I saw a cheap deal in
January to Malta and flew over to spend a few days on the island.
The Maltese islands are
the peaks of submerged mountains. Around 6000 years ago an earthquake tilted
the islands, so the northern coastline slopes gently to the sea and the
southern coast has some dramatic cliffs.
Malta has a fascinating
history. Around 5000BC humans came from Sicily to the islands. The
population grew and many temples and shrines were built. The most
famous of these is the Hypogeum, that I'll write about in detail later.
More settlers arrived
during the bronze age, followed by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and
Byzantines.
Arabs took over Malta
in medieval times and the Maltese language is derived from Arabic.
In 1090 Roger the
Norman captured Malta and gave the Sicilian bishop jurisdiction over the
islands. Numerous power struggles and empire building marriages later the
Order of St. John set up a base for the Knights of Malta.
In 1565 the Ottoman
Turks attacked in what became known as the Great Siege. Against all odds the
Knights were victorious, and their Maltese base gave them control of the
seas of the central Mediterranean.
The arrival of Napoleon
Bonaparte in 1796 finally ended the Knights rule but his conquest was short
lived. In just three months the French looting and theft of valuable
and sacred artefacts angered the Maltese and they asked for help from the
British. In 1814 the Maltese islands became a British Crown Colony.
The strategic location
of Malta was invaluable to the British in World War I and II. During the
Second World War, Malta's strategic position enabled her to strike at the
Axis forces in the Mediterranean, disrupting their operations in North
Africa and elsewhere.
The ship-repairing
facilities were invaluable to the British Fleet. Malta had to be defended
but the early months saw much damage as the islands' inadequate air defences
comprised of three aged Gloster Gladiator biplanes which the locals
immediately christened Faith, Hope and Charity. Defences were eventually
upgraded with the arrival of Hurricane and Spitfire fighters. Less than 24
hours after Italy entered the war in June 1940 the first air-raids by the
Italian Air Force occurred, which then increased with the involvement of the
Luftwaffe.
Through 1941 and 1942
Malta was the most heavily bombed place on earth. As the convoys carrying
precious supplies were attacked and sunk, the islanders suffered serious
deprivation and disease. The arrival of the battered remains of a convoy on
the 15th August 1942 was ascribed by the inhabitants to a miracle,
interceded by the Virgin, on whose Feast of the Assumption it occurred.
In April 1942 King
George VI, in a dramatic and unprecedented gesture, conferred the George
Cross on the tiny Mediterranean island. The news of the award of the George
Cross was internationally welcomed as it served in a tangible way to mark
the heroism of all concerned. A depiction of the George Cross was added to
the Maltese national flag soon after the award was made and the honour is
still proudly borne today by the Maltese as their flag is raised outside the
European Parliament Buildings in Brussels.
After WWII
Malta very nearly became integrated into Britain, only parliamentary
procrastination led to Malta's independence in 1964. Now modern Malta in
part of the European Union and uses the Euro.
I stayed in St Julians
at the Bay Street hotel. A nice hotel, apart from the endless noise
from the restaurants, bars and clubs nearby. I was unlucky enough to have a
room overlooking the Hard Rock Cafe, pumping out loud music until 2am each
morning.
On my first day in
Malta I took a tour bus around the island, to familiarise myself with the
sites and also to visit the Hypogeum. Many of the temples were closed for
renovation but I was very lucky to get to see the Hypogeum as only a limited
number of visitors are allowed each day.
Malta's sightseeing bus
starts in Sliema, passing through Valletta and on to the Hypogeum.
The Hypogeum was
allegedly discovered in 1899 by builders digging the foundations for a new
house, but the find was not reported until 1902 (after the house was
finished).
The site's
lighting, temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide levels are
constantly monitored to ensure the Hypogeum’s survival for future
generations. Many people are in awe of this prehistoric site but I
confess I was a little disappointed; the bare metal stairway and handrails
that ran through the site clashed with the ancient carved rocks and snaking
power cables destroyed the mood for me. Also no photography was allowed; the
use of flash I could understand but surely there can't be a problem taking
photos in the ambient lighting?
The photo shown here
was taken from another website so you can see the nature of the Hypogeum.
A short walk from the
Hypogeum is the Paola Church of Christ the King.
Jumping back on the bus
I passed through Vittoriosa, south to Marsaxlokk, west along the south coast
to Ħaġar Qim (unfortunately closed) and on to Siġġiewi before heading back
to Sliema.
The next day I took a
trip to Marsaxlokk, the Blue Grotto and Limestone Heritage.
Unfortunately the promised Blue Grotto boat trip wasn't available due to the
weather. The area where the Blue Grotto boats trips depart from is called
Wied iz-Zurrieq; there are some fine views of the cliffs and the tiny island
of Filfla.
Filfla is a crumbling
flat-topped limestone plateau surrounded by 60 metre high cliffs 3 miles
from the coast. The only known permanent structure on it was a chapel built
inside a cave in 1343, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1856 that
also sank part of the island. Until 1971 the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force
used the island for target practice. It became a bird reserve in 1980.
Next was the
Limestone Heritage tour, a family run living exhibition located in the
outskirts of the village of Siggiewi, one of the main quarrying districts in
Malta. Limestone is the primary building material in Malta as you can see
from the rich golden colours of the buildings.
Our final stop was
Marsaxlokk, the main fishing town with a small flea market.
I have to marvel at the
people that write the guide books. In the 'Rough Guide', author Victor Paul
Borg says 'ignore the uninspired souvenirs in favour of the incredibly fresh
fish.'
Can someone please tell
me what a tourist is going to do with fresh fish? I don't believe you can
walk into a local restaurant and have it prepared and cooked for you.
You certainly can't take it back to stink out your hotel room, or take it
home with you.
Marsaxlokk does have an
attractive church and a lovely statue of St Andrew in limestone.
My next day of
discovery was to and around Valletta.
Valletta is the capital
city of Malta and is surrounded on 3 sides by sea. Its history is that of
the Knights of Malta who planned and built the town that became Malta's
capital.
On
the way to Valletta you pass through the Porta Reale (Kingsway) City Gate,
and shortly after that pass by the church of St. Plubius. During World War
II the church was hit by several bombs; 13 people died when the dome and
roof collapsed crushing people sheltering from the bombs in the crypt.
I'm impressed by the reconstruction.
Malta has great and
colourful yellow/orange buses, they are inexpensive and they almost all end
up at the bus terminus by the Triton Fountain. The buses are a tourist
attraction in their own right, many being old post war Leylands with name
like the Lion and Tiger Cub. Most of the buses are privately owned by
the driver. I just hope the European Union doesn't pass some directive
requiring disabled access and wheelchair ramps or these great buses will
disappear forever, like the old London Routemasters that used to carry
people all over London.
Another of Malta's
claims to fame is the Maltese Falcon. In Freedom Square, close to the Triton
Fountain and bus terminus, you'll find a wonderful monument to the Maltese
falcon in gold.
In the thirteenth
century Fredrick II, king of Sicily, decided that Maltese peregrine falcons
were the best. Their fame spread and when the Knights were granted the
islands in 1530 the Emperor Charles V of Spain asked for just one Falcon a
year in payment.
The powerful symbolism
of the Maltese Falcon became the inspiration for Dashiell Hammett who
created a 1930's detective thriller based around the theft of a golden,
jewel encrusted statuette of a falcon supposedly a gift from the Knights to
the Emperor. Once the movie, starring Humphrey Bogart, hit the screens the
Maltese Falcon was a mainstream public idea.
Unfortunately black
market trappers and hunters, enticed by the legendary birds, succeeded in
making the Maltese peregrines extinct in 1982.
Entering Valletta you
find the tourist office in Freedom Square and Republic Street, the main
shopping street that runs to Fort St Elmo.
The National Museum of
Archaeology is located on the left side as you walk down Republic Street in
the the Auberge de Provence building.
St. Johns Co-Cathedral
was built by the Knights of Malta between 1573 and 1578 as the church of the
Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St John. St John’s Co-Cathedral is a gem
of Baroque art and architecture. The Grand Masters and several knights
donated gifts of high artistic value and made enormous contributions to
enrich it with the best works of art.
The massive vault is
painted by Mattia Preti, illustrating episodes from the life of St. John the
Baptist. The spacious nave is flanked on either side by the chapels of the
various Langues of the Order. Both the church and its oratory are
paved with marble tomb-stones, under which lie the remains of the knights.
There are altogether 364 slabs, all of which bear Latin inscriptions
exalting the merits and deeds of the Knights of the Order. The Oratory,
which forms part of the Church, is noted for Caravaggio's masterpiece 'The
Beheading of St. John'. Another excellent Caravaggio painting, 'St. Jerome',
can be seen at the Chapel of Italy inside the Church.
For an uninterrupted
view of the Grand Harbour, the Upper Barrakka Gardens date from the Knights
time on the island and now feature a number of monuments to personalities
such as Lord Strickland, a former Prime Minister of Malta.
From the Upper Barrakka
Gardens you can see the 10 ton bronze Great Siege Bell. This was inaugurated
in 1992 by Queen Elizabeth II and the President of Malta, as a memorial to
those who lost their lives in the Siege of Malta during 1940 - 1943. It is
rung daily at midday. There are fine views from here across to Malta's Grand
Harbour to the Three Cities of Senglea, Vittoriosa and Kalkara. The Grand
Harbour has played a major part in Malta's history. It is deep, sheltered
and bordered by high stone bastions. Although now quiet and peaceful, it has
been the location for fierce battles over the years and was the site of
ferocious bombings and huge destruction in World War II.
Below the Upper
Barrakka Gardens is The Saluting Battery, another of the surviving
architectural structures of the Knights of St. John. It was built in the
16th century as part of Valletta’s main defences and was in use up until as
recently as 40 years ago. You can look down upon it from the Upper Barrakka
Gardens and hear the noon day gun fired or for a chance to load one of the
old cannons yourself, for a small charge you can enter the battery itself.
The area also has fine
views of the Grand Harbour.
My next day in Malta
included a tour of the Three Cites. Across the Grand Harbour from Valletta
is the area known as the Three Cities: Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa.
Driving past Cospicua to Vittoriosa we stopped to walk through the various
narrow streets shaded by historic buildings and churches. A harbour cruise
in a ‘fregatina’ was included. In Senglea we saw the ‘Vedette’ placed
in the centre of the Grand Harbour.
The Vedette is an old
lookout point in Safe Haven Garden, Senglea. It is famous for its sculpture
of eyes and ears on the exterior walls, a warning that the enemy can be seen
and heard; and has views over the Grand Harbour to Valletta.
Senglea itself is the
smallest of the Three Cities. Its strategic position at the centre of the
Grand Harbour made Senglea the most heavily bombed part of Malta during the
Second World War.
My last day was a trip
to Mdina, the 'old capital' of Malta. Mdina is a medieval town, with
narrow quiet streets, situated in the centre of the island. It is also known
as the "Silent City".
The Cathedral of St.
Paul was built from 1697 to 1702 to replace a Norman cathedral that had been
destroyed by earthquake in 1693. The new cathedral caused a significant
redesign of medieval Mdina's city centre—several streets and houses were
cleared to create an open square in front of the cathedral.
My short winter visit
only scratched the surface of Malta's history, as some sites were closed and
others I didn't have a chance to see (such as the island of Gozo).
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