Natural beauties

The Blue Lagoon

The blue lagoon is located on the smaller island of Comino, it is a paradise for snorklers, divers, wind surfers and hikers.

St. Mary's Tower

St. Mary's tower is a Roman fort, also located at the small island of Comino, that dates back to 1416. This majestic stone fort stands at a whooping 20 meters high and 80 meters above sea level, making it the most visible structure on the island.

Mnajdra Temples

Mnajdra is a megalithic temple complex (a structure of large rocks) on the southern coast of Malta. Mnajdra was built around 4000 BC making it one of the oldest religious sites on Earth. The World Heritage Sites committee described it as a "unique archetectural masterpiece". In 1992 along with four other maltese megalithic structures as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In 2009 work was completed on a protective tent. 

Wildlife on Malta

Maltese everlasting

Maltese ruby tiger moth

Maltese centaury

There are around 4500 species recorded so far and 78 of them are endemic (which means that they are only found on one place on earth). There are more endemic animals than plants on Malta. Some still await taxonomic classification, which means there may still be more endemic species on Malta. 

Churches and Chapels

The Maltese are among the oldest Christian people in the world. There are over 360 churches and chapels scattered throughout the islands. You can’t avoid to notice the island’s Baroque churches with their red or silver painted domes. They form an integral part of the landscape and are at the heart of the Maltese social and cultural life.

Many of these buildings are veritable works of art. You will notice how local craftsman and artisans adorned the inside and exteriors of churches and cathedrals with intricate decorations and stone sculptures depicting saints, angels and sacred symbols.

Perhaps most intriguing of all religious sites are the small, wayside chapels. Some are excavated in the rock, others cling to cliffs. All are places of quiet contemplation.

If you want to know more about every church and Chapel in detailed in Malta, visit: www.visitmalta.com/en/religious-sites.'

Food in Malta

Lampuki Pie

Bragioli

Kapunata

Widow's Soup

Bigilla

Traditional Maltese food is rustic and based on the seasons. Look out for Lampuki Pie(fish pie), Rabbit Stew,Bragioli(beef olives), Kapunata(Maltese version of ratatouille), and widow's soup, which includes a small round of Gbejniet(sheep or goat's cheese). On most food shop counters, you'll see Bigilla, a thick pate of bread beans with garlic.

helwa tat-tort

 helwa tat-tort

 Hobz biz-zejt

 Kanolli

 Kanolli

 Semi-freddo

 Semi-freddo

The snacks that must be tried are "hobz biz-zejt" (round of bread dipped in olive oil, rubbed with ripe tomatoes and filled with a mix of tuna, onion, garlic, tomatoes and capers) and pastizzi (flaky pastry parcel filled with ricotta or mushy peas).

Favourite dessert delicacies are kannoli (tube of crispy, fried pastry filled with ricotta). Sicillian style, semi-freddo desserts (mix of sponge, ice-cream, candied fruits and cream) and Helwa tat-tork(sweet sugary mixture of crushed and whole almonds)

The Hamrun chocolate festival

Sounds like a dream come true – and it really is! A chocolate festival for chocolate lovers! The festival is organized by The Hamrun Local Council once a year. It includes information about the history of chocolate, tasting, promotion and sale of innovative and original chocolate products, arts and hobbies exhibitions, traditional folk music, childrens corner, face painting with chocolate, exhibition of chocolate sculpting, various forms of entertainment, a grand procession with knights and the Grand Master’s entourage in epical costumes and much more.

2009 included the longest chocolate structure in the world, which is a 34m, 1285kg train made out of the finest Belgium chocolate. It took the maltese master Andrew Farrugia 784 hours to create the incredible sculpture

History, heritage and more

 

Banana Festival

 

 

Are you a fan of bananas, natures perfectly wrapped treat? 16th November every year this sweet little fruit is celebrated at the banana festival in Qormi.

Bongu Art Festival

 

 

The festival takes place at Gozo, one of Malta's two islands. Every summer people meet here and share their art works.

 

Knights of St. John and the Maltese cross

 

 

 

Knights of St. John and the Maltese cross. It's hard to miss the legacy of the islands of its best known symbol to the World: The light-pointed Maltese cross. The nights of St. Johns ruled the Island for 250 years and were among the most famous of the Roman catholic military orders during the middle ages. If you want to know more about their history, start in places they made home: the three cities and fort St. Angelo, then Valletta, the Baroque, fortified city that was built after the order of the Knights hospitallers of St. John in 1126. Its light points denote the eight obligations of the Knights, namely "To live in truth, have faith, repent one's sins, give proof of humility, love, justice, be merciful, be sincere and whole-hearted, and to endure persecution".

 

 

Hal Saflieni

 

 

 

 The hypogeum or underground cavity is located in Paola and consists of chambers and passages covering 500 square meters. A wealth of archaeological material including pottery, human bones, personal ornaments such as beads and amulets can be found in Hal Safleini: the complex is grouped in three levels - the upper level (3600-3.300 B.C), the middle level (3.300-3000 B.C) and the lower level (3150-2500 B.C). The deepest room in the lower level is 10.6 meters under ground surface.

Introducing Malta

Malta is a small independent nation in the centre of the Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily (Italy) in southern Europe. Malta has two more islands which are named Gozo and Comino. The size of Malta is about 27 km long and 14,5 km width.

 

Capital of Malta

Valetta is the capital of Malta. It's located in the south eastern region, in the central position of the main island of Malta. It's population is 6444 inhabitants (March 2014). Valetta is the southernmost capital of Europe. Valetta contains buildings from the 16th century onwards. The city is essentially baroque. 

Weather

 

Malta has subtropical meditarriean climate. With very mild winters and warm to hot summers. Rain occurs mainly in winters with summer being generally dry. The avarage temperature is around 23 degrees during the day and 16 degrees during the night.

 

Official Language

  

 The official language of Malta are Maltese and English. Maltese is the national language of Malta. It has ancorporated many words divided from English, Italian and French. Italian is also widely spoken.

 

 Population

 

 

The country covers an area of 316km2 with a population of just under 450,000 making Malta one of the worlds smallest and most densely populated countries.