 |
|
|
Travel Trade
Directory
Choose your language |
|
 |
|
|
Why Malta
Many may find that the Maltese islands
exercise as sort of spell on those who visit them with an inquisitive
spirit. This almost undetected archipelago, in the centre of
the Mediterranean off the southern coast of Sicily, would have
played an insignificant part in history had it not been for
the fact that it possesses quite an extensive natural harbour
separated by a promontory upon which the magnificent city of
Valletta was built. The Grand Harbour was, in essence, the main
reason why these otherwise useless, barren islands had been
occupied by all the empires that wished to gain and maintain
control over the Mediterranean littoral. Keeping this in mind
it is therefore not surprising that Maltese history is richer
than that of similar or larger islands in the area such as Pantalleria
and Lampedusa.
To say that the islands seep with history is an understatement
but had there been nothing to visit except Valletta, the visit
to the island would still have been worthwhile. "The city
by gentlemen for gentlemen" is the greatest heritage left
in Malta by the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem
who established themselves on the islands in 1530 after being
expelled from Rhodes by the Ottoman troops of Suleiman The Magnificent
a few years earlier. The celebrated victory of the Knights and
the Maltese over the Turks during the Great Siege of 1565 heralded
a period of prosperity which, by and large, lasted throughout
the 17th and 18th centuries. Encouraged by this victory the
French Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette started a very
ambitious construction project on the Sciberras promontory transforming
it from a grazing land into a typical Renaissance city with
straight streets, impregnable bastions and baroque churches.
Malta is a haven for lovers of prehistory with twenty three
known sites of archaeological interest the earliest of which
dates back to 3,800 to 3,600 BC. Most probably these temples
were built in the shape of an obese figure which archaeologists
have termed as “the goddess of fertility”. Statues
of this goddess, in various positions sometimes naked, sometimes
adorned with pleated skirts, have been found at various prehistoric
sites such as the Tarxien Temples and the famous Hypogeum of
Hal Saflieni which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage
List. Amongst the most spectacular temples one finds Hagar Qim
(literally Upright Stones) in the limits of Qrendi and Ggantija
(the Giants' Temple) in Xaghra, Gozo. These temples in particular
were made of huge megaliths some of which weighing tonnes.
The sea is a constant reality in such tiny islands. Wherever
one looks, one is bound to see the crystal clear Mediterranean
washing the beaches, which in summer provide the main source
of entertainment for tourists and Maltese alike. For years Malta,
Gozo and the islet of Kemmuna (Comino), have been Meccas for
sea lovers and sun worshippers. Their uncontaminated beaches
and picturesque sea-beds have attracted thousands of people
who enjoy scuba-diving, a refreshing dip in the sea or simply
having a tan in the scorching sun. For many centuries the Maltese
has looked at the surrounding sea with ambivalence because this
natural feature has provided the islanders with a mixture of
emotions. It has isolated the Maltese from the mainland and
consequently it has equipped them with a dogged survival instinct
which has proved to be of vital importance in dire times such
as the trying war years when Malta was constantly bombarded
by Axis bombing.
Until the arrival of the Knights the sea was looked upon with
fear since marauding corsairs used to disembark at frequent
intervals and cause havoc to the frightened population. However
the presence of the Knights of St. John turned what was once
a constant source of fear into a profitable opportunity. By
that time the Order had become a substantial naval power and
galleons were built and repaired to supply its ever-increasing
demand. The Order's galleys not only contributed to the annihilation
of the Ottoman navy during the Battle of Lepanto but were also
used for attacking enemy mercantile shipping. For many years,
corsairing was an industry which kept the economy going on.
Later on in the 19th century, when Malta was a crown colony
of the British Empire, docks were built to serve the Admiralty.
With Malta as Britain's main naval base in the Mediterranean,
the sea provided a source of employment for thousands of Maltese
who worked in the dockyard and the Navy.
One can hardly speak about Malta without mentioning the way
in which the traditional festas are carried out because during
the festa week, the village is at its best. The narrow winding
streets and square are decked with colourful decorations since
it is from these streets that the statue of the patron saint
is proudly paraded amidst the joyful playing of festive marches.
The discerning visitor knows that Malta has much more to offer
other than sandy beaches and sky-blue seas. Luckily, the islands
have not as yet been caught up by the hectic lifestyles of major
cities. In a way, time flows at a slower pace and, if one is
lucky, in certain villages one may still see an old barefooted
shepherd walking towards meadows with a herd of goats or sheep.
The honey-coloured flat-roofed buildings, the fields enclosed
by rubble-walls and the richly-adorned baroque churches and
wayside chapels give Malta its unique, distinctive feature.
It's an island with which it is very difficult not to fall in
love! |
 |
 |
|
|
