Nearly 6,000 years of history, a sunny Mediterranean climate, and a stunning landscape that has seen it become a favourite filming location, combine to make Malta an ideal holiday destination. With regular flights now operating from Shannon Airport, this idyllic island nation is more accessible than ever.
Malta’s strategic location in the centre of the Mediterranean has brought invaders and settlers throughout its history, leaving a rich mix of influences in its architecture, culture, and food. The yellow-gold limestone of these islands colours both the landscape and the architecture, giving the entire country a distinctive glow.
Valletta, the capital, is a wonderful maze of Baroque architecture, with its streets arranged in a perfect geometric grid offering views of the coast and expansive harbours. The entire city is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you could easily spend days exploring here. During a recent visit organised by the Malta Tourism Authority, highlights included the 16th century palace of Casa Rocca Piccola, where you can explore the history of Malta and the de Piro family, before chatting to Kiku the resident parrot and visiting the underground bomb shelter; and St John’s Co-Cathedral, which boasts a stunning high Baroque interior and includes two works by Caravaggio.
Across the Grand Harbour lie the Three Cities, Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua, which can be accessed from Valletta by taking a ‘dghajsa’ - a gondola-type taxi boat used to ferry small groups across the harbour. The Three Cities features a plethora of museums, including the Malta Maritime Museum which, housed in the old naval bakery, is the perfect venue for Taste History, a gastronomic trip through the centuries using recipes preserved in the islands’ vast documentary archives.
While Valletta and its neighbouring cities are impressive, no trip to Malta would be complete without a visit to its old capital, Mdina. Known as The Silent City, this tiny walled city - one of the best examples of a walled city in Europe - is still home to descendents of some of the Norman, Sicilian, and Spanish families that occupied Malta’s upper echelons during the mediaeval and early modern periods. With a mix of mediaeval and baroque architecture, this really is a silent city - only residents are allowed to bring cars onto the city’s narrow streets. Fans of Game of Thrones will recognise Mdina’s main gate as the location for King’s Landing.
Outside of its cities, Malta’s main island - also called Malta - is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The island is home to some half a million people, and yet it is possible to drive from one end of the island to the other in less than an hour. The coast offers some spectacular sights, notably the Blue Grotto, an impressive natural arch that leads to a complex of sea caves carved into the limestone by the sea.
Just off the coast from the Blue Grotto lies the tiny island of Filfla, which was one somewhat larger, and is a testament to Malta’s unfortunate title as the most bombed place on Earth. Aside from its long history of invasion and occupation, Malta under the British was both a military base and a military target during World War II, leading to the entire country being awarded the George Cross in the aftermath of the war. The Royal Navy, while stationed in Malta, used Filfa for target practice, greatly reducing its area in the process.
Agricultural land is at a premium in Malta, and much of its produce is imported from Sicily and further afield. The country does have a strong tradition of wine production, though production is limited by the availability of land. At San Nicklaw Winery, in the south of the island, the Cauchi brothers are passionate about their select wines, and also produce olive oil. Visits and tastings can be arranged via their website www.sanniklawestates.com
Gozo, Malta’s second island, has a more rural atmosphere and a population of some 30,000. (The third island in the archipelago, Comino, has a population of just two. ) A trip to Gozo will really let you explore some of Malta’s ancient history. The island is home to Ggantija Temples, a stunning compex dating back to 3,600 to 3,200 BC. These are the oldest freestanding temples in the world, and are among the oldest freestanding monuments.
The temple complex takes its name from a belief that the two temples were built by giants. With some of the limestone slabs used in their construction extending to more than 5m and weighing tens of tons, it is easy to see where this idea came from. The temples are remarkably well preserved, and this UNESCO World Heritage site really is a must-see.
Gozo’s Cittadella is a fortified city with many nods to Malta’s long military history - along with medieval fortifications there are air raid shelters, dug into the city’s bastions during World War II. Here, at Ta’ Rikardu restaurant, you can enjoy the best of traditional Maltese food and hospitality, with Maltese cheeses, ravioli, and rabbit stew, the country’s national dish.
As Malta is such a small country it is easy to get around. There is a good local transport service - including regular ferries between Malta and Gozo. We stayed at the centrally located Corinthia Palace Hotel, set in a pleasant residential area away from the main tourist spots. This five-star hotel has a strong focus on wellbeing - there is an on-site spa and leisure centre, as well as extensive gardens. For more see www.corinthia.com
Flights are available from Shannon Airport to Malta every Thursday and Sunday throughout the summer. For bookings see www.shannonairport.ie
