Malta

About country

Situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, the Maltese archipelago, which includes Gozo, Comino, Cominotto and Filfla, exudes character at every turn, from its vibrant blue waters and secluded bays, to medieval walled citadels and splendid baroque churches. Every year, visitors flock to Malta's striking coastline to sample its mouth-watering seafood and immerse themselves in fascinating history, traditional villages and colourful fiestas.
From retracing the footsteps of St Paul to discovering where the Knights of St John defended Christendom, this open-air museum will reveal new surprises to you at every turn.

Sightseeing

A relaxing boat trip takes visitors out to the stunning Azure Window, through caves shimming with orange and purple coral and past fascinating rock formations carved in the shape of a face and a mummy and baby crocodile.
The blockbuster film, Troy, was filmed by the shimmering turquoise waters of this lagoon. A popular day trip for swimmers and sun worshippers who come to lounge on the small rocky and sandy beaches, it gets horribly overcrowded in summer so visit early in the day or out of peak season.
Public transport in Malta is cheap and easy to use, and the eccentric vintage buses prove quite an attraction for tourists - especially when greeted with various religious shrines upon getting on. Valletta is very well connected with buses to all other towns and villages, and other popular tourist areas are in easy reach.

Traditions

Malta is a predominantly Catholic country. As a result, the yearly calendar is generously and liberally sprinkled with public holidays and celebrations called festas. Festa time in Malta is always a time of merrymaking, food, drink, song, and camaraderie, as are the regular Christian celebrations.
The new year starts off with a huge bang in Malta on January 1. On this day, all throughout Malta there are huge and lavish New Year's celebrations, as big as they can get elsewhere in the world.
Between February and March, Malta celebrates the huge Carnival. This is not just any day at any ordinary fair; this is one whole week of fun, food, song, colored floats, costumed revelers, parties, the works! This is far from a temporary celebration; the first Carnival celebrations in Malta took place in the 1500s, soon after the Knights of St. John arrived in Malta. Additionally, the way the Carnival is done has changed very little from early beginnings. The actual dates that the Carnival falls on vary from year to year; as a rule, carnival Sunday is set such that it is 7 weeks before Easter Sunday. For great fun and partying, the Carnival in Malta cannot be beat.

Cuisine

Malta is the hidden gem of the Mediterranean and has a fine reputation for its quality cuisine, borrowing heavily from its neighbours Sicily and North Africa. Although food from every part of the globe is to be found, local restaurants providing rustic home cooked family recipes are definitely worth seeking out. Particularly noteworthy are the places serving rabbit in the traditional way. The family get-together also plays an important part in the Maltese dining experience. Expect to see large multi-generational gatherings, especially on Sundays, enjoying their food and drink in a distinctly Mediterranean relaxed manner.

Specialities:

• Timpana (pasta with a bolgnese-style sauce baked in pastry).
• Bragoli (beef olives).
• Fenek (rabbit cooked in wine).
• Pastizzi (ricotta or pea filled savoury pastries).
• Lampuki Pie (Lampuka is a popular fish in Malta).
• Qara bali mimli (round pale green zucchini or courgettes stuffed with minced beef, cheese and parsley or with ricotta and grated sharp cheese).