Marvelous Malta
April 29, 2007 | 12:00am
Keep the destination in mind but enjoy the road," the great Paulo Coelho wrote. Being a zealous possessor of wanderlust, I believe that, with travel, our curiosity is satisfied, our hearts and minds become more powerful with the joy of exploration, and our spirits celebrate the passion of life. Once we are exposed to the grandeur that exists around us, whether near or far, we are never the same.
Like a kaleidoscope of various civilizations, Malta has astoundingly preserved significant traces of its heritage, which makes it a precious relic from the past. The oldest ancient structures, centuries-old traditions that date back thousand of years, and giant rocks that have stories to tell are living testimonies to their rich heritage and culture  from the initial inhabitants who constructed the colossal temples, to the Knights of St. John whose order created the first visionary state of a victorious Europe. How can one possibly escape the allure of a land so profoundly rooted in the origins of mankind?
As the sun sets over the omnipresent blue of the dazzling Mediterranean, 7,000 years of history become an unforgettable image. Since time immemorial, Malta’s incredible honey-colored stones and natural harbors have been responsible for its widespread reputation and influence. In this sun-drenched land of mystery, even stones have a soul. Standing close to them draws you into their mystery and make you tremble at the hidden faith of the early inhabitants.
Blessed with natural resources and picturesque scenery, Malta is among those rare places in the world which provide a change of scene that can take you back in time so that, for a while at least, the present fades away. Like lace-makers in its old villages, the translucent crystal waters shape its dazzling coastline, rocky creeks, small coves of red and pink sand, natural pools, and underwater caves. Films like Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, the Malta Story and the blockbuster film Troy starring Brad Pitt and Eric Bana were shot here.
During a recent trip to this haven, my dear friend and travel agent Vernon Prieto fell in love with its sun-glazed charms. "I must have been from Malta in my past life," he exclaimed over a snack of timpana (oven-baked macaroni with egg, meat and tomatoes), mqaret (deep-fried pastries stuffed with chopped spiced dates), and kinnie (a soft drink flavored with oranges and aromatic herbs). Malta is much more than a bridge between the sea and sky. The islands come to life with festivals known as festas, which showcase Maltese culture to visitors. Even tourist enclaves have their own festivals every night in pubs and discos. The Maltese radiate the typical Mediterranean spontaneity and joie de vivre.
Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island-nation in the Mediterranean Sea that lies 93 kilometers south of the island of Sicily, Italy. The country is an archipelago of seven islands, with only the three largest islands  Malta, Gozo or Ghawdex, and Comino or Kemmuna  being inhabited. A member-state of the European Union since May 1, 2004, it is currently the smallest European Union country in both population and area.
The strategically located islands constituting the Maltese nation have been ruled by various powers and fought over for centuries. The islands later came under the control of Carthage in 400 BC, and then of Rome in 218 BC. Many Roman antiquities still exist, testifying to the close link between the Maltese inhabitants and the people of Rome. In AD 60, the islands were visited by Saint Paul, who is said to have been shipwrecked on the shores of the aptly-named Saint Paul’s Bay.
Today, Malta’s language, food and architecture are an enticing mix of European, Arabian and British influences. Yet, unbelievably, Malta’s culture is distinctively its own. There are prehistoric monuments built 1,000 years before the pyramids; Roman ruins and the truly awesome defensive works of the Knights of Malta, which are largely unaltered and part of an extraordinary wealth of architecture.
The island’s main treasure is its stone, a type of limestone, which traps the light in its corners, its panels and its curves. This golden stone, which earned Malta the name of Melita, "the island of honey," has inspired its architecture. The history of buildings in Malta has been tracked back to around 4,000 BC when the megalithic temples were built.
Many magnificent places proved to be the highlight of the magical sojourn, each with its own unique splendor. Spread out like a living painting, several hundred years of history bake quietly in the Mediterranean sunshine. Built as a fortress city and developed as a naval base and dockyard by the British, Valletta sits snugly between this harbor and Marsamxett. The official residence of the Grand Masters until 1798 is now home to Malta’s Parliament. The Palace was originally a great house built for a Grand Master’s nephew in 1569.
All roads lead to Valletta, Malta’s capital city and the first planned city in Europe. It is a living, working city, the administrative and commercial heart of the Islands. The city is busy by day, yet retains a timeless atmosphere. The grid of narrow streets houses some of Europe’s finest art works, churches and palaces. Nearly every bus route on the island starts and ends in the capital and anyone visiting Malta for the first time will spend sometime here. The city was built after the Great Siege to create an impregnable fortress against another assault. Valletta was built as a home for the aristocratic Order of the Knights of St. John, which ensured exemplary architecture in a culturally rich Renaissance city.
Sliema and the coastline up to neighboring St. Julian’s constitute Malta’s main coastal resort. It is a center for shopping, restaurants and cafe life. Sliema, which means "peace," was once a quiet fishing town on the peninsula across Grand Harbor from Valletta. The town began to develop rapidly in the early 20th century as a summer resort for wealthier Valletta residents.
Mdina, the islands’ ancient capital, is considered to be one of the most magnificent examples of an inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. Its labyrinth of narrow winding streets is studded with churches and palaces. The cathedral dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, with its exquisite baroque façade, is awesome.
A visit to the main fishing village off Marsaxlokk is a sight to behold. The waterfront is lined with "luzzus" painted in traditional reds, blues and yellows that add vibrant color to this peaceful bay, once the site of the first Turkish landing during the Great Siege of 1565.
Beautiful places like Malta are worth savoring and reliving in the pages of my memory. When I yearn for those unforgettable moments to places I visited, I nostalgically close my eyes and return to the favored haven. This sustains me until my next trip. After all, having that much-coveted destination to look forward to is worth the wait.
For more information about Malta and how to get there, call Helen Hao of Pan Pacific Travel at 523-1990, and 526-6427, fax inquiries to 338-1351, or send an e-mail to pptctraftour@nwave.net.
E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.
Like a kaleidoscope of various civilizations, Malta has astoundingly preserved significant traces of its heritage, which makes it a precious relic from the past. The oldest ancient structures, centuries-old traditions that date back thousand of years, and giant rocks that have stories to tell are living testimonies to their rich heritage and culture  from the initial inhabitants who constructed the colossal temples, to the Knights of St. John whose order created the first visionary state of a victorious Europe. How can one possibly escape the allure of a land so profoundly rooted in the origins of mankind?
As the sun sets over the omnipresent blue of the dazzling Mediterranean, 7,000 years of history become an unforgettable image. Since time immemorial, Malta’s incredible honey-colored stones and natural harbors have been responsible for its widespread reputation and influence. In this sun-drenched land of mystery, even stones have a soul. Standing close to them draws you into their mystery and make you tremble at the hidden faith of the early inhabitants.
Blessed with natural resources and picturesque scenery, Malta is among those rare places in the world which provide a change of scene that can take you back in time so that, for a while at least, the present fades away. Like lace-makers in its old villages, the translucent crystal waters shape its dazzling coastline, rocky creeks, small coves of red and pink sand, natural pools, and underwater caves. Films like Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, the Malta Story and the blockbuster film Troy starring Brad Pitt and Eric Bana were shot here.
During a recent trip to this haven, my dear friend and travel agent Vernon Prieto fell in love with its sun-glazed charms. "I must have been from Malta in my past life," he exclaimed over a snack of timpana (oven-baked macaroni with egg, meat and tomatoes), mqaret (deep-fried pastries stuffed with chopped spiced dates), and kinnie (a soft drink flavored with oranges and aromatic herbs). Malta is much more than a bridge between the sea and sky. The islands come to life with festivals known as festas, which showcase Maltese culture to visitors. Even tourist enclaves have their own festivals every night in pubs and discos. The Maltese radiate the typical Mediterranean spontaneity and joie de vivre.
Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island-nation in the Mediterranean Sea that lies 93 kilometers south of the island of Sicily, Italy. The country is an archipelago of seven islands, with only the three largest islands  Malta, Gozo or Ghawdex, and Comino or Kemmuna  being inhabited. A member-state of the European Union since May 1, 2004, it is currently the smallest European Union country in both population and area.
The strategically located islands constituting the Maltese nation have been ruled by various powers and fought over for centuries. The islands later came under the control of Carthage in 400 BC, and then of Rome in 218 BC. Many Roman antiquities still exist, testifying to the close link between the Maltese inhabitants and the people of Rome. In AD 60, the islands were visited by Saint Paul, who is said to have been shipwrecked on the shores of the aptly-named Saint Paul’s Bay.
Today, Malta’s language, food and architecture are an enticing mix of European, Arabian and British influences. Yet, unbelievably, Malta’s culture is distinctively its own. There are prehistoric monuments built 1,000 years before the pyramids; Roman ruins and the truly awesome defensive works of the Knights of Malta, which are largely unaltered and part of an extraordinary wealth of architecture.
The island’s main treasure is its stone, a type of limestone, which traps the light in its corners, its panels and its curves. This golden stone, which earned Malta the name of Melita, "the island of honey," has inspired its architecture. The history of buildings in Malta has been tracked back to around 4,000 BC when the megalithic temples were built.
Many magnificent places proved to be the highlight of the magical sojourn, each with its own unique splendor. Spread out like a living painting, several hundred years of history bake quietly in the Mediterranean sunshine. Built as a fortress city and developed as a naval base and dockyard by the British, Valletta sits snugly between this harbor and Marsamxett. The official residence of the Grand Masters until 1798 is now home to Malta’s Parliament. The Palace was originally a great house built for a Grand Master’s nephew in 1569.
All roads lead to Valletta, Malta’s capital city and the first planned city in Europe. It is a living, working city, the administrative and commercial heart of the Islands. The city is busy by day, yet retains a timeless atmosphere. The grid of narrow streets houses some of Europe’s finest art works, churches and palaces. Nearly every bus route on the island starts and ends in the capital and anyone visiting Malta for the first time will spend sometime here. The city was built after the Great Siege to create an impregnable fortress against another assault. Valletta was built as a home for the aristocratic Order of the Knights of St. John, which ensured exemplary architecture in a culturally rich Renaissance city.
Sliema and the coastline up to neighboring St. Julian’s constitute Malta’s main coastal resort. It is a center for shopping, restaurants and cafe life. Sliema, which means "peace," was once a quiet fishing town on the peninsula across Grand Harbor from Valletta. The town began to develop rapidly in the early 20th century as a summer resort for wealthier Valletta residents.
Mdina, the islands’ ancient capital, is considered to be one of the most magnificent examples of an inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. Its labyrinth of narrow winding streets is studded with churches and palaces. The cathedral dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, with its exquisite baroque façade, is awesome.
A visit to the main fishing village off Marsaxlokk is a sight to behold. The waterfront is lined with "luzzus" painted in traditional reds, blues and yellows that add vibrant color to this peaceful bay, once the site of the first Turkish landing during the Great Siege of 1565.
Beautiful places like Malta are worth savoring and reliving in the pages of my memory. When I yearn for those unforgettable moments to places I visited, I nostalgically close my eyes and return to the favored haven. This sustains me until my next trip. After all, having that much-coveted destination to look forward to is worth the wait.
E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.
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