Travel and leisure
Destinations
Magnificent Malta
Just a three-hour flight from the UK and with one of the highest sunshine records in Europe, English-speaking Malta has an absolute wealth of attractions. And sailing into Valletta harbour must be one of the cruise highlights of the world, writes Penny Visman
One of the best ways to see Malta is to use the public buses. These yellow and orange vintage Leyland, Bedford, Bristol and AEC have numbered routes that cover most of the island. They are a tourist attraction in themselves, and there is a frequent service from outside Saga's exclusive Coastline Hotel.
A morning in Valletta makes a great start on the island's essential sites. I really recommend The Malta Experience, a 45-minute audio-visual spectacular, for an introduction to the island’s incredible 7000 years of history (www.themaltaexperience.com).
The 16th century St John's Co-Cathedral is nearby. Built by the Knights of St John, it has numerous treasures including the famous Caravaggio painting 'The Beheading of St John'.
A little further down the street The Grandmasters' Palace, now the seat of Parliament, has The Armoury open to the public. When you need to sit down there are plenty of outdoor cafes in the area, some of which serve traditional Maltese pastries.
Even the currency highlights history. Malta adopted the euro this year, and by popular vote their distinctive cross graces the one and two euro coins, while the Coat of Arms of Malta and prehistoric Mnajdra temples are depicted on smaller denominations.
For Brits, of course, Malta will always be associated its great heroism in WW2. The George Cross, awarded to the island for its supreme bravery, is on display in the National War Museum at Fort St Elmo, within easy walking distance from The Cathedral. The many poignant artefacts here include the Glostor Gladiator 'Faith'.
There are panoramic views of the glorious grand harbour from the heights of Vittoriosa. Perhaps not so surprising to learn that this area, with its Roman ruins, has been used for epic films such as Gladiator, Troy and Alexander. Or you could take a boat trip and see it all from the sea.
Other island highlights I relished included the Palazzo Parisio & Gardens at Naxxar: a showcase of 19th century Maltese craftsmanship with gardens that combine classical statuary and fountains with the colours and scents of the Mediterranean (www.palazzoparisio.com).
I was entranced with Palazzo Falson, Historic House Museum in the haunting old walled city of Mdina, Malta's former capital. This building was restored by the Maltese Heritage Foundation and opened to the public in 2007. Exhibits include jewellery, paintings (Van Dyke, Poussin and Murillo), armoury and oriental rugs. It is one of the finest cultural attractions on the island. Charming roof café too, serving homemade cakes (www.palazzofalson.com).
And as a sparkling example of recycling, the former Ta'Qali military airbase is now the Meridiana Wine Estate, where vines are watered by an irrigation system laid out by the Royal Air Force during WW2. Tours here include a sampling of Isis (Chardonnay) and Melqart (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). The names reflect the Phoenicians who came to Malta in 800 BC and introduced wine-making to Western civilisation. (www.meridiana.com.mt)
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