At only 17 miles in length, it may be the world's tenth smallest country but don't be misled by its size. Bettany Hughes discovers Malta, a cultural hub laden with some of the world's most precious treasures. This is an island where civilisations from east, west, north and south have met and cross-fertilised across centuries. In this episode, at Fort St Angelo, home of Crusader knights, Bettany reveals their bloodthirsty story and learns how Caravaggio created masterpieces and was imprisoned on the island. Bettany also gets unique access to Villa Guardamangia, Queen Elizabeth II's royal residence, when she was a young princess and newly-wed in 1951.

Part 1: Sanctuaries and Sieges

Bettany Hughes

Part 2: Hidden Secrets

At only 17 miles in length, it may be the world's tenth smallest country but don't be misled by its size. Bettany Hughes discovers Malta, a cultural hub laden with some of the world's most precious treasures. This is an island where civilisations from East, West, North and South have met and cross-fertilised across centuries. In this second episode, Bettany visits the Lascaris War Rooms, the secret hub of WW2, discovers the Ġgantija Temple complex and reveals a Neolithic city of the dead where 7,000 people were buried in an underground labyrinth dating back 6,000 years.

Bettany Hughes discovers Malta.  Documentary by BBC World News

Part 1: Sanctuaries and Sieges

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