Heritage Malta has launched a book entitled ‘Atlas Mercator,Merchant routes and trade cities in the Mediterranean’ at the National Library in Valletta. During the launch Dr Luciano Mule’ Stagno, Chief Executive of Heritage Malta, said that the publication of the book was one of the deliverables of Mercator an EU funded project.

The project funding was of more than a million Euros. Dr Mule’ Stagno that Heritage Malta is donating a number of the book to the National Library to be distributed in public libraries.

The project Mercator was led by Heritage Malta with whom nine partners from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Morocco and Lebanon.

Mr Philip Borg, Director of the National Library, Dr. Timothy Gambin, one of the authors, Mr Manuel Magro Conti Senior Curator of Heritage Malta’s Maritime Military section, Antonio Rodriguez Espinoza Consultant with Heritage Malta and Josette Calleja researcher on merchant history with Heritage Malta were present for the launch.

Mr Philip Borg thanked Dr Mule’ Stagno and said that nearly 70 copies of the book will be distributed in Public Libraries in Malta and Gozo.

The book is aimed at all those who wish to know more about the maritime and merchant heritage of Malta and the countries participating in the project that is Malta, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Morocco and Lebanon.

In Malta research was carried out about the Grand Harbour and its environs area and the historic buildings that are found in area. The book compliments the nine information panels that have been installed along the Valletta, Floriana, Marsa waterfront in which one finds information about building and objects related to merchants and their commerce. The book is written in both English and Maltese so as to reach a wider audience.