Once upon a time, Malta was very much on everyone’s radar due to its strategic location at the heart of the Mediterranean, between Europe and North Africa. The island’s natural harbours made it a beacon for traders and it has been occupied in myriad waves of influence over many millennia, by Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, French and British; the walled cities you see now on Malta are not for decoration but to repel marauders. Standing on the fortifications at Valletta, the nation’s capital, or in the walled city of Mdina, known as the Silent City, you get a sense of the layered history that has forged the national psyche.
But there is a softer, contemporary side to modern Malta, one of local chefs creating world-class dishes and wineries making subtle, balanced wines in such small quantities they will never leave the islands. There are beautiful handicrafts, luxury hotels in historic surrounds and coastal wonders from blue lagoons to hidden caves and underwater wonderlands. The days of repelling marauders may be long gone, but for travellers to Malta, Gozo and Comino there are myriad reasons to recommend a visit.
Live history in Valletta
In Valletta, Malta has one of the most charismatic capitals in the world. Wander the historic cobblestone streets past bars and restaurants spilling out into the Mediterranean sun, discover historic bridges full of revellers and historic homes open to the public. The baroque interior of St John’s Co-Cathedral is not to be missed, where you can walk on the memento-mori-laden graves of the warrior knights and see Caravaggio’s famous The Beheading of St John the Baptist. Pay a visit to the Casa Rocca Piccola, the Living Museum, in the backstreets of the capital and the 16th-century home of Maltese nobility, open to the public with a sunny courtyard and talking pet macaw. Head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens with incredible views over the Grand Harbour across to the Three Cities of Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua, and fortifications from the days of conflict and upheaval. Valetta is both beautiful and deeply moving as you live the history of the city.
Explore medieval Mdina
This medieval city, which you enter via a limestone bridge that was once heavily guarded, is so historically intact that many scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed here. But Mdina is more than just a pretty façade. It was once the capital of Malta and remains home to many of Malta’s most famous families. Just outside the walls of Mdina at Is-Serkin Crystal Palace Bar, you can feast on Maltese favourite, pastizzi – flaky pies filled with ricotta and peas or anchovies that are a daily feature of Maltese life. Not far along the limestone lanes you will also find Malta’s national cocktail, The Maltese Falcon, created in 2017 by local bartender James Aquilina. This uniquely Maltese beverage contains local soft drink Kinnie and the prickly pear liqueur for which the islands are famous. Sip it while you plan your route walking around the historic streets taking photos of the ornate doorknockers that are a feature of Malta’s colourful and welcoming front doors.
Get lost on Gozo
Just a short ferry ride from the main island of Malta, Gozo is instantly quieter and more chill, the place mainland Maltese come to get away from it all. Here you will find luxury resorts like the Kempinski San Lawrenz Resort & Spa surrounded by beautiful gardens with a subterranean steakhouse serving up Gozitan twists on traditional dishes. Nearby is Dwejra Bay, where colourful fishing cottages line the shore and you can take a boat ride out through the cave mouth that protects the bay and into the open ocean. Visit the historic Citadel for more historical wonders, learn about the beautiful craft of Maltese lace making or take a dip in Ramla Bay, known for its dusky sand and clear waters.
Embrace the blues on Comino
Comino is the smallest of the Maltese islands and remains entirely uninhabited, so it is a natural playground for those wanting to explore the great outdoors. Its most famous spot is the Blue Lagoon, a postcard-worthy stretch of water popular for swimming, snorkelling and trying to take a picture that does justice to the rich array of blues in the water. Hikers can also take a break at St Mary’s Tower, a historic fortification used to spot seaborne threats, and have a picnic in quiet Santa Marija Bay.
Malta’s rich and dramatic history and modern passion for food, wine and fun make it an irresistible draw for curious travellers who want to visit a Europe that many antipodeans never see.
Discover Malta
This article originally featured in Issue 14 of Dream by Luxury Escapes.
