Although it may be one of the smallest countries on the planet, don’t be deceived by Malta’s size, roughly the size of Ynys Môn. The country is a jewel of a Mediterranean archipelago filled with fascinating history, breath-taking scenery and architecture and delicious food that fuses each of the influences on the islands over the years. Loved by visitors for its good weather, natural beauty and beaches, scratch a little below the surface and Malta’s rich culture will fascinate and surprise. This article explores our highlights from our visit.
Click here for our guide to Maltese food and drink and here for a guide to visiting the enchanting island of Gozo.
About Malta
Malta is an archipelago featuring three inhabited islands, with Malta being the largest, Gozo the second largest and the smallest Comino, a nature reserve. Nestled strategically between Sicily and Tunisia, Malta has unsurprisingly been battled over throughout the centuries, including the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the Aragonese, the Knights of St John, the French and finally the British, before gaining independence in 1964. Owing to this history, Malta has a unique language, related to Arabic and a descendent of a now extinct dialect of Arabic spoken in Sicily. Its food is a delicious mix of Italian, British and North African influences, built on land it shares with megalithic temples, among the oldest free-standing structures on earth.
View over Valletta from Sliema
What to Do in Malta
Valletta
Malta isn’t just one of Europe’s smallest countries, it’s also home to Europe’s smallest capital city, the entire place being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nonetheless, its streets are charming with sights lying in wait around every corner, with opulent baroque architecture. The main entry into Valletta goes through the city’s 17th century city walls and via the newly built City Gate. Just before it lies Granary Square and the Tritons’ Fountain, designed to match the now demolished entrance to the city. Through the gate, lies the Parliament House and the ruins of the Royal Opera House, which still hosts performances despite being destroyed during the incredibly heavy bombardment of Malta during the Second World War. Interestingly, the Maltese courage during this siege led to the island being awarded the George Cross, which is proudly placed on the country’s flag.
Royal Opera House ruins and Parliament House behind it
While walking around the sea-bound streets of Valletta, make your way to St. John’s Co-Cathedral. It was built by the Order of St. John in the late 16th century and is considered one of the world’s finest examples of baroque architecture, while inside you’ll find a jawdroppingly decorated nave and masterpieces by Caravaggio. Also be sure to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and its iconic dome, rebuilt after the Second World War. Other beautiful buildings in the city include the Manoel Theatre, built in 1732 and hosting performances ever since, the National Library of Malta, the Grandmaster’s Palace and the Auberge De Castille.
Inside St. John's Co-Cathedral
Over the Water
Be sure to take a stroll and enjoy the views over the Grand Harbour and its forts with a walk from the Lower Barrakka Gardens and the nearby Siege Bell Memorial to the Upper Barrakka Gardens. At 12:00 and 16:00 everyday, the Saluting Battery in Upper Barrakka Gardens fires, as it once did to salute naval vessels in the harbour. From here, take the Barrakka Lift to take you down to waterfront where you’ll be able to ride water taxis over to nearby Birgu. Birgu is a beautiful town to walk around and if you do visit, be sure to go to the Norman House, one of the only examples of Norman architecture on the island. Nearby, you can also visit Gardjola Gardens and the Inquisitor’s Palace, which was the seat of the Maltese Inquisition while an Executioner’s House is also hidden nearby (keep your eyes peeled for an axe carved next to a window).
Tarxien Temples
Not too far from Birgu, you can find among the best-preserved megalithic temples on the island, dating back to around 3300 BC. One is the subterranean Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni with another being Tarxien Temples. While there are many other megalithic temples on the island, these are especially easy to access from the capital.
Grand Harbour
Over the water from Valletta on the other side of the Grand Harbour lies Sliema, a great place to walk for views of Valletta and a major commercial centre on the island with plenty of shops and some of the island’s best bars and restaurants.
Mosta
While Valletta and the surrounding towns have a great deal to offer visitors, it’s worth catching a bus or taxi to the town of Mosta to visit the spectacular Mosta Rotunda. This is one of our favourite religious buildings in the world, with a dome that dwarfs those staring up at it. Build in the 1860s and modelled after the Pantheon in Rome, this neoclassical basilica survived a direct hit from a German bomb in 1942, with the bomb piercing the dome yet failing to explode on the people taking shelter inside. This was considered by many to be a miracle and it is commemorated in the basilica today. Just outside, you can visit underground shelters used during the Second World War for an eye-opening experience.
Mosta Rotunda
Not far from Mosta, you can visit the Ta’ Bistra Catacombs, which date back to the 4th century AD and reveal the customs of some of the island’s earliest Christian inhabitants.
Mdina
The country’s former capital is the fortified city of Mdina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site perched upon a hilltop where a walk around its ancient defences provides stunning views over the surrounding countryside and towns. With a tiny population of just 300, the city was the island’s capital from Roman times to Arab occupation. The name for the city in fact comes from the Arabic ‘medina’ meaning fortified city. Be sure to visit the famous Mdina Gate, St. Paul’s Cathedral and its many beautiful Baroque buildings, as well as the sights like St. Paul’s Catacombs in the nearby Rabat.
Gateway to Mdina
Other Places and Tips
Malta is one of the most surprising places we’ve visited and this list of things to do is no means exhaustive. We also recommend visiting Marsaxlokk and its traditional boats for the fish market on Sundays as well as visiting the island of Gozo. We recommend visiting during January or February, when there are fewer tourists and the weather is still very typically Mediterranean. A visit during February means you may see the country’s already beautiful streets decorated for the Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck. Malta is a small country with good bus routes to get around everywhere while Bolt also operates for easy taxi rides.
Feast of St. Paul's Shipwreck decorations
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