This wonderful cover comes from Malta and was made on the occasion of the 100. Birthday of Pope John Paul II. The block contains a postage stamp for 3.00 euros, which is transferred to the edge of the block. The stamp shows a portrait of Saint John Paul II and a view of a church in Valetta. Valetta is the European Union's smallest capital city. Valletta's 16th-century buildings were constructed by the Knights Hospitaller. The city was named after Jean Parisot de Valette, who succeeded in defending the island from an Ottoman invasion during the Great Siege of Malta. The city is Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture, though the Second World War left major scars on the city, particularly the destruction of the Royal Opera House. The city was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. The city is noted for its fortifications, consisting of bastions, curtains and cavaliers, along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches.
