Unlocking the Magic 

Coming to Malta had special meaning for my husband and children, they are Maltese descendants who come to the island and proudly claimed their heritage.  They wanted to find out what makes this island nation so special to family members who speak of it with fond memories.  Being a Mediterranean island, it’s easy for people to think of Malta as a holiday break but with its elegant narrow streets, colorful traditional Maltese balconies, baroque architecture, rich history, Malta will quickly whisk us away into another world. 

Built on one of the island’s peninsulas by the Knights of St John in 1566, tiny Valletta is only 1km long and 600 meters wide, making it the smallest capital city in the European Union. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in stylish sophistication and culture.  The best way to explore this city is to wander and get lost in the labyrinth of streets lined with pale yellow limestone buildings, colorful shutters and wooden doors.  Musicians play their instruments in the streets and restaurants adding to the vibe of this city that can feel busy but relaxed all at the same time.  

As the sun goes down the streets come alive with people dining in restaurants and drinking wine with friends.  The locals are extremely friendly, relaxed and accommodating.  You instantly get lured into their world and find yourself immersed in the laughter, loud chatter and jazz tunes that fill your soul with happiness and joy.  As we wandered the streets looking for that perfect desert to finish off the evening we stumbled upon an elderly man with a guitar, singing in his native tongue.  As we watched on a group of local women appeared, joined hands in a circle and started dancing and singing in the middle of the street.  It was obviously a totally natural thing to do at that moment and I felt a certain envy of them being able to dance like no one was watching.  They were present in the moment and not consumed by what others thought and it was beautiful to watch. 

The size of Malta is approximately 27km long by 14.5km’s wide. You can probably drive across the length of it in about an hour but with windy narrow roads, and traffic in busy areas, it could take you about six!  We hired a car and for a little bit extra upgraded to a soft top so we could truly take in the sights and sounds.  Limestone in Malta is abundant. That’s the simple reason why it has served as the primary building material for all these years. The muted, mellow yellow of Maltese limestone is visible as far as the eye can see.  

While at times you felt like this was the only color you were seeing, we would arrive in a place like Marsaxlokk and the pale-yellow blank canvas was the perfect back drop to the vibrant blues, greens, reds and yellows that bought the village to life.  Marsaxlokk is a traditional fishing village in Malta, known for its colorful Luzzu fishing boats in the harbor and every Sunday is the Marsaxlokk Fish Market. If you look closely, on the front of the boat there are painted eyes. These are said to be the eye of Osiris to protect fishermen while out at sea. 

This charming village is the place to come if you want to explore a more traditional and authentic side of Malta. Oh, and eat some of the freshest and most delicious seafood around.  As well as fish, the Marsaxlokk Market sells traditional Maltese cakes, fruit and vegetables, handmade crafts, clothing (mostly socks and undies surprisingly…typical market stalls aimed at locals I guess!), toys, souvenirs and more.  

Our next stop was the Blue Grotto.  It is a network of six caves, boasting the most stunning views and clearest waters the Maltese Islands have to offer.  If you are going to visit the Blue Grotto, a boat trip to the caves is the best way to experience the true beauty of the area. Boat trips are usually available daily (weather permitting) with the duration of each trip being around 20 minutes.  The tours are performed by boatmen in a traditional Maltese fishing boat, the operators being seasoned fishermen who know the location and the caves inside and out.  Even though the caves are a wonder within themselves, the true beauty of the place really shines through on clear, sunny days. This is when the magic happens; the blue sky reflects off the white sandy seabed under the caves, resulting in vibrant azure and cobalt-colored waters. the best time to visit is from early morning to around midday this allows for the best position of the sun in relation to the caves, providing the ideal light for the colors of the water to shine through. 

Located in the center of Malta is Mdina, a fortified medieval town enclosed in bastions, located on a large hill. The town was the old capital of Malta, and with its narrow streets, few inhabitants and beautiful views over the Island it is truly a magical town. Mdina is referred to as the “Silent City” by Maltese and visitors alike – no cars (except those of a limited number of residents) have permission to enter Mdina and the town provides a relaxing atmosphere among the visitors walking its narrow streets and alleyways.  Outside the main city gate in a small park area stand horse-drawn carriages to transport you through its streets.  The traditional karrozzin is one of the oldest forms of public transport in Malta, and how we opted to explore this charming city.  There were several opportunities to step out of the carriage to take a photo and explore the immediate surrounding area.  

The Blue Lagoon is one of Malta’s not so hidden gems. It is a bucket-list location, read more about that here, known for its crystal clear turquoise blue waters and jagged cliffs. The next day we made our way to the port and caught a ferry to the island of Comino.  The Blue Lagoon is a natural wide pool in between the Comino Island and the island of Cominotto. partially sandy and mostly rocky, a dip in this spectacular swim spot is an absolute must.  The salty seawater is pretty shallow, and you can stand in a large part of the lagoon and see the white sanded bottom at all times. There are no white sandy beaches, just rocky cliffs filled with beach chairs and umbrellas.  My advice is to get there early and hire a beach chair otherwise you will need to search for a flat spot on the rocks.    

For all the long stretches of seeing nothing but differing shades of beige to pale yellow rock, Malta had pockets of pure beauty that left you witnessing some of the most colorful and magical places on Earth.  The Maltese people were relaxed and accommodating leaving you feel like everyone on this small nation island was in a constant state of holiday mode adding to the magic we felt as we explored every corner of this island encompassing every step of the way, our Sense of Adventure!