Art galleries across Europe have a fine tradition of occupying some stunning buildings. So much so, that a lot of them would be worth going to just to see inside, irrespective of what's hanging on the walls. Take the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Prado in Madrid, Florence’s Uffizi and London’s National Gallery. All dazzling properties, yet none can claim to be housed in a palace like Malta’s Museum of Fine Arts.
Once upon a time the beseiged Catholic Church became increasingly concerned about the upsurge in the Protestant faith in Europe. They established the Roman Inquisition to ensure people kept the faith, and in 1574 dispatched an Inquisitor to Malta to take care of business on the island. He needed a base, and this magnificent palace was it!
If you’re off on a holiday to Malta then it’s almost inevitable that you’ll end up taking a day-trip to see the magnificent hill-top city of Mdina. And while you’re there, if you have any interest in history, geology or science, then you’d be a fool to miss out on the National Museum of Natural History.
Name the quietest place on Malta? You’d think it might be difficult to come up with a definitive answer to this question but my money would be on the Carmelite Priory. Why? Well, a working monastery in Mdina - a place known as ‘the Silent City’ - that has to be in with a decent shout of claiming the title, doesn't it?
If you visit Malta’s sister island of Gozo, you’ll notice that the pace of life seems much more relaxed generally than in Malta. It’s peaceful, more tranquil more laidback and so it’s the perfect setting for the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary in Gharb.
The Maltese people are renowned for many fine qualities. They are passionate, friendly, helpful and unfalteringly loyal but if you upset them they are an immensely stubborn and fierce bunch. The National War Museum is testament to just how unyielding and resourceful this little island can become in times of strife.
Anyone taking a trip to Malta will find there’s more than enough to amuse them on the main island for much longer than the week or even the fortnight of their visit. But even so, we’d still strongly advise everyone who comes here to get on a ferry and go to Gozo, and specifically, go to the Citadel.
This one always causes a few raised eyebrows among the locals on Malta! Does the island need a museum housing a Classic Car Collection, they ask, when so many of the cars buzzing around on the roads could easily be classed as ‘classic’ or ‘vintage’ anyway? We admit, it’s a strange choice for an attraction in a country where many still believe ‘a car is for life’!
Delve into Malta’s history and you’ll inevitably find mention of knights. Whether it be the Knights of Malta, or the Knights Hospitallers, or the Knights of the Order of St John – it frankly doesn’t matter because they’re all different names for the same bunch. And whatever name you use, one thing is beyond doubt – the Knights played a massive part in shaping the country you see today.
In this world you’ll find a number of famous places that claim to have a ‘something’ for every day of the year. So, you have York, a city with 365 pubs and Woodhall Spa, the home of English golf, with 365 bunkers. In Malta it’s churches, 365 of them … though no-one ever claims to have counted them … and no-one appears particularly keen to do so!
Attractions in Malta
They say beautiful things come in small packages and that’s exactly what you’ll find with the island of Malta. Peel back the wrapping on this one just a millimetre or two and one small peek reveals scores of captivating, inspiring, exhilarating and intriguing things inside. Many of the attractions on Malta today are shaped by its unique and immense history and they sit comfortably alongside the myriad of modern activities, accommodation, facilities and exciting nightlife you’d expect from a bustling Mediterranean resort.
Museums
Name the quietest place on Malta? You’d think it might be difficult to come up with a definitive answer to this question but my money would be on the Carmelite Priory. Why? Well, a working monastery in Mdina - a place known as ‘the Silent City’ - that has to be in with a decent shout of claiming the title, doesn't it? READ MORE
Stately homes throughout the world follow the same tried and tested formula - display the property and it’s interior to the public in its best possible light. The problem is that, attractive though this can be, it relies on the best guess of a curator – how someone who doesn’t really know thinks it should be. That’s not how it works at...READ MORE
Although it sounds to the non-Maltese ear like something you should be ordering with pilau rice and a naan bread, this is, in fact, a cave! Actually, it’s much more than a cave; it’s a very important cave. It’s the cave where the earliest evidence of human settlement on Malta was discovered – from around 7,400 years ago. READ MORE
Anyone taking a trip to Malta will find there’s more than enough to amuse them on the main island for much longer than the week or even the fortnight of their visit. But even so, we’d still strongly advise everyone who comes here to get on a ferry and go to Gozo, and specifically, go to the Citadel. READ MORE
Once upon a time the beseiged Catholic Church became increasingly concerned about the upsurge in the Protestant faith in Europe. They established the Roman Inquisition to ensure people kept the faith, and in 1574 dispatched an Inquisitor to Malta to take care of business on the island. He needed a base, and this magnificent palace was it! READ MORE
Planes, and especially World War II planes, have a strange effect on some people … specifically, men! I spent much of my childhood with various bits of Spitfires and Lancaster bombers stuck to my hands as I attempted to build models, while males of my father’s generation go all dewy eyed at the sound of a Rolls Royce Merlin engine (this is...READ MORE
This one always causes a few raised eyebrows among the locals on Malta! Does the island need a museum housing a Classic Car Collection, they ask, when so many of the cars buzzing around on the roads could easily be classed as ‘classic’ or ‘vintage’ anyway? We admit, it’s a strange choice for an attraction in a country where...READ MORE
If you’ve been researching Malta for anything more than about 15 seconds, you’ll know the island is steeped in history. From its pre-historic temples, through the Knights of St John to wartime alliances with the British and independence, its past is both eventful and colourful. So, it stands to reason that the story of Malta’s national theatre...READ MORE
In this world you’ll find a number of famous places that claim to have a ‘something’ for every day of the year. So, you have York, a city with 365 pubs and Woodhall Spa, the home of English golf, with 365 bunkers. In Malta it’s churches, 365 of them … though no-one ever claims to have counted them … and no-one appears...READ MORE
Art galleries across Europe have a fine tradition of occupying some stunning buildings. So much so, that a lot of them would be worth going to just to see inside, irrespective of what's hanging on the walls. Take the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Prado in Madrid, Florence’s Uffizi and London’s National Gallery. All dazzling...READ MORE
If you’re off on a holiday to Malta then it’s almost inevitable that you’ll end up taking a day-trip to see the magnificent hill-top city of Mdina. And while you’re there, if you have any interest in history, geology or science, then you’d be a fool to miss out on the National Museum of Natural History. READ MORE
The Maltese people are renowned for many fine qualities. They are passionate, friendly, helpful and unfalteringly loyal but if you upset them they are an immensely stubborn and fierce bunch. The National War Museum is testament to just how unyielding and resourceful this little island can become in times of strife. READ MORE
Delve into Malta’s history and you’ll inevitably find mention of knights. Whether it be the Knights of Malta, or the Knights Hospitallers, or the Knights of the Order of St John – it frankly doesn’t matter because they’re all different names for the same bunch. And whatever name you use, one thing is beyond doubt – the...READ MORE
If you want a guaranteed winning formula for creating one of the most richly and lavishly decorated cathedrals you’ll ever see, take a tip from St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. The interiors in this 16 th century place of worship are utterly magnificent and how they became this way was by employing a very cunning plan! READ MORE
If you visit Malta’s sister island of Gozo, you’ll notice that the pace of life seems much more relaxed generally than in Malta. It’s peaceful, more tranquil more laidback and so it’s the perfect setting for the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary in Gharb. READ MORE
