotto. From the village of Wied-Iz-Zurrieq a steep path leads down to the sea and when the weather is suitable experienced guides take passengers on small boats through a narrow canyon into the grotto where the colour of the water is truly fascinating. One of the prettiest villages on Gozo is Gharb whose Baroque parish church dominates the main square. Here it is as though time really has stood still. With seven thousand years of history Malta is a colourful and beautiful island with tales of the sea and noble knights: a tantalising pearl set in the very heart of the Mediterranean.

DVD. 7 Days. 52 Minutes. Homer called Malta, `The Centre Of The Sea'. This island situated in the heart of the Mediterranean was thus important to both the orient and the occident. After the Phoenicians and the Punier came the Romans followed by the Arabs and the Normans:but it was the Knights Of Malta who made the most indelible mark here. Valletta is also known as The City Of Palaces and is Malta's main city, full of historic buildings, and in 1530 the Order of the Knights of Malta moved its main residence to this section of the island. The National Archaeological Museum contains various exhibits that date back to the Stone Age:skulls and Magna Mater, priceless historic gems. The pre-historic Venus of Hagar Quim, an image of a sleeping woman, is particularly noteworthy. The old city of Mdina sits regally upon a high plateau in the centre of the island and is surrounded by hilly and fertile farmland. Mosta is situated in the middle of the island, a busy small town with a famous landmark, Mosta Cathedral which is also known as The Rotunda. It is a huge sacred building whose mighty dome can be seen from almost everywhere on the island. The rugged southern coast of Malta contains small fjord-like features and numerous grottos. The most spectacular of these is the Blue Grotto. From the village of Wied-Iz-Zurrieq a steep path leads down to the sea and when the weather is suitable experienced guides take passengers on small boats through a narrow canyon into the grotto where the color of the water is truly fascinating. One of the prettiest villages on Gozo is Gharb whose Baroque parish church dominates the main square. Here it is as though time really has stood still. The Madonna Tal-Virtut Church was built in 1755 and along with its grandiose fa?ade is one of the island's most beautiful Baroque buildings. With 7,000 years of history Malta is a colourful and beautiful island with tales of the sea and noble knights: a tantalizing pearl set in the very heart of the Mediterranean.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. Malta's temples are older than the Egyptian pyramids. Indeed, the tiny Mediterranean island is a veritable archaeological treasure trove and its largest prehistoric temple site is situated in Tarxien. The remains of the religious sanctuary were discovered in 1914 when local farmers stumbled across some huge blocks of stone while ploughing their fields. Subsequent excavation of the site revealed several remarkable prehistoric finds such as fragments of pottery, stone images and a large number of urns. Carbon dating has established that the Tarxien temples date back to between 3,300 to 2,400 B.C. The temple area, and those of its rocks that have been partially decorated with geometrical forms, extend across an area of several hundred metres. The massive rocks raise the question of how those who brought them to this location were able to transport such heavy material here four thousand five hundred years ago.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. Malta's past is reminiscent of the stormy sea waves that sometimes appear around the rock covered coast of this small yet remarkable island located in the southern Mediterranean. The Lower Barracca Gardens date back to British colonial times. In 1814 Malta became an official Colony of the British Crown just a few years after Napoleon's army had occupied the island. Following various wars, cruel sieges and brutal invasions the inhabitants of Malta decided to secure peace and order by becoming part of the British Empire. The glamour of the Teatro Manoel is only exceeded by the former Grand Master's Palace that is now the official seat of the President and also home of the Parliament of the Maltese Republic. Saint John's Co-Cathedral is one of the island's most prized cultural treasures. The magnificently equipped church that was built between 1573 and 1577 is regarded as being one of the most beautiful architectural creations of Gerolamo Cassar. Although the Maltese knights of Valletta have now been assigned to the history books their cultural heritage is still very much alive on this small yet fascinating Mediterranean island.

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Valletta is the capital city of the Mediterranean island of Malta and is also known as The City of Palaces. It was once inhabited in turn by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Turks and in 1530 the Order of the Knights of Malta moved its main residence to this section of the island. Malta's pre-historic epoch is demonstrated by its primeval stone temples and graves. They belong to the Menhir period that extended to the British Isles. The St. John's Co-Cathedral was built in1577 by Gerolama Cassar as a monastic church of the Order of the Knights of Malta. At the command of Pope Pius the 7th, in 1816 it was designated as a cathedral and was given the same privileges as the bishop's seat in Medina, thus its somewhat strange title of `Co-Cathedral'. Situated on the northernmost point of the peninsula is the famous Saint Elmo Fort, a dominant feature of the coast. Throughout the centuries it has been witness to many bloody battles and much courageous resistance. It reached its zenith during the time of the Knights of Saint John who expanded the fortress and made it almost totally impregnable. Its walls successfully fended off the Turks and later the French blocked off the harbour entrance to the British fleet. During the Second World War anti- aircraft artillery were positioned on the fort's upper levels to defend against both German and Italian bombers. The Orient and the Occident have both left their traces in Valletta a picturesque location carved from stone. The former City Of Knights in which the future joins with the past.