With over 7000 years of history under its belt, Malta has
developed a rich and unique culture. The
islands sit in a strategic position at the crossroads of Europe and North Africa,
with countless historic invasions and colonisations each adding their own
‘layer’ to the cultural fabric. The
romans left the Catholic faith, the Italians left the laid-back way of life and
the Arab legacy lives on through the fascinating Maltese language. But perhaps the most obvious influence comes
from the British. Malta was under
British rule between 1813 and 1964 and this period has undeniably left its
stamp upon Maltese life. Iconic red phone
boxes and Royal Mail post boxes can be seen on every corner; vintage English
buses are a common sight on the streets and the English language retains
co-official status alongside Maltese.
The thing I love the most about Malta is the abundance of
history. The islands are like an open,
living history museum – history is everywhere!
Every street, every building and every harbour has its own story to
tell. If you only visit two places
whilst in Malta, my best recommendations are Valletta and Mdina.
Valletta is Malta’s bustling capital and the hub of island
life. The UNESCO-listed old town of is surrounded by huge walls, bastions and ditches making it one of the
most heavily fortified cities in all of Europe.
It’s a small city which can be easily explored by foot in a day. The place has a great energy - it feels so full
of life. I became fixated on the
brightly coloured enclosed wooden balconies which every building seems to have –
I’m not really sure where or when they originated, but they are beautiful to
look at. Whilst in Valletta, don’t miss
the view of the old harbour from the Barrakka gardens – it’s stunning.
Alongside Valletta, Mdina (pronounced ‘im-deenah’) is the
second jewell in Malta’s crown. This
small hilltop city is ancient – the area has been occupied since the 8th
century BC, but the city’s current name was given by Arab invaders in 870 AD (‘medina’
is an Arabic word meaning ‘city’). Like
Valletta, the fortifications of Mdina are very impressive. I really enjoyed getting lost in the charming
maze-like streets and alleyways. The
golden colour of the buildings almost glistens against the cobalt-blue summer
sky. Mdina occupies the highest point in
Malta which gives some fantastic views over the countryside.
To say Malta is an island nation, there is a surprising lack of beaches (the most notable exception being the village of Mellieħa - don't ask how this is pronounced!). Which is a shame as the water is warm and
crystal clear. Malta’s real coastal
charm comes from the scattering of small fishing villages, where the peaceful
way of life has gone seemingly unchanged for years. My favourite of these is Marsaxlokk
(pronounced ‘marsa-shlock’). Asides from
the outdoor market and hordes of seafood restaurants, there’s not a great deal
to do in the village, but it’s very picturesque and a lovely place to relax.
Malta is small and getting around is cheap and very
easy. There is an excellent government-owned
bus network, which uses Valletta as a hub.
Just about everywhere has a bus stop and buses on most
routes are frequent. Single fares cost
EUR 1.50, but for those staying longer than a few days a travel card costs EUR
15 and allows 12 journeys. Allow plenty
of time for bus journeys as the roads in and out of Valletta are often
congested. The three islands (Malta,
Gozo and Comino) are well-connected with boat services. Budget airlines Ryanair, EasyJet and WizzAir
offer cheap flights to Malta from many UK and European airports.
Budget accommodation is easy to find in Malta – there’s a
good scattering of backpackers’ hostels mainly in Sliema and St. Julian. Expect to pay around EUR 10 per night for a
bed in a hostel dorm and between EUR 8-10 for a main course in a mid-range
restaurant.
I absolutely loved my time in Malta and would rate the
nation very highly as a travel destination.
There’s absolutely loads to see and do, it’s affordable and it has an
excellent public transport network so I’ve given Malta the maximum ‘backpackability’
score of 5.
For such a small country, Malta has made a big impression on me.
Have you been to Malta or thinking of visiting? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks for reading,
Elis Griffiths. x
