Our very first trip since moving to London less than a month ago was to the Maltese Islands. Nothing could have prepared me for the breath-taking beauty of the Islands: the boat trips, beautiful towns, periwinkle sea, friendly people, and soul-feeding views. You'll find prehistoric temples, fossil-studded cliffs, hidden coves, and a history of remarkable intensity.
 
The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km north of Africa. The archipelago consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino with a total population of over 400,000 inhabitants occupying an area of 316 km. Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre. Gozo is the second largest island and is more rural, characterised by fishing, tourism, crafts and agriculture. Comino, the smallest of the trio, has one hotel and is largely uninhabited. With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do.
 
Malta has a greater density of historic sights than any other country. Starting with its unique prehistoric temples, some of the oldest stone buildings in the world, it also has Roman catacombs, medieval towns, and the extraordinary architectural and artistic legacy of the Knights of St John (the Knights of Malta).

Azure Window, Gozo

A highlight of our trip was going to Azure Window, which is a limestone natural arch on the Maltese island of Gozo. We were lucky to visit when we did - Azure Window collapsed in April.

Blue Lagoon, Comino

A must-do is going to Comino, which is an island situated between Malta and Gozo. Only 3.5 km, Comino’s main attraction is the Blue Lagoon. This sheltered inlet of shimmering aquamarine water over white sand is very popular with day-trippers. 

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A tip: Wear good footwear! Comino is very rocky and there are lots of thorny bushes along the trails. (I fell while walking the cliffs on Comino and destroyed my camera…and damaged my pride when everyone came running to help me. Flip flops were not the right footwear for Comino!)

Valletta

Valletta, The Fortress City, "a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen" is Malta's capital city. Valletta is abundantly rich in things to see and explore, intriguing historical buildings around every corner and narrow side streets full of tiny quaint shops and cafés. We were fortunate to spend the day in Valletta the day before the Carnival, which meant we enjoyed the floats, sights and sounds without the craziness of the carnival crowds. We took a spontaneous river boat tour around the Grand Harbour and to the Three Cities. I highly recommend doing this! Not only is it a wonderful way to see the cities and truly capture the blueness of the ocean but it also provides a unique opportunity to chat with a local and truly gain an ‘insiders’ view on living in the Maltese Islands.

Finally, Malta is very Mediterranean — so expect lots of fish, olives, garlic, capers and tomatoes.
 On the flight over passengers were given a ‘tuna roll’ made of tuna, tomato sauce, cauliflower, olives and capers. My son and husband were not impressed! I tried it and loved it. Be sure to try the traditional Maltese street food of pea mash in puff pastry called Pea Pastizzis. They are amazing pockets of flaky goodness! You will also find wonderful dishes of roasted vegetables and traditional Maltese goat cheese called Ġbejna.

As we plan our future trips, I can’t help but to wonder if any place can truly measure up to the beauty and magic of Malta. ​​