Malta
Valetta
Malta is the smallest country in the European Union. Nestled between Sicily and Tunisia, the country has a fascinating history.
The capital, Valetta, was named after Jean Parisot de Valette, who successfully defended the island against Ottoman attack in 1565.
The baroque architecture features distinctive wooden balconies jutting out from the facade, which to me are the soul of the city.
Valetta is an open-air museum with 28 churches within its 0.2 square miles.
The islands of Malta and Gozo count 365 churches, one for every day of the year. The presence of the Knights Hospitaller can explain the deeply religious feeling in Malta.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the island was ruled by the Order of St Jean of Jerusalem. The Order made a great contribution to the architecture of Valetta.
Casa Rocca Piccola, built in the 16th century, offers interesting insights into the life of Maltese nobility. It also offers a tour of the bomb shelter, which underlines the destruction brought to the city during World War 2.
I spent much time at the Upper and Lower Barrakka gardens, drawing, journaling, and reading. As usual on a Mediterranean island, I was blessed with many cats.
Most streets in Valetta are too narrow and/or steep for cars, which makes it a paradise for walkers like me. Right outside the main gate is the bus terminal with a convenient transportation system, ready to take you around the island.
Mdina
Mdina was the capital of Malta from antiquity to the medieval period. It is a fortified city on a hill in the center of the island.
Bastion Square offers panoramic views of the island. The baroque architecture and car-free streets were very much appreciated.
On that day, I continued to Popeye Village (second picture).
This place was built from scratch for the 1980 live-action Popeye movie and is now an amusement park. So cute!
With a month in Malta, I spent many days hopping on a bus and hiking all day. The nature of the island is wild and beautiful, ideal for nature lovers.
Hypogeum
In Paola, Malta lay a prehistoric underground complex that raises more questions than it answers.
GOZO
Gozo is the second island of the Maltese peninsula. It is the smaller island of the two, but no less packed with history.
The tide pools pictured below are all over Malta and Gozo. They are called "Roman pools" but were in fact carved by the British in the 19th century.
If going to Gozo, a visit to the Ġgantija archeological park is required.
Ġgantija is a megalithic temple complex from the Neolithic era. It is older than the Egyptian pyramids and older than Stonehenge.
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