The second volume of Legacy of an Order in Malta 360°, out with The Times tomorrow, focuses on the buildings of the Knights of St John during the last 120 years of their stay in Malta.
With the Turkish threat on the wane and the Order's coffers fuller, in the 18th century the Knights wanted more impressive and ornate civil buildings, as opposed to the earlier functional and austere military ones. This demonstrated to both visitors and to the Maltese that the Order viewed itself as the autonomous ruler of the country, asserting a separate identity for these islands, providing much more than military activity and projecting its prestige.
This resulted in some of the best buildings one can see around the island, such as the Auberge de Castille, the Manoel Theatre, Palazzo Castellania, the National Library, Fort Manoel and edifices in Mdina in its regeneration after the 1693 earthquake. The development of new towns could also be seen in the triumphal arches of Żebbuġ and Żabbar, the Qormi canopy and the lion fountain in Floriana.
This second volume shows much more than architecture; it shows the development of Malta from a military outpost to the first tentative elements of sovereignty.
The Miranda 360° Collection is printed by Progress Press, a member of the Allied Group. As customary, tomorrow's issue will be printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper. FSC is an international, non-profit organisation that promotes the responsible management of the world's forests and helps ensure that they will not be destroyed for future generations.
Tomorrow, the price of The Times will increase from 60c to €1.