Do you know about the explosion in Birgu?
One of Malta's worst peacetime disasters took place in 1806. A military gunpowder store exploded in Birgu, across the harbour from Valletta.
The Lost Walls of Prague’s New Town
I've written about the walls of Prague's Old Town, which the city destroyed. It's unfortunate they removed such a historical feature. Once Prague had a New Town and external fortifications there was no need for the walls around the Old Town.
How did the British take control of Malta?
I often discuss Maltese history with others and have written about unusual parts of it here. Often people claims that ‘the British illegally took control’ of the Maltese islands. This is not true, but few are aware of this part of our history.
From death to delight – Msida, Malta
Towns evolve for various reasons and we often marvel at how different things were in the past. It doesn't take too long for some stories to fade into obscurity which makes rediscovering them all the more surprising. What I discovered about the central Maltese town of Msida is one of these stories.
The superstition behind Charles Bridge
Every visitor to Prague ends up on the Charles Bridge. There is a magnificent view of the castle and the city from there, so it isn't surprising the bridge is packed all day long. Not many people traipsing across know about the superstition behind its construction.
Puck’s castle
It was late morning when Francois, Helene and I, after visiting two other historical places around Dublin, stopped to take a look at the rundown Puck’s Castle.
The Possessed Fairy Tale Farmhouse
If a building is abandoned for a long enough time, it doesn’t take long before stories about hauntings begin to emerge. In Czechia, the Fairy Tale Farmhouse has attracted a few
The Belgians know Tsar Peter’s secret
The National Park in Brussels, right in front of the Royal Palace, is a welcome touch of greenery in the city. But why would the Belgians commemorate the spot in the park where Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia, felt violently sick?
St Christopher and the Alchemist
Prague’s Charles Bridge is adorned with statues that accompany tourists on their walk across the Vltava river. St Christopher’s statue is one of the more recent, but also full of
Konopiště Castle and World War I
No more than a 30-minute train ride south of Prague you can visit Konopiště castle. This is where the Archduke Franz Ferdinand travelled from when he went to Sarajevo and