Malta
The island of Malta is the largest of the islands that make up the Maltese archipelago and lies to the north of Libya (North Africa) and the south of Italy.
Its landscape is mostly fields that sprawl across the area of 246 square kilometres. The capital of Malta is Valletta although the largest city on the island is Qormi. It is from Valletta that travellers can take a sea ferry over to the neighbouring island of Gozo.
Given that it is the largest island it also has the largest population and is the most advanced island within the Maltese island group with a total population of about 389,000 and the local university that students of all three islands attend.
Since Malta joined the European Union in 2004 the quality of holidays that it can offer travellers has increased making it one of the fastest growing holiday destinations in the world, due to its beauty and amazing history, and its current status as the best kept secret in the Mediterranean. The diversity of people who take holidays in Malta reflects the variety offered by the island itself. From classic “sun, sea and sand” holidays on Malta’s many beaches to more cultural breaks exploring the island’s rich and intriguing past.
Visitors to Malta that want to take in some of that history during their trip often flock to the Mnajdra and Hagar Qim temples which date back to the stone age and are found near the cliffs of Malta on the Southwest side.
Also famous are the punic tombs that line the bedrock of the Clapham Junction near the Buskett woods. Additionally, while in the area it is worth your while to take a look through the large caves that used to house the ancient people known as troglodytes.
In terms of scenic beauty the Blue Grotto, which is composed of seven different inlets and caves on the Southern edge of Malta where the waters are deep blue and the rock formations look stunning is well worth a visit. The Blue Grotto is only accessible via small boats, but there are plenty of local Malta guides who are willing to take tourists on guided trips through the area.
Other points of interest for those who are holiday are the beaches found at St. Thomas Bay near the Munxar white cliffs. Here there are two small beaches near the resort areas and a few deep caves. Those looking to spend some time on the beach also enjoy visiting the resort area of Golden Bay and Mellieha.
The climate of Malta is largely influenced by the surrounding Mediterranean Sea and is usually dry and hot during the summer with windy and wet winters, although the temperatures remain high enough to make a winter holiday to the area feasible.
Travel to Malta is provided by several carriers including the country’s own national carrier Air Malta, which flies directly from many UK airports such as, London Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle, and Bristol London Luton, as well as Dublin.
Ferries can also be taken from Sicily at the port of Catania although it is a three hour trip that can be turbulent in certain weather conditions.
