The Criminal Who Fell Off a Cathedral
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One day in 1660, a man fell from a bell tower of St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. But what was he doing up there? And did he survive?
The Bad Boy Bishop of Malta
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The Bishop of Malta, Tomas Gargallo, was around in the 17th Century.
He was mad, bad and dangerous to know – here’s the story of how he once got into a fight with Maltese priests. And Roman Catholic officials. And a town crier. And the Pope.
Basically, everyone…
The Broomstick-Riding Witches of Malta
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In 1599 a man told a court he’d seen his neighbour flying around the Maltese islands on a broomstick – AND she was naked at the time.
This is the strange story of the witchcraft trial of Isabetta Caruana…
Gross Love Magic in Malta
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Many women carried out love magic in 17th-century Malta, for various reasons.
Domenica Darmanin once consulted a slave to ask how she might get a man to fall in love with her (Ottoman and African slaves were often thought to know about magic).
The spell the slave told her to cast to capture the heart of a man? Well, it was pretty gross.
The Ghostly Past of Palazzo Bettina
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There’s long been a legend about a boy who was burned in an oven by his greedy relatives, a terrible tale that’s said to have taken place in Palazzo Bettina in Birgu.
That building has now been lovingly restored into a boutique hotel – but what happened to the oven?
And is the place really haunted?
Should This Man Have Been Shot at a Church?
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In 1691 in Malta, a man came out of the church he was hiding in – only to be shot by soldiers who were waiting for him across the street.
A row broke out between the authorities and the Catholic Church, the latter claiming that the man had been immune from punishment so long as he remained on Church property.
So should he have been shot? Why was he hiding in the church? And what did the Vatican say about it all?
The Dragon that Flew into the Grand Harbour
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One day in the 1550s, a tornado blew into Malta’s Grand Harbour. It smashed up the place and killed hundreds of people.
This is the story of what Maltese sailors called il-dragun – the dragon.
Oh, and this tale also includes a monkey.
The Dark History of Coffee in Malta
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The story of coffee in Malta has a dark past. Here’s the story of how coffee first became popular in Malta because of… slavery.
The Top 5 Spells in Malta
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Spells were cast by many people in Malta’s past, so here are the top five spells that are just SO hot right now.
These are actual spells which were really cast here in the 17th and 18th centuries.
No idea if they work, but hey, you never know – they might come in useful, even today.
The Palazzo With A Piece of the True Cross
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I love to take people around the stunning Palazzo del Prelato in the heart of Mdina.
There are so many fascinating stories to be found within its walls.
One of my favourites is how there’s a piece of the cross that Christ was crucified on, kept within the palazzo’s chapel.
The Christmas Legend of the Gaugau
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According to Maltese legend, people born on Christmas Eve turn into a ghost on their birthday.
But good news! There is a cure. All you need is a simple kitchen utensil…
This is the story of the Gaugau (with a little help from my dog, Penny)
The Man Who Brought His (Dead) Wife to Malta
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Once upon a time there was a nobleman who paid a visit to Malta with his wife.
There was something REALLY odd about his missus, though…
The Priest Who Should Have Been an Ottoman Sultan
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZQF9_J9GKiQ
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Once upon a time, there was a boy who became a priest in Malta.
The strange thing was – he should have been the sultan of the Ottoman Empire instead.
The Bloody Revenge Taken on Ottoman Heads in 1565
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The Great Siege of Malta was a bloody battle between the Ottoman Empire and the Knights of St John who fought alongside the local Maltese.
Here’s a story about a nasty incident that took place during the fighting and which demonstrates just how brutal war – and revenge – can be.
This is How Babies Were Abandoned in Malta
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There’s a hole in the wall of the former Santo Spirito hospital in Rabat, Malta – and it’s got a dark story to tell.
Who Cared for the Souls of Malta’s Executed?
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Once upon a time, when criminals used to be executed in Malta, their mortal remains and souls used to be cared for by the Archconfraternity of the Holy Rosary.
These eerie-looking figures, dressed head to toe in white, would pray for the dead man’s soul in the church of St Ubaldesca in Paola.
This is their story.
St Michael and a Kinky Devil
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The niche of St Michael Defeating the Devil in Valletta, Malta is probably my favourite statue of all time.
There’s something quite unusual about how it was made, and it’s also got a system for indulgences attached to it.
But what does that mean? And how can this statue help you get into heaven quicker?
The Secrets of St John’s Co-Cathedral
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St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta has what’s called “the most beautiful floor in the world”
But it’s also a space that contains messages from beyond the grave, from long-dead Knights of St John who are reminding us that one day, we’ll be in a grave too.
Is There a Woman Buried in St John’s Co-Cathedral?
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St John’s Co-Cathedral is the burial site of more than 400 members of the Order of St John, who were all men.
But, some people say, there is one woman buried in this church too. Who might she be, and what’s her story?
The Hand of St John the Baptist. Once in Malta – Now in Montenegro
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I took an EPIC journey all the way to the town of Cetinje in Montenegro to see three holy relics closely linked to Jesus Christ.
All three were once kept in Malta by the Knights of St John, who took them away when they fled the island in 1798 following Napoleon’s invasion.
These relics were later passed around various Russian and European hands and ended up in the Balkans.
This is the first of my videos about my quest to see a slice of Maltese history in Montenegro – check it out!
The First Recorded Transsexual in Malta
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This is the story of Rosaria Mifsud, the first person recorded in Malta to change their gender, all the way back in the 18th Century.
The (Disgusting) Things Men will Do For Love…
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People will do crazy things for love – but one man from Malta turned to magic and a loaf of bread to try and win the affection of the woman he liked.
The result was a different kind of sourdough…
When Was Abortion First Banned in Malta? Hint: A Long Time Ago…
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The act of abortion is illegal in most cases in Malta today, but it was first formally banned here centuries ago by the Knights of St John.
There were specific penalties for doctors and midwives who helped a woman take an abortive substance, such as slavery and even banishment from the islands of Malta or Gozo.
Why Did Lord Byron Hate Malta?
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The famous British poet Lord Byron visited Malta in the early 1800s – and he hated the place.
He had an affair with a married woman, challenged an army officer to a duel over her, had a row with that woman himself, and wrote a rude poem about the island and its capital, Valletta.
That’s quite a lot to pack into a trip, but if anyone could manage all that, it was the notorious Lord Byron.
Malta’s Biggest-Ever Explosion
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On this day in 1806, there was the single largest explosion that the Maltese islands have ever had.
It caused mass destruction and loss of life and a tsunami wave in the Grand Harbour.
But what caused it? And what has a hammer and chisel got to do with this devastating tragedy?
The Legend of Admiral Lord Nelson’s Hook
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You’ll find history on almost every corner and side street in Valletta, the capital of Malta.
In one area there’s the spot where criminals were humiliated – and right next to it is the place where Admiral Lord Nelson is said to have won a bet by wriggling through a metal hook!
The American Balloonist Who Couldn’t Get It Up
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In 1870 an American man came to Malta to fly a hot air balloon for the entertainment of the local crowds. However, things really didn’t go to plan for poor old Rufus Wells…
Secrets of Queen Victoria’s Statue
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The statue of Queen Victoria was installed in Valletta in 1891.
So she’s been around for more than 100 years – but what secrets is she hiding? And why is Her Majesty, well – a bit twisted?
Princess Diana and the Car Park
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There’s a car park in Valletta, Malta that has a link to Princess Diana. But what is it?
Taxi for Mosta Dome
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Mosta Dome is famous for a) having a VERY large dome and b) being hit by three bombs during World War II
But there’s another incident that the locals will tell you about – the time a taxi driver drove his Mercedes inside the church….
