A 360° view of Malta's World Heritage Sites

A publication by Miranda Publishers entitled Malta's World Heritage Sites 360°, showcasing all of Malta's Unesco World Heritage Sites together, was launched at the National Museum of Archaeology, in Valletta, yesterday.

An exhibition featuring enlarged images that appear in the publication was also opened at the museum to coincide with the launch.

The publication is supported by HSBC Cares For Malta's Heritage Fund.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, together with HSBC Bank plc chief executive Michael Geoghegan and Miranda Publishers' Eddie Aquilina, opened the exhibition

"The list of historic sites in these islands, including Unesco World Heritage Sites such as Valletta and the Neolithic Temples, seems to be almost endless. Now through the Fund's substantial support towards this new publication, the latest in the renowned 360 degrees series, the bank is once again contributing to increasing knowledge and awareness about Malta across Europe and beyond," Mr Geoghegan said.

He added that books such as these serve to attract more visitors and, therefore, more revenue for the country, which then can be invested in the sites themselves.

Among the images included in the exhibition are two measuring seven and nine metres in length depicting the temples at Mnajdra and the Hypogeum. Also included is an aerial image of Valletta.

The exhibition will remain open until July 14. Dr Gonzi said: "The impressive imagery of the 360° series brings out the beauty and history of our islands in a way that is difficult to match. This latest publication, focusing on our World Heritage Sites, some of which date back more than 5,000 years, is another feather in the cap for Miranda Publications.

"In its brief history the HSBC Cares For Malta's Heritage Fund, has already proved its determination to help this country protect its many treasures and I have no doubt that the fund's support for this publication is the first of many excellent initiatives," he added.

With the publication of Malta's World Heritage Sites 360°, Miranda's series now has eight publications.

The first, Malta 360°, published in 1989, has been followed by Malta 360° by Night, Gozo 360°, London 360°, Underground Malta 360° (volume 1) and in 2005 Welcome Malta To Europe 360°. Last November the second volume of Underground Malta 360° was launched.

"Producing the books in the 360 degrees series is certainly a costly business but in this case, thanks to the support we have received from HSBC Cares For Malta's Heritage Fund, the process has been made a lot easier," said Mr Aquilina.

The Malta's World Heritage Sites 360° is open to the public from Monday to Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.