Travel in Malta – Hotels, Malta Vacations, Lodging, Trips, Attractions and Travel Guide

A Magnificent Malta Vacation

Coast in Valletta, view over the Victoria Gate to the Lower Baracca Gardens and city walls.

Malta is a chain of seven islands located in Southern Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea. The official languages of the country are Maltese and English, however, there are also strong ties to Italian as well. Nicknamed the “land of honey”, Malta has an endemic species of bees which live on the island. Malta has a Mediterranean climate and which makes it the ideal location for tourists.

Camino is a boat ride away from Sliema, and is home of the Blue Lagoon. The lagoon is a long, narrow bay cut into Camino and crystal clear waters and white sand beaches. There is one single hotel on the island and only one way to gain access. Tourists can water ski, tour the island with a guide, swim, fish and explore the various nature paths located around the cliffs.

The Chapel of Our Ladys Return from Egypt is a chapel on the island, under the parish of Ghajnsielem on Gozo, it dates back to the 13th century. The sanctuary slowly grew over the years and established itself as the center of Marian devotion devotion for the people of Malta. Mass is held over the weekend by a priest from Qala. Even now, hundreds of years later, the church is a place of important religious significance and thousands of people visit every year.

Marys Tower, was built in the early 15th century by King Alphonse of Aragon. A tax was levied to build the tower, which was to stand as a watch over the channel. However, the king spent all the money and it was not until almost 200 years later, that the tower was actually built. Today, the tower serves as a military lookout point for the Armed Forces of Malta.

The Hypogaeum of Hal Saflieni is a Neolithic cult site in Paolo, Malta. The sanctuary was discovered in 1902, during the construction of a cistern. Inside the structure there is a system of underground chambers, passageways and stairways that expand over three levels. There are catacombs that were used for burial and hold the remains of some six or seven thousand people. A miniature of the Hypogaeum can be seen at the National Museum.

At the National Museum of Archeology in Valletta, visitors can see exhibits of stone reliefs and sculptures recovered from Tarxien, Paolo. The site originally covered over 5,400 square miles and was excavated and restored in 1914. The southernmost temple on the site contains a female fertility statue with swollen legs, small feet and a pleated skirt. There are several historical structures in Tarxien that hold significant findings and have yet to be explored.

Xaghra has the most impressive example of Neolithic temples in all of Malta. Known as Ggantija, the name translates to mean, “Place of Giants”. There is an enchanting village square and a twisting road that leads to a plateau filled with pink and white oleander trees. While touring this area, visitors will see mans first novice attempts at cultivation. Nearby is Calypso Cave, which is another popular tourist attraction.

Next to the University of Malta is the Church of Saint Paul Shipwrecked, it has a fascinating interior with contains a beautiful alter-piece modeled after the shipwreck of Palidini. The structure is dedicated to one of the patron saints of Malta and was originally built by Cassar. Every year on February 10th, the statue of St. Paul is carried through the streets to commemorate the day of the shipwreck. In 1818, Pope Pius VII, donate perhaps the most cherished relic of all, a piece of wood on which St. Paul was beheaded, as well as piece of his wrist bone.

Malta has over seventy hotels that offer outstanding amenities such as the Hotel Panorama, the Alfonso Hotel and Hotel San Gorg. Having a climate that is strong influenced by the sea, Malta has mild summers and a short, cool winter season. The temperatures are mainly stable, which makes for perfect vacationing any time of the year.