Tiny gem at the heart of the Med

Richard Moriarty wrote this piece for the Sunday Express as part of the British newspaper's series looking at the capitals of the 10 countries who joined the European Union last year. It "explores the delights of historic Valletta, this small but vibrant Maltese city that boasts magnificent fortifications, stunning architecture, a friendly welcome - and a mean rabbit stew". Via the library of maltavista.net:

More than 50 years after surviving a Nazi onslaught from the skies during the Second World War, Malta is about to reaffirm its close bond with Europe by joining the European Union. A familiar holiday destination for up to two million Britons every summer, the island is now using its rich history to attract holidaymakers seeking the five-star treatment. The country No bigger than the Isle of Wight - its capital Valletta covers barely a square mile - Malta has been strategically important to every great army due to its position in the centre of the Mediterranean. It was occupied by the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Sicilians and in 1282 was given to Spain.

In 1530, the Spanish King gave it to the Knights of St John, a religious order which fortified and occupied the island until it attracted the attention of Napoleon in 1798. Britain took over Malta two years later and held it until 1947 when it was granted independence. The capital Valletta's foundation stone was set in 1566 and it was the first planned city in Europe. A walled city surrounded by two harbours, Valletta is tiny but vibrant, alive with people scurrying through its many squares and narrow streets. It is also easy to navigate as its streets form a neat grid.
In the evening it becomes a ghost town as the attention shifts to lively St Julian's Bay, a five-mile drive north along the coast.

Valletta from Wired Temples

When Richard Moriarty was arrested