A view of Valletta, Malta (Photo: Mandyy88)
The Mediterranean Island of Malta has a rich history that reaches back some 7,000 years, when Stone Age temple builders left structures, sculpture, and pottery that demonstrate feats in engineering and artworks of outstanding aesthetic beauty, a culture that thrived well before the pyramids of Egypt. The city of Valletta, a UNESCO Heritage Site, was built by the Knights of St. John (Knights Hospitaller), who left behind palaces that today are used as museums, as well as a cathedral that houses works by Caravaggio.
Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar, who was born on Malta, surveys its geography, history, and heritage; its architecture and Baroque churches; the natural beauty of the Grand Harbor; and its modern and contemporary art.
January 7 Malta and its Megalithic Temples
Cassar introduces the island and provides a close look at the prehistoric temples of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, Ggantija, and the structure of the Hypogeum, an underground burial site, all of which are testimony to an advanced culture of temple builders.
January 14 The City of Valletta and the Knights of St. John
The Baroque architecture of the city Valletta is among the finest in Europe. Completely fortified by the Knights of St. John, it was the site of the 1565 Great Siege of Malta that defended the Ottoman Empire’s attempt to capture the island.
January 21 Christianity and the Harbor Cities
In the year 60, the apostle Paul was shipwrecked on the island and is believed to have stayed for three months to spread the Christian message. Cassar looks at the “silent city” of Mdina, known for its distinctive architecture (and serenity), including wayside chapels and complex Baroque churches built from local limestone, as well as the cities of Rabat and St. Paul's Bay.
January 28 Modern and Contemporary Art in Malta
Malta plays an important role in promoting the arts and culture within a wider European context. Institutions such as the St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity and the Malta International Contemporary Art Space feature exhibitions of some of the most important artists on the island.
4 sessions
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