COMINO FROM THE AIR

Comino is one of the smallest islands in the Maltese Archipelago, and thus provided a good hiding place for pirates throughout the ages. In fact its name is attributed to the Arabic word meaning 'to hide'.

The Maltese and Gozitans were very much prone to attacks from Muslin and Turkish pirates, and tried to remedy the situation. During the Middle Ages the Maltese asked the King, the feudal lord of Malta, to build a fort on Comino, but the plea fell on deaf ears. The fort, which survives today, was built in 1610 by Grandmaster Wignacourt of the Order of St. John.

This is a shot of the North-West side of Comino island looking towards Malta. This area of the island is popular with tour boat operators. There are a number of very interesting caves on the cliff-face which can only be reached by boat.

Photograph:	Wilfred L. Camilleri, June 1995
Write-up:	Martin Debattista, January 1996

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