for getting beneath the surface of this island nation. With this guidebook in hand, discover cultural and other delights that lie beyond the island's famed beaches. The deeper you delve, the more you will uncover of the varied riches of Malta and the adjacent islands of Gozo and Comino. Malta has the highest density of historic sights of any country, the result of a unique cultural and built heritage that fuses Neolithic, Roman, medieval, Arab, Punic, French and British influences. On one day, you might visit what is arguably the world's oldest accessible stone architecture - UNESCO-listed temples that are more ancient even than Egypt's great pyramids and Britain's Stonehenge. On other days, choose between unusual Roman catacombs, medieval citadels and the baroque legacy of the Knights of St John, or the secret headquarters and underground shelters of World War II (used by General Eisenhower to command the invasion of Sicily) - or perhaps come right up to date in the vibrant capital of Valletta by admiring the new parliament building, designed by Renzo Plano, architect of London's Shard. For something different, gawp at Caravaggio's largest (and only signed) painting, visit one of Malta's 300-odd village churches, enjoy world-class diving on Gozo, or make merry in colourful parish festas, where parades and fireworks are complemented by music and food. Talking of cuisine, why not treat yourself to one of Malta's six Michelin-starred restaurants, which represent the zenith of the island's recent surge in gastronomical delights?