Tag: 17th century

volcano erupting at night under starry sky

How the 1602 famine hit Malta and Sicily

We often don't think of how explosive and violent Mother Nature can be. In 1600 a volcano exploded in Peru, affecting life around the planet in many ways. In Malta, it led to a diplomatic spat with Sicily and caused a riot in the south of Malta. This article explains how one led to the other.
A photo of Maltese balconies - Valletta, Malta

The story behind a Maltese galleria

Maltese has adopted lots of Italian words over the years, much to the amusement of Italophones. It is rather curious then that some Italian words have a different meaning when used in Maltese. One of them is our word for balcony which is gallerija. Why don't we use the Italian word for balcony? How does a borrowed word's definition change so much?
A photo of the detailed stonework in the château of Châteaudun

The lost anti-Viking defence system

In the late 10th century, France faced with an economic crisis and an uneasy peace with the Vikings. Would the Vikings attack again? Or was their recent attempt at peace going to last?
A photo of St Stephen's Rotunda - Prague, Czechia

St Stephen’s missing rotunda

The Rotunda of St Stephen in Prague, was part of the Christianization effort in Bohemia. Constructed in the Benedictine-owned village of Na Rybničku, the rotunda was later owned by Teutonic Knights who reconsecrated it to St Longinus in the 15th century.
A photo of the tiled eastern facade of the Igreja do Carmo - Porto, Portugal

Harry Potter and Porto’s Hidden House

In Porto, in between the Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas, there exists a hidden, narrow three-storey house called Casa Escondida. Some claim this house inspired J.K. Rowling, but did it?
A photo of one of the cippi of Melqart - Louvre, Paris, France

The Maltese Rosetta Stone

The Cippi of Melqart, discovered in Malta, are priceless because they were the key to deciphering Phoenician script. This article explains who Melqart was, what cippi are and what this Maltese Rosetta Stone is all about.
A photo of the fake ruins - Dejvice, Prague

The fake ruins of Baba

Europe is full of ruins that paint a delightful picture of its turbulent past. It's not every day you can see ruins that are as artificial as a fast food joint. Prague's ruins of Baba are one such fake ruin.
A photo of the Nibbia Chapel of Bones - Valletta, Malta

The Maltese chapel of bones

I’ve written about Czech ossuaries before, and I’ve visited the one in Paris, but few know there is a Maltese chapel of bones. Well, there used to be one anyway.
A rendition of Fort Orsi

Learn all about Malta’s lost Orsi Tower

We are so focused on preserving historical buildings that we often don’t realise how many already disappeared for one reason or another. Orsi tower used to stand guard at the mouth of Valletta's harbour, and is one such lost building.