Date of travel: Nov 18, 2019
A country of rich history, ancient and oldest megalithic temples, pristine beaches, dramatic coves as well as beautiful coastline, grand historic capital Valletta and warm hospitality of Maltese people make Malta a dream destination. During our trip to Sicily in 2019, we embarked on a three-night trip to beautiful Malta.
Geographical Highlights:
Malta is an island country, actually an archipelago in Mediterranean Sea between Sicily (80 km) and North African coast (Libya 330 km).
The country comprises of five islands- Malta, Gozo, Commino along with uninhabited Comminotto and Filfila islands.
All islands are dominated by limestone formation and coastlines comprising of steep and vertical limestone cliffs indented by bays and coves.
Prehistory:
Prehistoric Malta depicts first arrival of humans in 5200 BCE. Malta is home several prehistoric temples, the Megalithic (large single stone or combination of stones) temple constructed between 3600 to 2500 BCE, making them second oldest free standing structures in the world and also listed as UNESCO world heritage site. There are six such temple complexes in Malta, of which Ggantija in Gozo is the most famous and oldest one.
Short History:
Malta has been moulded by centuries of foreign rule by various powers and countries which include Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Sicilians, Knight Hospitallers, French and British.
Famous Maltese Cross, a symbol of protection, a firefighter’s badge of courage is associated with Knights Hospitaller, a Christian military order from Jerusalem who ruled Malta for certain period.
Our Journey:
Valletta: After settling ourselves at a nice boutique hotel,we ventured out to explore the capital city Valletta which is also Malta’s commercial centre for shopping, bars, dining and cafe life.
The city is compact and walkable with a grid like street pattern making navigation easy. Valletta was founded in 16 th century by Knights Hospitallers and features stunning Baroque architecture, bastions, beautiful gardens and churches. The elegant city is UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980.
Major attractions of Valletta:
St.John’s Co Cathedral-Built between 1573-1578 by Knights Hospitaller, the cathedral features ornate interior with vaulted ceilings adorned with frescoes and a famous painting by Caravaggio.
St. Paul’s Pro Cathedral- a stunning Anglican Church with a 60-meter tall tower visible throughout Valletta.
Grand Master’s Palace – a historic palace with impressive interiors. Upper and Lower Barracca Gardens- Beautiful gardens with magnificent view of Grand Harbour.
Grand Harbour- a large natural harbour. A lovely sunset cruise is best way to enjoy Harbour’s scenic views.
Valletta waterfront- a scenic promenade lined with restaurants, cafés and shops. One can take boat tours, can enjoy sailing and yachting or just stroll around.
Republic street – A bustling shopping street lined with cafés, restaurants and shops.
Other than Valletta, Silema (a popular shopping and dining destination) and St. Julian’s (vibrant area for nightlife and restaurants) are very popular among tourists.
Mdina of Malta:
Next day we visited Mdina, a historic fortified city also known as The Silent City, is a treasure trove of history and architecture.
Mdina is a quiet city and boasts of museums, churches and historic buildings. We walked along and wandered through narrow alleys and winding streets to explore this ancient walled city. Mdina gate and Palazzo historic house museum were really impressive. However, without our guide it would have been impossible to explore this fortified ancient city.
Gozo:
Last day was reserved for visiting charming island of Gozo, located 6 km northwest of Malta. A scenic but short ferry ride from Malta Harbour took us to this second largest island of the archipelago, known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture.
Our first stop was famous Ggantija archeological complex, testament to Gozo’s rich history. These Neolithic temples date back to 3600 to 3200 BCE and features impressive megalithic structures which are older than pyramids of Egypt.
Thereafter we headed to Victoria, the capital city of Gozo. We visited Citadella, a historic fortified citadel offering breath taking views of Gozo.
Next we visited Ramla Bay, a picturesque beach with golden sand followed by museum of archaeology and Church of the Assumption.
We wandered through the narrow alleys and finally arrived at the charming harbour town Mgarr on the south-western coast of the island.
The Harbour has ferry terminal and its Marina provides many bars and restaurants making it a great spot to relax.
We strolled along the marina and enjoyed panoramic and tranquil views of the surroundings. Sudden appearance of lightly dense clouds hovering above our heads and Sun peeping through the clouds created a mesmerising sight for us on this heavenly island.
When to Visit:
Malta is a year-round destination because of its Mediterranean climate, however, Spring and Autumn are preferable time to visit because of pleasant temperature and fewer tourists.
In July, Malta International Arts Festival and in October, Notte Bianca, a night time festival with music, arts and performances are very popular.
How to Reach:
- By Air – Malta has an International Airport.
- By Sea – Ferry services available from Sicily and other Mediterranean ports. Many cruise liners include Malta in their itineraries.
Local Cuisine:
Maltese cuisine is typical Mediterranean cuisine which includes fresh seafood, olives, herbs, spices and cheese.
Rabbit stew, Lampuki pie made of fish, flaky pastries are very popular.
Desserts- date cakes and fried pastry shells filled with sweet ricotta cheese are must try ones.
