DESTINATIONS — MALTA

MALTA: OLD AND NEW

30 April 2015 — travelweekly.co.uk • 55

travelweekly.co.uk/destinations

MALTA

Malta has a rich history, but there are modern attractions too, says Jeannine Williamson

Strolling through the Maltese capital of Valletta I felt completely at home – apart from the unusually sunny

weather! I passed by M&S, walked through streets with red telephone and post boxes, and crossed roads with cars driving on the left.

With its familiar feel and dependable climate, Malta remains a big hit with the Brits – but we’re just one of the cultures that has influenced this small island, pivotally placed in the Mediterranean. Along with the Romans, Greeks, Arabs

and French, there are two distinct periods of rule that have shaped the island’s rich history: the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, from 1530 to 1798, and the British, from 1814 to 1964. Although Malta recently commemorated 50 years of independence, its Commonwealth links play a large part in its appeal.

Malta has traditionally appealed to the mature market, drawn by year-round sunshine,

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DESTINATIONS — MALTA

56 • travelweekly.co.uk — 30 April 2015

historical treasures, peaceful countryside and a flying time of less than three hours. However, there’s much more to Malta than might meet the eye. Excellent diving conditions, rugged rural landscapes, spas, cuisine, nightlife and a good range of accommodation – from rustic farmhouses to luxury hotels – offer something for outdoor enthusiasts, couples and families. Malta Tourism Authority is also promoting the island as a winter destination for active breaks, cultural events and festivals.

A further boost to selling is just around the corner. In 2018 the capital Valletta becomes European Capital of Culture, and new public spaces have already been created to host events in the run-up to the landmark year.

l OLD MALTA

Compact Valletta, where the striking baroque architecture was created by the ruling knights, packs in plenty of culture. Top attraction is ornately decorated St John’s Co-Cathedral which is home to two of the Italian artist Caravaggio’s most important works: The Beheading of Saint

John the Baptist and Saint Jerome Writing. The

literal high spot is Upper Barrakka Gardens, the city’s highest point, which provides far-reaching views across Grand Harbour, a mix of

ancient port and modern cruise terminal.

For a different perspective you can take an inexpensive

harbour cruise on a dghajsa, the traditional Maltese wooden boat once used to ferry sailors ashore.

Mdina, Malta’s first capital during the time of the knights, is another must-see area, where imposing fortified walls lead to a labyrinth of small streets lined by

medieval and baroque buildings. Visitors can hire horse-drawn carriages for an atmospheric trip around Valletta and Mdina. More heritage transport is provided by the distinctive old buses: once used on all the bus routes, a few are now preserved for tourist trips.

A 25-minute ferry ride away is green Gozo, Malta’s smaller and quieter sister. In the centre of the island are the landmark Ggantija Temples, built 7,000 years ago and the world’s oldest freestanding structures (pre-dating Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids by more than 1,000 years). Fishing and agriculture are Gozo’s main industries and sea salt has been produced for centuries at the coastal village of Marsalforn.

Another natural attraction is the Blue Lagoon on the tiny traffic-free island of Comino, also served by a regular ferry service.

Agents can book trips to coincide with Malta’s many festivals. One of the biggest is the carnival tradition in spring, dating back hundreds of years. The heart of the action takes place in

TRIED & TESTED:

Corinthia Hotel

St George’s Bay

The former fishing village of St Julian’s, five miles north of Valletta, has become a hub for the island’s five-star hotels, nightlife and restaurant scene. The 250-room Corinthia resort provides the best of both worlds as it occupies a quiet spot on the headland, but Paceville is just a five-minute walk down the road.

Rooms are well-appointed, and for clients celebrating a special occasion or looking for extra peace and quiet it’s worth upgrading to the executive club floor where the comfortable lounge serves breakfast, snacks and hosts a daily happy hour.

Away from the main Fra Martino Restaurant, serving buffet breakfast and dinner, other restaurant options offer a more intimate and diverse experience, including the excellent Caviar & Bull serving modern Mediterranean cuisine with a side order of stunning waterside views and the casual Henry J Bean’s bar and grill.

From classic massages to a chocolate body indulgence, the spa offers a wide range of treatments and, outside, five pools cascade down to a private rocky beach.corinthia.com

fAST fACT Kirker Holidays

has added a five-night Heritage &

History of Malta & Gozo

tour, from £1,396, with a November

4 departure

Olympic Holidays offers seven nights’ B&B at the Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay from £775 in September, including Gatwick flights and transfers.olympicholidays.com

Classic Collection offers seven nights’ B&B at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz from £915 in September, including Gatwick flights and ferry transfer to Gozo.classic-collection.co.uk

Belleair Holidays offers a 10-night, two-centre B&B stay, with seven nights at the Preluna Hotel & Spa, Malta, and three at the Grand Hotel, Gozo, from £629 in October, including Liverpool flights and transfers.belleair.co.uk/agents

SAMPLE PRODUCT

Valletta, culminating in a parade of multicoloured floats through the main streets. At any time of year visitors can stay in historic properties, as many old buildings have been converted into beautiful hotels. These include the 17-room, 17th-century Xara Palace, in the heart of Mdina, sold by operators including Classic Collection, Kirker and Cyplon.

l NEW MALTA

Malta’s spa legacy goes back to the rejuvenating baths of Roman times, but in recent years there has been significant investment in hotel spas, with hundreds of treatments on offer, many

incorporating natural products such as seaweed and seawater. Properties such as Malta’s Fortina Spa Resort, sold by operators including Thomson and Thomas Cook, and the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz offer specialist treatments such as Ayurveda. Beautiful scenery, crystal-clear seas and blue skies all contribute to a relaxing feeling of wellbeing.

Maltese food is a gastronomic melting pot created by the many nationalities that have occupied the island over the centuries. This marriage of tastes results in an eclectic cuisine, much of it based around seasonal produce and the fishermen’s catch of the day.

St John’s Co-Cathedral

Fortina Spa Resort

Ggantija Temples

Malta

Carnival

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DESTINATIONS — MALTA

WIN A BREAK fOR TWO AT PHOENICIA HOTEL

Phoenicia Hotel is offering one lucky agent and their guest the chance to win a three-night break for two at this renowned five-star hotel in Valletta.The 136-room, art deco-inspired hotel overlooks the Grand Harbour and boasts a spectacular swimming pool,

exquisite gardens and award-

winning bars and restaurants. Famed for its high standards of service, the Phoenicia has attracted royals and celebrities for decades and has received numerous excellence awards. Find out more about the hotel at phoeniciamalta.com.❯ For your chance to win, enter before May 14 at travelweekly.co.uk/competitions

Young, Michelin-trained chefs preside over restaurants such as Commando in the seaside village of Mellieha, while in Gozo the Ta’Mena Estate, the first agro-tourism complex, serves up simple but delicious regional food and wine in the shadow of orange groves. Although wine has been produced from indigenous grapes such as the white girgentina and red gellewza for more than 4,000 years it’s not widely exported, adding another appeal for food-loving clients who want to try something different.

It might be famous for its culture, but Malta is a fun

and cosmopolitan destination with plenty to keep night owls up until the early hours. The party capital is outside the capital in Paceville (or PV, as it’s known) and

St George’s Bay, a small area packed

with bars, restaurants, clubs and the Dragonara casino, which is open 24/7.

Each June, Malta rocks with the annual Isle of MTV concert, one of Europe’s biggest musical events. The free concert is the finale of Malta Music Week, a packed programme of beach parties, street concerts and club nights, attracting headline acts and 50,000 global party animals. TWPi

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WIN