Think Malta....

Getting Around Malta

There are various ways of getting around Malta, depending on your age, level of fitness and personal preference. There are no trains in Malta (although there once was a rail network many years ago).

Care Hire: Many of our guests like to hire a car as their preferred was of getting around. There are a large number of Car Hire firms in Malta (including many international names) and you can also choose to book your car with your holiday thus saving money.

Public Transport: There is the alternative of using the Maltese Public Transport network as a means of getting around. The hub of this can be found in Valletta where the intrepid traveller can find transportation to almost anywhere on the Islands. The fares are cheap although it has to be pointed out that most buses are not available late at night. The Public Transport network is however the ideal way of getting around for those travellers on a shoestring budget.

Cycling or walking: Ideally for the fitter and more adventurous, there is really no better way to see Malta than to walk and cycle around from village to village. The short distances from place to place makes this a realistic way to see the Islands, however there are disadvantages: the hilly terrain (Gozo is especially so) coupled with the intense heat in the summer months can present the very real dangers of exhaustion and dehydration and is best avoided, especially in the months of July to September.

Sea transport: There are various ways of getting around the Islands by sea. For those intending to visit Gozo during their stay in Malta or vice-versa, the Gozo Channel line provides a quick and efficient way of island hopping, car and all, with a trip that takes about 20 minutes in fair weather. There are also a number of service providers offering boat trips to various locations such as the island of Comino, around the Islands cruises, cruises around the Grand Harbour and more. There is also a pleasant way of jaunting between Sliema-Valletta-Sliema using the Sliema-Valletta ferry which offers a refreshing change from driving or catching a bus.

Karrozzin: The Karrozzin (Maltese Horse-Drawn Carriage) is quaint old-world way of travelling around and seeing the sights. You can find these cartriages in Sliema, St. Julian`s, Valletta and Mdina.

Taxi: There are various taxi services available on the Islands, the most common of which is the white taxiservice. You can book a taxi at a taxi rank, through your hotel reception of over the phone.

Seaplane: A novel and exciting way to travel to and from Gozo is by seaplane. A seaplane normally canaccommodate 14 passengers and has specially modified bubble windows which is perfect for sightseeing and photography.

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History of Malta

Malta is steeped in a very rich history and has been inhabited since about 5200BC, making it one of the oldest civilisations in the world. In fact Malta is home to some of the the oldest free standing buildings in the world, such as the temple of Hagar Qim. The Megalithic Temples of Malta are amongst the most ancient religious sites on Earth, described by the World Heritage Sites committee as "unique architectural masterpieces”.

Hagar Qim can be found close to what is today the village of Qrendi, and is thought to date from the "Ggantija phase," which is about 3600 to 3200 BC making it in excess of 5,500 years old. By comparison Stonehenge is thought to be a “youthful” 4,800 years old. The first settlers in Malta are thought to have come from the nearby Italian island of Sicily, just 60 nautical miles to the North. Later came the Phoenicians and the Greeks who named the Islands Μελίτη (pronounced “Melita”) meaning "honey-sweet" in reference to Malta's endemic variety of bee. Malta is sometimes referred to as Melita to this day.

In the early 16th century, the Ottoman Empire started spreading over the region, reaching South-Eastern Europe. The Spanish king, Charles V, feared that if Rome fell to the Turks, it would mean the end of Christian Europe. In 1522, the Sultan Suleiman II drove the Knight Hospitallers of St. John out of Rhodes. They dispersed to their various prefectures throughout Europe and in the year 1530 Charles V handed over the Islands to the Knights, his intention to protect Rome from invasion from the South.

From Malta the Knights resumed their seabourne attacks of Ottoman shipping, and before long the Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ordered a final attack on the Order. This attack took place in May 1565 and became known as "The Great Siege". After a protracted siege ended on 8 September of the same year, the Ottomans conceded defeat as the approaching winter storms threatened to prevent them from leaving. They had expected an easy victory within weeks, having 40,000 men facing the Knights' meagre 9,000, most of whom were Maltese peasant soldiers and simple citizens bearing arms.

Malta is a southern European country and consists of an archipelago situated centrally in the Mediterranean sea, about 60 miles to the south of Sicily. At just over 300km², Malta is one of Europe`s smallest countries.

Throughout history, Malta's strategic location in the very centre of the Mediterranean has given it great importance and a sequence of powers including the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Sicilians, Knights of St John of Jerusalem, French and British have all ruled the Islands. Malta became independent from the United Kingdom in 1964 and a Republic in 1974, whilst retaining membership in the Commonwealth of Nations. It has been a member of the United Nations since 1964 and of the European Union since 2004. Malta adopted the Euro currency in January 2008.

Some facts about Malta

Malta - officially the Republic of Malta (Maltese: Repubblika ta' Malta), is a developed southern European country and consists of an archipelago situated centrally in the Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km north-east of Tunisia, with Gibraltar1,826 km to the west and Alexandria 1,510 km to the east.

Malta covers just over 300 km² in land area, making it one of Europe's smallest and one of Europe's most densely populated countries.Its de facto capital is Valletta and the largest city is Birkirkara. Maltese is the national language and a co-official language, alongsideEnglish.

Throughout history, Malta's location has given it great strategic importance and a sequence of powers including the Phoenicians, Greeks,Romans, Fatimids, Sicilians, Knights of St John, French and British have all ruled the islands. Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a Republic in 1974, whilst retaining membership in the Commonwealth of Nations. It is a member of the United Nations (since 1964) and a member of the European Union (since 2004). Malta is also party to the Schengen Agreement (since 2007) and member of the eurozone (since 2008).

Malta has a long Christian legacy and is an Apostolic See. According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul was shipwrecked on "Melite", which many Bible scholars identify with Malta, and ministered there. Catholicism continues to be the official and dominant religion in Malta.Malta is known for its world heritage sites, most prominently the Megalithic Temples which are the oldest free-standing structures in Europe.

The text above is taken from wikipedia.

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Discover Malta

See The best way to explore Malta is hire a vehicle (you can try the public transport if you`re feeling adventurous!) and get out there, going from village to village leaving no stone unturned. You have thousands of years of history to go through, and all along the way look out for the signs of our past and origins. Park on the outskirts of a village and spend hours walking through. You will see subtle (and not so subtle) hints of Malta`s rich past wherever you look. Milestones inscribed VR and GR (Referring to King George V and VI and Queen Victoria), Old watchtowers all along the coastline dating back to the time of the Great Siege, cart ruts in San Gwann, Roman ruins in Rabat, the bastions, the list is endless and is all around us. You will also find an array of well-preserved ancient buildings from temples going back to Neolithic times, Roman era catacombs, palaces from the time of the Knights plus of course fortifications from the Second World War. So if history interests you then Malta should definitely be on your list of places to visit. Make it a long trip because there is just so much to see and do.

Taste Maltese cuisine is typically Mediterranean, and has a great deal of Italian influence due to the proximity between the two nations. However there are also Arabic, Spanish and British hints in many Maltese dishes. Having said this there are also many Maltese and Gozitan dishes which are completely unique and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Maltese bread and pastizzi are among those rarities found nowhere else, and is absolutely addictive. Indeed many travellers leave the Islands taking a Maltese recipe book with them so as to try the dishes with family and friends back home. During the summer months Al Fresco dining is extremely popular due to the mild climate, and most restaurants offer this, often on the very edge of the sea. Many resorts, such as St. Julian`s, Marsaxlokk and St. Paul`s Bay specialise in fresh fish, and are often home to a fleet of fishing boats whose catches can be on your plate mere hours after they were caught.

Enjoy If you`re a bit of a night owl then Malta has a lot to offer in the way of nightlife. Choose from an array of clubs, lounge bars, casinos and more. The little town of Paceville consists mainly of restaurants, a bowling alley, a beach, a casino, various discotheques, a large selection of lounge bars, live music venues, cinemas, basically anything to do with entertainment in all it`s forms! Everything is located in one area so the best way to get around by far is on foot. You will also find many such venues in other (coastal) resorts such as St. Julians, Bugibba, St. Paul`s Bay and Qawra. If you prefer more cultured evenings then perhaps Valletta would be more attractive to you. Besides a large choice of very good restaurants you could finish off your evening with a good play at the Manoel Theatre or perhaps take in an evening exhibition, play or niche film at the St. James Cavalier creativity centre. Whatever way you like to spend your evenings, you can be sure that you can find it in Malta!

Learn If you are keen to learn more about Malta`s rich and vibrant history, there are so many was to do this. There are varied interactive shows to watch such as the Malta Experience and the Mdina Experience to mention just two. There is a choice of a multitude of museums both in Valletta (such as the Museum of Natural History and National Museum of Archaeology which exhibit a multitude of interesting items related to life in Malta throughout it`s long and chequered history) and in most other parts of Malta. You can experience some of Malta`s more brutal past by visiting the Inquisitor`s Palace and if the sea is your thing then it`s definitely worth visiting the Malta Maritime Museum. If you would like to learn more about Malta`s ties with the Romans then it`s worth having a look at the Roman Villa in the town of Rabat, which are actually remains of an ancient Roman House and which give an idea of life under the Roman masters who ruled over the Maltese Islands at the time. There are also a huge variety of prehistoric temples and similar sites dotted all over the Islands and going back to the dawn of time. Some of these are truly the oldest known buildings in the entire world so if you want to travel back to the emergence of known civilisation then Malta is an ideal starting point. You will also find a vast number of local publications imparting the different facets of local history, customs, folklore and more. Most of these publications are available in English, although many are also available in the more commonly used European languages such as Italian, German and French.

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Valletta

Valletta is the capital city of Malta, and is named after Jean Parisot de la Valette, who as Grand Master of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem successfully defended the Islands from an Ottoman invasion in 1565. Valletta was founded just after the Great Siege and was built on what was then known as the Xiberras peninsula (also known as Mt. Sciberras) in order to fortify the Order's position in Malta. Valletta is nicknamed “Il-Belt” (literal translation - “the city”) by the locals and is located in the centre of the Island of Malta facing the North East. Valletta has a population of over 6000 people and is the public transport hub of the entire Island.

From an architectural point of view Valletta consists of buildings stretching back as far as the 16th century and is mainly Baroque in character, although some other types of architecture can be found in certain areas. The fact that Valletta has two natural harbours, Marsamxett to the West and the Grand Harbour to the East, meant that during World War II it was heavily bombed by the Axis forces, as the docks and military installations around the port were legitimate targets for Axis bombers. As a result many buildings were damaged or destroyed, including the Opera House (designed by English architect Edward Middleton Barry) whose ruins can still be seen to this day.

Valletta is also home to many of Malta`s buildings of historic importance including the Auberge de Castille, formerly the official seat of the Knights of Malta of the Langue of Castille, Léon and Portugal, which is now the office of the Prime Minister of Malta. Also the Magisterial Palace, built between 1571 and 1574 and formerly the seat of the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, now houses the Maltese Parliament and offices of the President of Malta. A large number of palaces can be found in Valletta, as well as a variety of theatres, museums, gardens, forts and various places of interest. The fortifications of the Grand Harbour, built by the Knights as a magnificent series of fortified bastions, some as high 100 metres (330 ft), all contribute to the unique architectural quality of the city of Valletta making it instantly recognisable.

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Welcome to Malta!

With it's megalithic temples, historical sites, sandy beaches and mediterranean cuisine the Maltese Islands are positively fabulous.

The islands are virtually in the centre of the Mediterranean, 92km south of Sicily and 286km north of Africa. They consists of: Malta, Gozo and Comino.

The narrow streets in the old towns and villages are filled with cathedrals and Baroque palaces. Malta has the oldest human structures in the world and is justly described as an open-air museum.

The largest island being Malta. The second largest island is Gozo. It is more rural, and based on fishing, tourists and agriculture. Comino with it's magnificent turqouis seas is virtually uninhabited.

With near all near round sunny weather, nice beaches, good nightlife and 7,000 years of history, there is plenty to see and do. The Hypogeum for example was selected as a place of World Heritage by UNESCO, just like the prehistoric temples and grand palaces to name a few.

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