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Malta

Megaliths, medieval dungeons and Calypso's Cave – The Maltese Islands are positively mythic. The narrow meandering streets of their towns and villages are crowded with Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces. As the countryside is dotted with the oldest known human structures in the world, the Islands have rightly been described as an open-air museum.

Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre.  With superbly sunny weather, expansive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do.

The long relationship between the Islanders and the various nationalities that occupied Malta over the centuries has created a marriage of styles and traditions, giving the Islands a fascinating eclectic culture.

What to See & Do

In Malta, you'll explore 7000 years of history yet live passionately in the present. You'll span the millennia with an astonishing array of things to discover. And wherever you go, the Islands' scenery and architecture provide a spectacular backdrop. The colours are striking, honey-coloured stone against the deepest of Mediterranean blues.

The Maltese Islands have been described as one big open-air museum. What makes them unique is that so much of their past is visible today. Delve into the Islands' mysterious prehistory, retrace the footsteps of St Paul or see where the Knights of St John defended Christendom.

Malta is holidaying as the mood takes you.   And with near year-round sun, you can indulge in outdoor living at its best.

In just 48 hours and a kilometre or two, you can try a new sport, laze on an island cruise and tour the most important historic sites, and still have time to join in the nightlife. That’s the real advantage of a stay here.

The Islands offer plenty of specialist holidays for those seeking to learn a new skill, discover history or get fit. If you’re interested in sports, we cater as much for the seasoned enthusiast as the casual first-timer. Malta has plenty of wellness and spa facilities.  Sea and land lend themselves to activities from rock-climbing to gentle rambling.

Beaches
The summer months on the Maltese islands, when temperatures reach an average of 35°C, the clear, Mediterranean Sea is, to say the least inviting. Luckily on small islands such as Malta, Gozo and Comino no place is very far from the beach. On many of the beaches it is possible to rent deck-chairs and umbrellas or the equipment for different types of water sports such as skiing, pedal boats, Para kiting, windsurfing, surfing, jet skiing and diving. There are bars and food places dotted around the beaches too. However, for those who are not so active in lethargy-inducing temperatures a towel and sun-tan lotion is all they need to spend some time relaxing by the sea.

Eating Out
The dining scene in Malta is greatly influenced by the people who have settled on Malta over the centuries. Traditional Maltese cooking has a distinct touch of Sicilian, but there are also numerous dining venues influenced by the Arabs, Spanish, Italians and British. Eating out is described as "decent, well priced food in an unpretentious setting".
Al fresco dining is an extremely popular pastime in Malta, with many restaurants offering attractive outside eating spaces. You can enjoy a selection of secluded courtyard restaurants, to busy harbourside cafes. The national favourites are swordfish and tuna, although you will find a wide range of International flavours are catered for.

Nature Reserves

Birdlife Malta currently manages two nature reserves, Ghadira and Is Simar and also joint manages a forestation project known as Foresta (located adjacent to Ghadira). The two nature reserves are both wetland areas and represent the largest free-standing sources of water in Malta. Both sites are also designated as Ramsar sites, an international designation that recognises their international importance as wetland areas. They are vital to migrating waders, waterfowl, herons and other water birds which use the reserves as a resting refuge during their long journeys between breeding and wintering grounds. Both reserves are also key breeding sites for several species that breed nowhere else in Malta. Ghadira and Is Simar, with their rare habitats, migrant and breeding birds, varied biodiversity and peaceful surroundings, truly are rare gems in Malta. They are open to the public and also serve an important educational function. From November to May, Ghadira and Is Simar reserves are open to the public. BirdLife volunteers lead guide walks along the nature trail.

Ancient Temples
The New Stone Age (or Neolithic) era is synonymous with the magnificent and awe-inspiring temples that the Neolithic people built. Malta was blessed by the fact that to this day, a good number of these temples are virtually intact and standing, even though they were erected around the year 3600 B.C. The structures made by the Neolithic people were like nothing else and they are by far the oldest megalithic structures in the world. Some of these temples predate the Pyramids of Egypt. Archaeologists of the New Stone Age period, are still somewhat bewildered as to how these temple builders managed to erect these structures with enormous blocks of stones (each one weighing approx 1 ton) in a time where they did not have modern machinery.


Weather

Temperature:

19C

  • Wind: NNW 25.75km/h
  • Humidity: 52%
  • Pressure: 982.05mb
  • Condition: Partly Cloudy

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