Elisabeth Eaves for
New York Times 06/12/2013: Nicholas de Piro doesn’t look like a warrior monk. As the
bespectacled grandfather padded around his 16th-century palazzo,
pointing out curiosities like a gilded sedan chair and silver medical
tools, he appeared more likely to offer me a cup of tea than slay anyone
in the name of Christ. And yet that is the sort of thing Mr. de Piro’s
order, the Knights of Malta (officially the Sovereign Hospitaller Order
of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta), were
known for in their heyday. Drawn from the most noble families of Europe,
they left their homelands, took vows of chastity and obedience and
dedicated themselves to fighting infidels. The order no longer wages
war, focusing instead on caring for the sick and poor. Until I arrived
at Mr. de Piro’s doorstep on the Mediterranean island-nation of Malta,
though, I’d had no idea that the Knights of Malta still existed.
The
history of Malta — actually an archipelago that includes three
inhabited islands, just 50 miles south of Sicily — is peppered with
violence and disorder. Today, though, it is hard to find a corner of the
country that doesn’t feel peaceful and safe. Its crystal-clear,
intensely blue waters make for some of the best snorkeling and scuba
diving in Europe, while its beaches, rocky coves, arid hills and warm
weather have long attracted northern neighbors in search of cheap
sunshine. And yet not even 2 percent of visitors come from the...
read on. (recommended)
