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Malta Travel Guide

INTRODUCTION

The Republic of Malta is a small island nation located in the Mediterranean Sea. It has a long and rich history dating from the Stone Age to Carthage, Rometo Byzantine rule. It is currently a member of the European Union.

The current population of this small nation is estimated to be about 400,000 with the capital, Valetta having a population of more than 7,000. Valetta is also home to the Manoel Theater.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Capital: Valetta

Climate: Malta has traditional Mediterranean weather with wonderfully warm days and nights in summer, followed by cool rainy winters.

Currency: Lira - Currently 1 MTL = 2.8266 USD

Languages: Maltese and English.

Power: 240 V, 50 Hz

Time Zone: DST +0200 UTC

ATTRACTIONS

Megaliths, medieval dungeons, and Calypso's Cave--Malta is indeed mythical. The narrow cobblestone streets of its towns are crowded with Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces. The countryside is littered with the oldest known human structures in the world.

Palace & Armory

St. John’s Co-Cathedral and Museum

National Museum of Archeology

The Hypogeum

Museum of Roman Antiquities

Verdala Castle

The Inland Sea & Azure Window

Calypso’s Cave

Palace of the Grand Masters

The Hypogeum on Malta

LODGING

Sliema Chalet Hotel

Radisson Sas Bay Point Resort

PERSONAL STORIES

I grew up listening to the stories my family would tell us about Malta, our heritage, the place we were born. I wanted to go and see it all for myself. A lot of people don't realize how very historical the island is, an absolute jewel in the middle of the Mediterranean. From the arrival of man to Malta in 5200 B.C. the place has been steeped in history, even the Bible mentions Malta (St. Paul was shipwrecked there). I was a year old when we arrived in Australia, so everything I learned about Malta was through my parents, aunts, and uncles. As a little girl my eyes were always wide listening to stories of ghosts and the wars and history, so as you can imagine Malta was my first adventure out of Australia. The anticipation of landing on the island I had heard so much about was an awesome feeling.

Everything about Malta was just like my parents had described, nothing much about the architecture had changed from their stories. The weather in summer is just fantastic. I don't remember any humidity nor any mosquitoes.

Malta has two kinds of beaches to choose from--sandy or rocky. I personally loved St. Paul's Bay, a beautiful sandy beach and water so clear and shallow you can walk out for meters before you get to deep water. The palace of the Knights of St. John in Valetta is also a must see. And for anyone who didn't know before, you will discover where the cross on ambulances comes from and the meaning behind.

At the center of Mosta is a magnificent domed church, known as the Mosta Rotunda, which was built between the 1830s and 1860s. It is said to be the third largest unsupported church dome in Europe--superseded only by St. Peter's in Rome and St. Sophia in Istanbul. In World War II the Church took a direct hit from a German bomb during mass. The bomb pierced the dome, but failed to explode. This event is now legendary. You can see a replica of the 200kg bomb in the sacristy.

The Hypogeum, just southwest of the Three Cities in the suburb of Paolo, is a labyrinthine complex of man-made chambers hewn out of limestone, extending about 36ft (11m) below the surface. Experts believe it was used as a burial site and temple by Neolithic man, who used antlers and stone picks to carve out the labyrinth in semi-darkness nearly 5,000 years ago. The site has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Archaeologists have recovered numerous statues, amulets, figurines, and vases, many of which are on display in the Archeology Museum in Valletta.

I was lucky enough to visit the Hypogeum in 1979 and was able to see it in its natural state. My sons visited it this year and had to make an appointment. To preserve it, only a few people are allowed through at a scheduled time, walkways have been put down, and the tour is guided by lighting that is turned off as you pass through a section.

I am so glad two out of three of my children so far have visited Malta. My boys' view on Malta? "Mum it's all you said and much, much more." I hope that they will pass on the wonderful stories of our small part of this world to their children as I have passed them on from my father.

Marisa Lewis