Places to Visit

Valetta

16th century old city founded by the Knights of St John, which has changed little since it was built. St John's Cathedral (not open on Sunday's to the public), the Grand Masters Palace which reflects the status of the Knights of St John, the Archaeological museum, the opera house and the War Rooms - Second World War Headquarters of the Royal Navy, and the George Cross awarded to Malta by a grateful Britain and the National War Museum. You can experience the world of the Knights Hospitallers at the Mediterranean Conference Centre

A walk around the perimeter of Valletta following the walls gives views across Marsamxett Harbour and Grand Harbour. It is a couple of hours well spent or you could take the traditional horse drawn Karrozzin and you could get a good guide who will stop at the relevant spots. (Haggle as they will lower the price. One couple paid 15 Maltese Lira and most we heard of was 25 Maltese Lira - so Haggle).

Other places of interest are the Upper Baracca Gardens near the bus terminus and the lower Barracca Gardens down near the Barriera Wharf where the Siege bell that commemorated the dead of World War II can be clearly seen.

We took a whole day and it was well worth it. The market next to the bus terminus is open on a Sunday and you can pick up some cheap bargains, lace, hats and confectionary and cakes.

There are many places to sit and have drinks and meals. We had our lunch at the cafe next door to the Cathedral and it was very nice.

Make sure you have a map, the streets are very easy to follow. The entrance to the Grand Masters Palace is in Merchants street via the Armoury.

Mdina

Mdina is called the Silent City, you never see anyone at the windows or doors of the city. Medieval walled city of narrow streets and tight alleyways, formerly Malta's capital. Perched on a hill and surrounded by huge walls its quiet and narrow streets and alleys ooze history. With the baroque dome of the cathedral and hosts of yellow limestone patrician townhouses adorned with wrought ironwork, Mdina is very atmospheric. There it the St Paul's catacomb, the caves walls are reputed to have healing properties, no matter how much stone is scraped away the size of the cave never alters ,a Roman villa with a beautiful mosaic floor and an amazing decorated church of Mosta which has the third largest dome in the world.There are some attractions representing the history of Mdina, Mdina Dungeons, Mdina Experience, Medieval Times, Tales of the Silent City, Knights of Malta .

I would recommend Fontanella where you sit on the ramparts and drink your tea or coffee with the most spectacular view, the cakes looked delicious too.

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Sliema & St Julian's

Wander around St Julian's with its picturesque quayside lined by fish restaurants. Take a cruise around the Maltese islands. See Spinola Bay one of the most picturesque locations on the island and don't forget St George's Bay centre of the nightlife on Malta.

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The South

Visit Wied-iz-Zurrieq for boat trips to the Blue Grotto and the colourful fishing village of Marsaxlokk with its open air market. Visit the stone quarries of Mqzbba. Don't forgetto visit the ancient temple sites of Tarxien and the prehistoric Ghar Dalam cave

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The Three Cities

Look across the Grand Harbour and you will see Vittoriosa, Caspicua and Senglea known collectively as the Three Cities. Look out for Fort St Angelo the Three Cities masterpiece the former HQ of the Knights. The Inquisitor's Palacewhere you can see the courtroom, prison cells and the torture chamber. Maritime Museum for a fascinating insightinto Malta's seafaring past. Go to Senglea'sGardjola Garden for a view of the Grand Harbour. Don't forget the Cotonera Lines which are the dramatic fortification protecting the Three Cities.

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The Centre

The central part of Malta is dotted with small towns and villages. Not to be missed is Mosta Dome for its sheer size, at 122ft across it is Europe's third largest unsupported dome. Ta'Qali Craft Centre which started life as a World War II airfield, here you can see glass objects being made, you can buy lace, leather, pottery and gold and silver, wicker furniture, wrought ironwork, well worth a visit. Malta's Aviation Museum is there as well, Buskett Gardens closeto Verdala Palace and San Anton attractive gardens by the Presidents Palace.

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The North

Malta's northern region where you can see Popeye Village where the film Popeye was made. Victoria Lines renovated century old defenses builtby the British. Ghajn Tuffienha Bay arguably the prettiest of Malta's sandy bays. San Pawl il Bahar the little fishing village at St Paul's Baywhere you can take trips to Comino. You can see the salt pans cut by the knights.

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Gozo

Spend a day on Malta's green sister isle. Not to be missed, Victoria's Citadel with its Cathedral and not forgetting the Ramparts with the greatest views. I would suggest that if you don't want to be taken all round the island then you could spend a whole morning at Victoria. Ggantija Temples a legacy of an ancient culture. Xlendi a gem of a village. San Blas Bay, Gozo's tiniest bay. The Salt Pans at Qbajjar date back 250 years to the latter days of the Knights, they are still in use.

We went on a jeep tour which went where the big coaches cannot get and you tend to see a bit more of the country also the smells of that country. The tour took us to Simar Valley, Ramla Valley, Calypso Caves, Ggantija Temples, Sanap Cliffs, Zlendi Bay,Fontana Cottage, Kercem Heights, limestone quarry, salt pans, Marsalforn Bay and the capital city Victoria and the ancient Citadel. You don't get long at any of the stops so if you want to see more of the island maybe a taxi would be better, you would need to negotiate a price with the driver and if you can double up with another couple it will work out cheaper.

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There are many excursions that you can take, I have highlighted a few.

• Malta Full Day - Ta Qali crafts village, Silent City of Mdina, Rabat and StPaul's Catacombs Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples, Blue Grotto and finishing at Marsaxlokk.
• Moonlight WatersEdge tour - Relaxing drive along Malta's coastline passing through Bugibba, St Julian's Sliema, Ta'Xbiex, visiting the Upper BarracaGardens offering breathtaking views of the Grand Harbour by night finishing with Dinner at one of the restaurants on the Valletta Waterfront.
• Northern Malta Highlights - Visit the northern most areas of Malta starting with the Red Tower, Ghadira Bay, Popeye's village, Mellieha and finishing with the quaint town of Selmun.
• Gozo Full Day Tour - Starting at Mgarr Harbour then on to Ggantja prehistoric temples and on to Calypso Caves, Xlendi passing through Marsalforn, Ta'Pinu church, Dwejra and the Azure Window, capital city of Victoria and back to the ferry terminus.
• Gozo Jeep Tour - From the harbour at Mgarr you will see Simar Valley, Ramla Valley, Calypso Cave, Ggantija Temples, Sanap Cliffs, Xlendi Bay, Fontana Cottage, Kercem Heights, Limestone quarries, salt pans, Marsalforn Bay, Victoria and the ancient Citadel back to the ferry terminus.

We did the Malta Full Day tour which gave us a taster of what we would like to do in more detail. The Gozo Jeep tour which was wonderful as it took you more into the villages where the larger coaches could not go and the Moonlight Waters Edge Tour which I would recommend as Malta looks very different when it is all lit up.

Well I hope this has given you a taster of what you can expect when you visit Malta, it is full of history at every turn.

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Dates to remember

The ALARME - re-enactment on the third Sunday of the month of February, March, April, May, June, September, October and November starts at 11.00hrs. Is 50 minutes long and portrays the history of the Napoleonic tenure of Malta (1798 -1800) at Fort St Elmo.

Malta Fireworks Festival - Every year the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Malta Tourism Authority organise the Malta International Fireworks Festival. (April)

Carnival Week - February - a spectacle including dances, fancy dress costumes as well as a parade of colourful floats.

Holy week - Easter - remembering Christ's death and resurrection

International String Orchestra Festival - April

Check out the Malta's Ministry of Tourism site