The Maltese Islands
The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, with Malta 93km south of Sicily and 288km north of Africa. The archipelago consists of three main islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino with a total population of 400,000 inhabitants living in an area of 316sq km and a coastline of 196.8km (not including 56.01 km for the island of Gozo).
Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre. Gozo is the second largest island and is more rural, characterised by fishing, tourism, crafts and agriculture - whilst Comino is largely uninhabited.
Steeped in pre- history, the Maltese Islands are a wonderland of ancient Megaliths, ghostly medieval dungeons and dramatic fortified towns. Glorious wooden balconies grace the houses in the small villages, with their narrow winding streets opening onto vast piazza, dominated by a magnificent church dedicated to the village Saint. Throughout the Islands the Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces vie for magnificence.
The amazing city of Valletta, created as a showcase for the might and power of the Knights, is truly awe inspiring. St. John’s Co-cathedral is a celebration of their fantastic artistic style! Other notable places to visit are the Museums of Archaeology and War.
Inland the beautiful silent city of Mdina is a joy. The Co-Cathedral and its museum are not to be missed, nor the gory Mdina dungeons and the Mdina Experience.
Inland the countryside is dotted with the oldest known human structures in the world; in fact, the Islands have rightly been described as an open-air museum.
Rural Malta is still a farming community with fields of wheat, and olive and lemons groves dotting the landscape. Around the coast small harbours offer shelter and boat rides can be taken to view the magnificent headlands and cliffs - at the Blue Grotto the sea is phosphorescent!
The tiny Island of Gozo is a relaxed and laid back place to visit. Here Odysseus was captivated by the siren Calypso, and early man created the magnificent complex at Ggantija. Wander the narrow streets of the citadel in the capital Victoria and don’t miss the wonderful food of the Island – gbejniet and galletti (goats cheese - originally -but often today -sheep’s -with hard cracker type biscuits) washed down with robust local wine!
With superb sunny weather, scattered beaches, a thriving nightlife in Paceville and St. Julian’s and crowned by 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do on the small Islands. Malta has, over the generations, been ruled by Romans, Arabs, Normans, the Knights, French and British, who left a myriad of traditions behind, leaving today a fascinating eclectic culture for modern ‘invaders’ to savour!