The Belgian memoirs of a Maltese intellectual : Giovan Francesco Buonamico, (1639-1680)

Abstract

Around 350 years ago, one of the greatest living Maltese intellectuals of the period, Giovan Francesco Buonamico, visited some of the most beautiful cities of Europe. Between 1660 and 1663 he spent a considerable amount of time travelling in Belgium and arrived at the conclusion that Antwerp was the most beautiful and complete city of the old continent. Be-ing the first Maltese to be elected to a political post in Brussels in the modern era, five years before Malta's accession to the European Union in 2004, I thought it fit to commemorate the 350th anniversary of Buonamico's visit to Belgium, since it has certainly contributed to the enhancement of Beige-Maltese relations, which have since thrived and flourished to reach the present intense level of collaboration. This idea would not have materialised had it not been for the unstinted efforts of the Belgian Ambassador to Malta, H. E. Jean Franc;ois Delahaut, who not only encouraged me to pursue this research but actually provided me with invaluable hints and suggestions worthy of a real scholar. For this I am truly indebted to him. I must also thank the management of the Bank of Valletta for the generous sponsorship, Ms Vikki Attard for her help with proof reading and Ms Ingrid Vella for the cover design.