It doesn’t take long to visit the islands of Malta and Gozo, but although they’re small, they’re full of awesome architecture, prehistoric sites and stunning coastlines.  From the port of Valletta, we first explored the tiny island of Gozo.

Our itinerary through Gozo and Malta

Arriving by ferry, we went from the port of Mgarr to the capital city of Victoria, whose name was changed from Rabat under British rule in 1897.  We explored the city on foot and climbed up to the 15th fort of Il-Kastell for a panoramic view of the city. From there, we followed the coastline, beginning in Dwerja, which has been used as a location for Game of Thrones.  It’s a scenic drive and along the way we stopped at the Salt Pans, where sea salt has been harvested since ancient times. Then we continued to Ramla Bay, one of Gozo’s most popular beaches. Besides being great for swimming, it has red-gold sand and the remains of a Roman villa,

Boarding the ferry for Gozo, ⁨Cirkewwa⁩, ⁨Mellieha⁩, ⁨Malta

Victoria (Rabat), Gozo

View of Victoria from Il-Kastell, Gozo

Astra Theatre, Victoria ⁨(Rabat), ⁨Gozo

San Lawrenz, Gozo

Salt pans near Marsalforn, Gozo

Beach and remains of Roman villa, Ramla Bay, Gozo

Port of Mgarr, Gozo

Arriving back on the island of Malta, our first stop was the mysterious Arabic walled city of Mdina. The citadel was fortified as long ago as 1000 BC and has exquisite architectural detail.  Strolling through hidden lanes of the city, with its thick walls, provided respite from the intense heat of central Malta.  We visited St.Paul’s Cathedral, the main attraction here.

The walled city of Mdina, Malta

The walled city of Mdina, Malta

Mdina, Malta

St. Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina, Malta

St. Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina, Malta

The town of Rabat is walking distance from Mdina.  The central square is lively at night, with locals and visitors chatting, enjoying the balmy weather, and listening to musicians there.  The Maltese language is reflective of its former colonizers:  Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Ottomans, Normans, Sicilians, French and British.  English is also widely spoken. We visited the Church of St. Dominic and the Blessed Virgin, St. Agatha’s Crypt and Catacombs (which we were not allowed to photograph) and Domus Romana, a museum built to incorporate the remains of a large 1st century BC Roman townhouse.

Church of St Dominic and the Blessed Virgin, Rabat, Malta

Mosaic floor, Domus Romana, Rabat, Malta

Center of mosaic floor, Domus Romana, Rabat, Malta

The great prehistoric structures at Hagar Qim and the Mnajdra Temples are set high on the edge of coastal cliffs and are among Malta’s best preserved.  They are said to pre-date the pyramids of Egypt by more than 500 years. Permanent tent-like canopies have been erected over the temples to protect them from the elements.

Ruins from Hagar Qim ⁨Mnajdra Prehistoric Temple, Malta

Ruins from Hagar Qim ⁨Mnajdra Prehistoric Temple, Malta

Ruins from Hagar Qim ⁨Mnajdra Prehistoric Temple, Malta

Water cisterns, ruins from Hagar Qim ⁨Mnajdra Prehistoric Temple, Malta

Hiking at Ruins from Hagar Qim ⁨Mnajdra Prehistoric Temple, Malta

Vittoriosa, on a narrow peninsula across from the capital city of Valletta, is surprisingly off the tourist radar and is a wonderful place to absorb local atmosphere.  It was once known as the fishing village of Birgu when it was settled by the Knights of St. John in 1530,  It was fun to wander through the colorful alleys and see the illuminated monuments by night.

A street in Vittoriosa, Malta

Vittoriosa, Malta

Vittoriosa, Malta

Before returning to Sicily we spent the day in Valletta, Malta’s capital and the European Capital of Culture for 2018.  Only 1km by 600m, with every street leading to the sea, this walled city features 16th and 17th century townhouses with traditional Maltese balconies.  We embarked on a self-guided walking tour of the city.  It was packed with tourists but the ambiance was very pleasant.  The most outstanding find was the spectacular St. John’s Co-Cathedral, a breathtaking array of baroque gold and lavish decoration. The iridescent marble floor contains marble tomb slabs.

Valletta, Malta

Pedestrian street, ⁨Valletta, Malta

Auberge de Castille, ⁨Valletta⁩, ⁨Malta⁩

Church of St Catherine of Italy, ⁨Valletta⁩, Malta

Street and outdoor cafe, ⁨Valletta⁩, ⁨Malta⁩

St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta,, Malta

St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

Marble floor, St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

Outside St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

We returned to Pozzallo, Sicily by ferry and, in spite of the heat and scarcity of camping facilities, had an amazing time on this magical island…