Visit Malta

Sea, 93 km south of Sicily (Italy) and 288 km north of Tunisia. This South European country is an archipelago that includes three inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino along with a number of smaller, uninhabited islands.

Malta is just over 300 km2 large with an estimated population of over 400,000 people. The capital city of Malta is Valletta - city that was proclaimed a Unesco World Heritage Site because of its rich history and unique architectural style.The islands enjoy warm Mediterranean climate. The country's official languages are Maltese and English, but many inhabitants speak Italian too. Throughout its history, Malta's location in the Mediterranean Sea has given it a strategic importance as a country that connects Europe with the Middle East and North Africa.

Things to see in Malta

The islands of Malta have a lot to offer to the travelers  who decide to spend their holiday in this misterious Meditteranean paradise. Besides the beautiful and clean sea, the country is full of sites of huga historical and cutural importance. Some of the things that you do not want to miss during your trip to Malta are:

1. The oldest human – made structures in the World

Malta is known for its world heritage sites.  Most important of these sites are the Megalithic Temples which are the oldest free-standing human made structures in the World. These sttructures are older then the Pyramids in Egypt. The temples were the result of several phases of construction, from circa 3500 to 2500 BC. The following temples in Malta and Gozo have been proclaimed UNISCO world herritage sites:

• Ggantija
  
• Ta’ Hagrat
  
• Ta’ Skorba (Skorba)
  
• Hagar Qim
  
• L-Imnajdra
  
• Tarxien   

2. Capital City Valletta 

Valletta, the capital of Malta is one of only few fortified capital cities in the world. The fortifications around the city were started in 1566 by Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette. The City of Valletta was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.

In Valletta one can enjoy many buildings that were inhabited by the Knights of St John, as well as one of the most beautiful cathedrals on the island – St John’s Co-Cathedral. This cathedral was built by the Knights of Malta between 1573 and 1578 and because of this it is unofficially called the Sacred Home of the Grand Masters. 

St John’s Co-Cathedral is a gem of Baroque art and architecture. The Grand Masters and several knights donated gifts of high artistic value and made enormous contributions to enrich it with only the best works of art. St John’s Co-Cathedral is home to an impressive collection of art and artifacts, including Caravaggio's The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, one of the finest paintings in the world.

3. Grand Harbor

4. Mdina

Mdina is the old capital of Malta. It is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Mdina is commonly called the "Silent City" by natives and visitors alike. The town is still confined within its walls, and has a population of less than three hundred. Since it is situated on a hill it offers a beautiful paniramic view of the rest of the island.

Places to see in Mdina include:

• St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina
• Museum of Natural History
• Mdina Dungeons
• Mdina Experience – audio visual show explaining the history of Mdina in detail.

5. Blue Grotto

Situated in the South of Malta – blue groto is an amaizing site created by the forces of nature. The Arch is located in an area that is famous for its rocky coastline.  The natural sea caves are very appealing so many travelers decide to take a boat trip around them. 
           
All the boats traveling to The Blue Grotto enter under an immense arch into a high cave cut into the rocks. The system consists of six caves carved by years of relentless pounding by the sea, of which the Blue Grotto is the largest and most impressive one. The water gets an incredible azure blue color as the sky reflects off the white sand bottom. The caves sparkle both with blue reflections of the sea and orange, purple and green of the various minerals present in the rocks.

6. The Hypogeum

7. The sister islands of Gozo and Comino with the bautiful Blue Lagoon

While you are in Malta I recommend that you take a one day tour of Malta’s siter island – Gozo. This island is believed to be mentioned in the Greek mythological poem Homer's Odyssey. The travelers can visit the famous Calypso’s cave where Odysseus was kept for seven years as a prisoner of love by the beautiful nymph Calypso. Besides the Calypso’s cave the island of Gozo offers many other natural, cultural and historic attractions, some of which are:

1. The Azure Window - a natural arch in the Maltese island of Gozo featuring a table-like rock over the sea.
   
2. An Inland Sea - a lagoon of seawater linked to the Mediterranean Sea through an opening formed by a narrow natural arch.
   
3. Ramla Bay – with its particularly golden-reddish sand which makes this beach different from all the other beaches in Gozo and Malta

For those who like nature and enjoy swimming and diving,  a day boat trip to the third island of the Maltese archipelago – Comino is a must. This island is noted for its tranquility and isolation. It has a permanent population of only four residents. Comino is also a bird sanctuary and nature reserve.  

Most frequented part of this island is the Blue Lagoon. This area of the island is visited daily by the large numbers of tourists and tour boats. The Blue Lagoon is a much photographed, picturesque bay, with a brilliant white, sandy base, and a rich marine life that make it popular with divers, snorkelers and swimmers.
Comino is a popular location for filmmakers. It appears in the movies Troy, The Count Of Monte Cristo and Swept Away. Most notably, St. Mary's Tower on Comino was featured in the film The Count of Monte Cristo, where it doubled as the Château d'If.

Accommodation and trip to Malta

If you are planning your trip to Malta in the near future NSTS MALTA can take care of your plane ticket and accommodation in Malta. Visit the NSTS web site on www.nsts.org or contact itasi@nsts.org for more information. The tours to all of the places mentioned in this article can be organized by your NSTS Representatives. We are looking forward to welcome you to the magical sunny islands of Malta.