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Boy oh boy, where do we start? Souvenir shops are to Malta what fast food joints are to America. There are tons of them. They are, quite literally, all over the place.
The main thing to keep in mind is to shop around. Most shops sell pretty much the same things, although prices can differ quite a bit. Popular souvenirs include filigree jewellery, hand-made Malta lace, distinctive brass Maltese door knockers, glass ornaments as well as the usual books, t-shirts, hats…etc.
A nice place to visit if you’re looking for hand-crafted Maltese souvenirs is the Ta’ Qali crafts village. This is a small ‘village’ where local craftsmen create unique artefacts or items. Many times you can even watch them at work. Here you’ll find anything from glass blowing to metal work, lace and fabric, pottery, furniture, jewellery…the list is quite large!
Other souvenirs can be found at the Marsaxlokk market. Here you can find many household items such as hand-made knitted crochet table-cloths, novelty t-shirts, candles and other home decorations. The stall keepers are friendly and most have a good grasp of English (which is handy if you want to bargain with them).
Also popular with tourists visiting Malta is filigree jewellery. This is intricate jewellery, hand made using traditional techniques. Speaking of traditional, Malta lace is very popular. It is also just beautiful. Until a few years ago, it was quite a common sight (especially in Gozo) to see Maltese women sitting outside their house, hand making pieces in lace of exquisite design. Whilst it is sadly no longer a common sight, the tradition lives on. Watch out for cheap, machine-made versions.
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