In the Heart of the Mediterranean

(Distance from home 880 km). Malta in June, a great surprise! Set in the centre of the Mediterranean, it alternates very British views with Sicilian ones that coexist in a very particular and attractive way. Another not insignificant thing is the fact that it is one of the few places outside Italy where the language is no obstacle: you can make yourself understood without any problem even speaking Italian. The airport is not far from the areas dense with hotels (Saint Julian, Sliema and Paceville are the best equipped and best served by buses). Getting around the island is very easy and cheap thanks to the characteristic buses, inherited from the English who used them during the Second World War, and in this we were very lucky because they probably won't have much life left, since a massive replacement is planned.

Thanks to its recent entry into the European Union, Malta has many building sites around the island to touch up its make-up and show its beauties in their best dress. Valletta is a city rich in history, tied above all to its knights and to the period spent by Caravaggio, who left some works. The island has played an important role in the history of Europe and the Mediterranean: very important was the siege by the Muslims, which the island resisted heroically, dissuading the Turks from their plan to conquer Europe. The same important role was played in the Second World War, when Malta was a strategically fundamental base for the fortunes of the conflict. I report some general considerations linked to our stay, during which we especially appreciated the month of June, with very long days and above all not too crowded.

The food, to our amazement, is not characterised by fish dishes but above all by meat: the typical dish of the island is a very spiced rabbit cooked with typically "Arab" aromas, which make it very tasty. It is not a place for those who love beaches, apart from a few exceptions; indeed, most of the ways into the sea are over rocks. The population is deeply religious: the buses are full of photos of saints, lit little altars and stickers with writing such as "God loves you", "God is salvation"…and in the streets, above all in Valletta, you find little madonnas and altars at almost every corner. You really notice a true religious devotion, not a façade one, which almost recalls a southern Italy of some time ago seen in films. The Maltese are quiet and cordial people and we never had any problem.

Also very marked is the difference between the coastal towns and the hinterland, where there is noticeably less care for the buildings and the landscape, but it is above all what in my opinion strongly characterises this island: a mix of west and east, all set in what Italy probably could have been some time ago, …Italy that is very much present above all in the Sicilian pastry shops (I highly recommend the Dolci Peccati one in Sliema, with excellent ice creams and wonderful granitas, delicious Sicilian cannoli and cassatas made to order). The temperature is very hot; if you look at the position of the island, it is practically in Africa. We booked at the Regency hotel, very central and convenient for getting around, with the bus stop in front of the hotel door, with a nice sea view and a pool on the top floor of the hotel.

I list below some of the things that in my view should be seen on a stay in Malta:

Mdina is a typical centre in the middle of the island with a rich Arab flavour, in which to get lost among the alleys.

Golden Bay one of the few beaches on the island with reddish-coloured sand.

Blue Lagoon A breathtaking sea for this lagoon on the island of Comino, reachable only by private ferries. The beach practically doesn't exist and you have to fight to rent the umbrellas, which rest on the rocks..but it is really worth it.

Gozo Reachable by ferry, its greatest attraction is the very characteristic town of Rabat.

Marsaxlokk A typical fishing village whose harbour holds the typical Maltese boats, brightly coloured and of a particular shape. There is a tourist market where you can find the typical products of the island.

Valletta Very characteristic in its alleys, where even in the most out-of-the-way one the dome of the church of Saint John dominates; we weren't able to enter it because of the opening hours. We toured the city on foot without a precise destination, but wandering according to instant inspiration: in one afternoon we walked under a scorching sun, noticing in particular the typical balconies, the Barrakka Gardens and the alleys of the centre. You have the constant feeling of being in a place with undefined outlines, where Africa, Europe and the Middle East are in continuous fusion.

Agar Qim Temples An experience I don't feel I can recommend, since it is not particularly evocative, but above all it is logistically complicated to reach by public transport and it steals a lot of time, since the buses shuttle to Valletta at a very reduced frequency.