Handmade glass is one of Malta’s most famous exports. And no Maltese home is complete without a glass item showing exceptional local craftsmanship. I met my best friend at university because I noticed he had an Mdina Glass paperweight. We got chatting and 25 years on we are still great friends - Mdina Glass brings people together! The particular shape of the Maltese cross emerged in the 16th century. It is associated with the Knights of Malta, who adopted it as their emblem and built Mdina as the island’s first capital city. The points of the cross are said to represent the eight homelands of the Knights, or their eight obligations. The cross has remained a symbol of protection, courage, and chivalry.