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The best climate in the world and temples older than the Egyptian pyramids!
If you add sunny skies for most of the year to this, what more could you want. In Malta you will see megalithic temples, older than the Egyptian pyramids. You will hear stories about how they were built from huge stones and then dedicated to the Great Mother Earth, the goddess of fertility and abundance. However, it is not known what kind of people with their own culture and religion, older than the Phoenicians, needed such expressive symbols. It is also not known where the traces of strange vehicles in the limestone rocks came from. Could it be that prehistoric railway tracks ran here, as suggested by Erich von Däniken, the famous author of books devoted to the mysteries of the past? Malta still holds many secrets today.
Knights of Malta
Malta is such a small island that with a good driver you can drive around it in a single day. Located at the crossroads of the Mediterranean shipping lanes – just 90 kilometres from Sicily and 300 from Africa – it was a target of pirate attacks for centuries.
First conquered by the Phoenicians, then ruled by the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Arabs. However, the greatest influence on the face of Malta today was exerted by the knights of the Order of St. John, later known as the Knights of Malta. They arrived in Malta in 1530 and ruled it for almost 300 years. They became famous especially for defeating the 40,000-strong army of Suleiman the Magnificent, which made them heroes in the eyes of all of Europe. The order was ruled by a Grand Master, and the knights were chosen from aristocratic European families. But although they vowed a life of celibacy and poverty, few kept their oaths. To please the palates of the friars, chefs were brought in from abroad, wines from France, and ice to cool the drinks was brought from the snowy peak of Etna in Sicily.
Eat like the Italians, drink like the English
Today, the President of Malta sits in the Palace of the Grand Masters and the parliament meets. This small country also includes other, sparsely populated islands, including Gozo and Comino.
Maltese Best, Best, Best
Nature lovers will find charming spots in Malta, divers will enjoy the crystal clear sea, and gourmets will be able to taste delicious Maltese cuisine. What is worth seeing, experiencing and visiting to make this a dream trip? Here are the 10 most, most, most in Malta.
The Most Beautiful Panorama
The best way to see Malta is by helicopter. From above, Valletta and the “Three Cities” – three of the four smallest cities in Malta, Birgu, Cospicua and Senglea – are magnificent. In addition, you can admire bays, huge parish churches in tiny villages, prehistoric temples, seaside cliffs and the waters of the Blue Lagoon on Comino.
Nature’s Greatest Works
The Azure Window rock sea gate, on Cape Dwejra in Gozo. It is a gigantic rock arch carved by the forces of nature and one of the most photographed places on Gozo. Every organized tour came here, so it was teeming with tourists. Unfortunately, the rock arch collapsed in 2017.
The Most Famous Cave
The Blue Grotto, located in the southwestern part of Malta, is accessible only by sea. It can only be reached by a cruise ship along the steep coast or by diving. There you will see a whole system of caves, of which the Blue Grotto is the largest and most impressive.
The Most Magnificent Buildings
The Palace of the Grand Master and the Cathedral of St. John. The interior of the palace is accessed by narrow, spiral stairs, which made the residence almost impregnable. During peak visitation times, the stairs are often blocked by tourists, so it is best to come first thing in the morning or before closing time. In the palace, you can see artfully woven tapestries, beautiful paintings, a dining room, a room for receiving ambassadors, and a richly equipped armory.
The Most Beautiful Beach
San Blas on Gozo is a charming, secluded bay with a small, sandy beach. The road turns into a path where you have to leave your car and continue on foot. In previous seasons, a surprise awaited the visitor at the bottom – a small sandwich bar and its owner resting in a hammock…
The Most Extraordinary City
Mdina, the former capital of Malta, fortified by a defensive wall, one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe, proudly looks down on the Maltese land from its elevated position. It is the true jewel in Malta’s crown, a place saturated with the incredible history of the island.
The Most Magnificent Temple
The Hypogeum, containing underground religious chambers, is today the most magnificent of the Maltese temples. The complex arrangement of passages, chambers and niches, arranged on three levels, makes a huge impression. Thanks to its underground location, the monument has survived for over 5 thousand years in good condition, preserving an aura of dignity and mystery.
The most elegant restaurant and the most expensive bar
The Carriage, founded by Michael Lowell in the 1980s in Valletta. Before taking on this business, the owner gained his culinary skills in the best restaurants in New York and London. It is worth booking a table by the window or on the terrace to enjoy the views of the capital of Malta while eating. The restaurant is famous for its excellent Mediterranean cuisine. House specialty: ricotta and pumpkin ravioli with black truffles. In turn, the pub on Archbishop Street in Valletta is considered the most famous and expensive. The legendary actor Oliver Reed, who died in Malta while filming scenes for “Gladiator”, used to hang out and drink there.
The Tastiest Maltese Dish
Grilled fish with Maltaise sauce, a strong-tasting mixture of tomatoes, onions and capers. Garnitta, octopus in tomato sauce, is also considered a delicacy, usually served with a bouquet of fresh vegetables, juicy fruit and Caravaggio wine. Other local delicacies include aljotta, fish soup and lampuka, or sea bream baked in pastry, available from August.
The Best Diving
There are several places worth visiting for diving enthusiasts. Wied iz– Zurrieq is an underwater valley full of fabulously colorful caves, while Delmaira Point will enchant us with vertical cliffs and caves full of plants and fish. Lovers of stronger sensations will also like Zongor Point in Marsaskala Bay, where a well-preserved bomber from World War II rests at a depth of 42 meters.