With a population of under 450,000, Malta is filled with small villages and tight knit communities. A strongly religion-oriented country, Catholic churches are abundant. Each village is bound to have one. Although they are so commonplace, these churches are not to be overlooked. Almost all of them date back hundreds of years, featuring breathtaking architecture and intricate interiors. In the midst of many fields you might find a small chapel, built for the farmhands to rest and pray in. Even these are beautifully built, and just might surprise you with their elegance. Perhaps the most famous church on the island is the Rotunda of Mosta. It's iconic dome shape makes it a must-see for visitors.
During your stay in Malta you can expect to hear the locals speaking the national language of Maltese. This unique language sounds like a mix of Italian, French and Arabic. This is a direct result of Malta's many occupancies. Many larger powers have captured Malta throughout history because of its strategic positioning in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Maltese cuisine you can expect to taste is strongly influenced by the fishing done on the island. If you really love seafood, head to the southern village of Marsaxlokk, the unofficial Maltese capital of fishing. There you'll find fish markets selling exclusively fresh fish, experience the feel of a true fishing port and dine in some of the best seafood restaurants on the island. One unusual seafood that you might see amateur divers or snorkelers hunt are sea urchins. These spherical creatures are covered in protective spikes and crawl in and around the underwater shores of rocky beaches. Split open, their meat can be scooped out and cooked. If seafood doesn't interest you, a popular street food you can find sold in the town square is pastizzi. These traditional Maltese flaky pastries are filled with ricotta or mushed peas and are absolutely irresistable. Pastizzi shops also offer qassatats (like pastizzi but shaped differently), sausage rolls, square pizza slices. These foods are the epitome of Maltese fast food and will set you back less than one Euro.
Perhaps the only true 'city' in the small island is the capital island of Valletta. Valletta is a major port city and home to the national government buildings, along with thousands of years of history. Enjoy the Upper Barrakka Gardens, a quiet garden that overlooks the comings and goings of ships in the bay below and the towns that lay beyond the city. The gardens, although relatively small, are home to a number of docile stray cats, which you should get used to as they are quite common in Malta. Valletta also features markets, gift shops, and most notably streets full of silver and gold jewelers. Many of these jewelers make and sell a specific type of jewelry called filigree. Filigree is an incredibly intricate craft where jewelers bend gold or silver wire to make creations. The most common designs for earrings or pendants are flowers, but there are also filigree sculptures that could measure up to a foot, like
violins or a full rose.
The first stop on any traveler's bucket list should be Malta itself. Opportunities to delve into the ancient history of the island can be found in the Tarxien Temples, one of the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country. This site is made up of three connected temples, all of them dating back to early 3100 B.C. It is said that they were used as an animal sacrifice ritual site in prehistoric times and then used again for cremation ceremonies during the Bronze Ages. Often called the Stonehenge of Malta, the Tarxien Temples are not to be missed.
Another historic site partially available to the public is St. Paul's Catacombs, located in Rabat. These catacombs were constructed in 300-800 A.D. as underground graveyards. Roman law (the law that was enforced in Malta at the time) prohibited burials within city limits. Because of this law over 22,000 square feet of tombs lay underground the outskirts of today's Mdina. While only a small percentage of the site is open to the public, St. Paul's Catacombs are more than enough to interest you on an unbearably hot afternoon.
Be sure to take advantage of Malta's incredible beaches during your stay. The crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean combined with Malta's warm climate and the extremely easy accessibility makes the coast the ideal place to be. Wherever you are on the island, you're never more than a twenty-minute drive away to a gorgeous seaside. Some of the most popular beaches include the white sands of the Mellieha Bay, St. Paul's Bay or the rocky shore of Bahar-ic-caq. Fun activities like water parks, aquariums, or huge floating playgrounds are almost guaranteed. Smaller, quieter shores like Paradise Bay or Golden Bay provide relief from the bustle of island as well. Pack your goggles or snorkels because even in shallow waters you can swim alongside schools of a range of small (and large!) fish.
Once you've toured some of Malta's sights you can catch one of the small "cruise ships" (or a ferry if you prefer) to the 1.4 square mile island of Comino. Hop off the boat straight into the breathtaking Blue Lagoon, whose bright blue waters has won it fame all around the Mediterranean. If you'd rather relax after spending your days in the hot summer sun the Comino Hotel offers fantastic views of the sea as well as a complete spa service.
Stay on the boat for one more stop, and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised by the island of Gozo. Its square mileage clocking in at around 26, the island is jam-packed with small artisan shops, natural wonders and, of course, wonderful beaches. Explore the hidden coves and caves that line the craggy coastline in the water or stay on land and visit (what used to be) the location of the Azure Window. Unfortunately, the stunning formation collapsed in early 2017. Fortunately, you can still sample the carefully curated tastes and crafts that Gozo has to offer.
Make your vacation memorable by visiting the Maltese Islands. Between history, beaches, and rich culture there is something for everyone. I hope after reading this you consider them to be your next travel destination!
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