2020-03-01_Wanderlust

@beautifuldestinations

wanderlust.co.uk March 2020 35

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

W

ithover 300

daysofsun

ayearandjust

threehoursfrom

London,Maltamakesforabright

shortbreakwheneveryoudecide

togo.Addtothemixarichhistory

andacuisineasdiverseasthe

cultureandyou’llwanttogo

soonerratherthanlater...

CITYEXPLORER

ThePhoenicians,Romansand

ArabsallsettledinMalta,

creatingaculture-blending

skylinebestviewedfromthe

coastaltownofSliema.Across

thewaterintheUNESCO-listed

capital,Valletta,thatcenturies-

spanningarchitecturecanbe

studiedupclose.Thelimestone

facadesoftheNewParliament

BuildingandRoyalOperaHouse,

forinstance,hintatMalta’sItalian

pastwhileStJohn’sCo-Cathedral

ishometotheworld’slargestand

onlysignedCaravaggiopainting.

Nearby,theCasaRoccaPiccola

takesyoutothe16thcentury

where 400 yearsoftheMaltese

nobility’straditionscanbeseen.

Headinginlandtothefortified

cityofMdina–dubbedthe‘silent

city’duetoitsnoiserestrictions

• medievalhistorycomesalive,
  withtoweringpalacesandhorses
  clip-cloppingdowncobbled
  streets.MoreMiddleAgecharm
  awaitsinBirgu–theoldestofthe
  ThreeCities.Birgu’sslightly
  youngersisters,Sengleaand
  Cospicuaareagoodstarting
  pointtoexploretheisland’srich
  KnightsHospitallierhistory.Don’t
  misstheBaroquebuildingsand
  theprettyharbour.

FOODINPARADISE

Malta’smelting-potofcultures

hasalsohugelyinfluencedits

cuisine.Whereyoueatisalmost

justasimportantaswhatyoueat

ontheisland.Forexample,avisit

tooneofSliema’smanysea-front

restaurantstoenjoyfishcaught

thatmorningisamust.Orhead

tobustlingStJohnsSquare,the

perfectplacetotryapastizzi–

afilopastrystuffedwithricotta

cheeseormushypeas.

Foraromanticdinner,eatat

oneofthemanyrestaurants

surroundedbythehoney-

colouredmonumentsofMdina.

Foratraditionalmeal,order

afenek(rabbitstew),andpairit

withaglassofMaltesewine.

GETOUTTHERE

TheruggededgesofMaltaoffer

arefreshingplacetogetactive.

Escapethecrowdsbyfinding

asecludedbayonMellieha’s

sparklingcoastlinetowindsurfor

kayakacrosstheazuresurface.

The year-round sunny skies and

visibility of the Mediterranean

Sea also entices divers. The

water is so clear that parrotfi sh,

damselfi sh and octopus can all

be seen through a snorkel mask,

while shipwrecks and underwater

caves await exploration from

those willing to dive down deeper.

Back on dry land, the adventure

continues. Hike or horseride

through Malta’s rural

countryside, try one of the

1,300 climbing routes that

hang over the sea or whizz

through a warren of medieval

roads on two wheels. However

you spend your time in Malta,

you’re bound to leave feeling

fulfi lled, yet aching for more...

The local lures

(clockwise from this)

Exploring the streets of Valletta;

swimming in St Peter’s Pool;

sample fresh seafood;

marvel at St John’s Co-Cathedral

A short break in

MALTA

From the historic cities to the action-packed

coast, this Mediterranean island is the perfect

escape for those short on time...

To ‡ind out more, visit maltauk.com