The Top 5 Things To Do in Malta

Valetta’s Fountain

Malta, officially known as the Republic of Malta, is a Southern European island country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. It lies 80 km (50 mi) south of Italy, 284 km (176 mi) east of Tunisia and 333 km (207 mi) north of Libya.  With a population of about 475,000 over an area of 316 km2 (122 sq mi),  Malta is the world’s tenth smallest and fifth most densely populated country. Its capital is Valletta, which is the smallest national capital in the European Union by area at 0.8 km². The official languages are Maltese and English, with Maltese officially recognised as the national language and the only Semitic language in the European Union. (Source: Wikipedia)

 As a Travel Photographer there are usually very solid reasons why I choose to visit certain destinations. Mostly it’s because they have been on my ‘bucket list ‘for a while, I know they are great places to photograph and they have a hotter climate than Ireland (which gives me plenty of choice!!). This year was a little different – I chose Malta and Gozo simply because we could fly from Cork (I love Cork Airport and it is less than an hour’s drive from home) and they were both highly recommended by a friend of mine (thanks Dee).

Both Malta and Gozo exceeded all expectations I had, here are my Top 5 Things To Do in Malta,

Visit/Stay in Valetta

Valetta is the Capital city of Malta and is a must see. My friend Dee recommended we stay in Valetta and I’m so glad we did.

Valetta’s streets remind me of Cuba’s Capital Havana. Amazing architecture – old and new, polished and distressed, inhabited and desolate, all live seamlessly together to give Valetta it’s unique look and feel. Each corner turned brings a new experience, a feast for the eyes and so much material for my lens. Valetta’s streets are connected through many flights of steps leading to all sorts of destinations – the serene and beautiful harbour, magnificent churches, restaurants and cafes.

There is no shortage of places to eat in Valetta, we found that the cheaper/more reasonably priced cafes and restaurants sold just as good food as the more expensive ones and so there is no need to spend too much on getting a great meal. Malta’s proximity to Italy is evident in the popularity of classic Italian pasta and pizza dishes, all with their own Maltese twist.

We spent 9 nights in Valetta and could easily have stayed another week, there is so much to see and do in this small but beautiful capital city.

 

 

 

 

Mdina

Mdina is a beautiful city enclosed by high walls which was the medieval capital of Malta. It’s not hard to see why Mdina is one of Malt’a most popular tourist attractions. 

Mdina is a maze of winding streets with beautiful old architecture that has been preserved throughout the years ensuring it maintains it’s rich historical look and feel. Coloured doorways give Mdina a more modern look and make it such a pretty place to photograph.

For €6, you can take The Mdina Experience which gives you an insight into the history of Mdina and the importance of this history to Malta. According to The Mdina Experience website this is

‘an unforgettable 30 minutes to experience Mdina’s fascinating journey through time. Relive Mdina’s 7000 years of triumph and tribulations – the cult of the mother Goddess – the shipwreck of St. Paul – the medieval city half destroyed by earthquake and gloriously rebuilt. The spirit of the knights of St. John, fighting valiantly in battles to defend the Maltese Islands still resounds. There’s ancient history and realism here, but above all there’s high drama, which is the story of the Mdina Experience’.

Mdina is well worth a visit, take the time to stroll around and enjoy getting lost in the maze of winding streets.

 

 

 

 

 

Churches and Cathedrals

Malta has many beautiful churches and cathedrals and it’s Roman Catholic beliefs are evident everywhere from the sheer number of churches to the many religious ornaments adorning the street facades.

Mosta Church is a magnificent building with a miraculous history. During World War II, a bomb was dropped on Mosta church while inside 300 people prayed. The bomb pierced through the roof of the church and landed near the altar but did not detonate. This is the miracle of Mosta church that survived a WWII bombing and to this day continues to celebrate this miracle.

A visit to the gallery in Mosta church gives a unique perspective to this beautiful church. There is a World War II shelter next to Mosta church which is also well worth a visit – not for those who may be claustrophobic as it is underground!!

Valetta is home to St Georges Cathedral which is also a really beautiful church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spend time at the beach

There is plenty of choice when it comes to spending a day at the beach in Malta.

As you drive west from Valetta along the North coast of Malta you will pass through some beach areas like Silema, St Julians, Pembroke, Bugibba and St Paul’s Bay. Some of these areas are prettier than others and all offer a different experience of ‘a day at the beach’. Where you stop to spend time depends on what you want from a day at the beach.

We spend a fabulous day at Paradise Day. Paradise Bay is a small beach with excellent facilities and a really nice restaurant.

 

 

Visit Gozo

Gozo is an island off the coast of Malta and is well worth a visit for a few days. Gozo is smaller, quieter and more peaceful than Malta and so if this is the type of holiday you are looking for, Gozo is your place. My next post will be on Gozo, in the meantime here are a few sneak preview images. 

Thanks for reading,

Safe travels,

Siobhain

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