A country often unheard-of for the less travelled folk, Malta in the Mediterranean is a beautiful destination rivalling that of its neighbours Greece and Italy. With an incredible history, style and atmosphere, Malta, and its other two islands Gozo and Comino, are well worth the visit.
The root of my family tree; my father’s father and mother hailed from Mosta, Malta and my mother’s mother from Xewkija, Gozo and father Nador, Gozo. With a rich heritage lying in the cobblestone streets of both islands, it was only fitting I, with the company of my parents and sister, make the long trip over from Australia.
If you haven’t already Googled what it looks like, prepare yourself, because it is filled with an immense amount of beauty that you will be lusting over for days.
Mosta
Known for it’s historic church, the Mosta Dome, visiting Mosta is a definite must-a. Holding a special place in my heart as the baptismal site of my nanu (grandfather), on my most recent trip to Malta, exploring the small town of Mosta and visiting the church was high up on my list of things to do.
The Mosta Dome is known for being the site of a bomb dropping in World War II with the bomb landing in the middle of the pews and failing to detonate. Considered a miracle, you can see the bomb, still intact and encased in glass in the church today.
With a small shop selling a collection of historic and religious souvenirs such as rosary beads and books, you’ll be able to walk away with a new appreciation of the catholic church, admiration for the beautiful architecture and design and some incredible photos and souvenirs.
After your visit to the Mosta Dome you can run across the road to grab a delicious home made and hot pastizzi!
Comino
A scene that usually floods Instagram in the warmer months, the island of Comino just off the coast of Malta and Gozo is one of the most breathtaking destinations in the country. Arriving by boat, you’ll be blown away by the sheer beauty of this island, one that is only available for visitation and unfortunately not living.
With vibrant, clear turquoise waters, a rocky shoreline and a party-like atmosphere, you’ll never want to leave Comino. My visit in May brought with it cooler water temperatures, however, we didn’t let that stop us from diving into this perfect scenario.
With a few small kiosks on the island selling a collection of food, drinks and necessities, you’re best to bring everything you need with you from the mainland. Make sure you bring your swimmers, a towel, food, drink and any pool floats or games you would like once you’re there.
Valletta
The capital of Malta, Valetta is a beautiful waterside city and one of the most visited destinations in the country and its neighbouring islands. Full of rich history, beautiful architecture and a bustling atmosphere, Valetta is often frequented by tourists from around the country, cruise ship passengers and locals heading into the city. You can spend your time in Valetta browsing the various stalls and shops, dining alfresco or simply people watching.
Xewkija
No matter if you’re a local or not, you’ll be treated like an old friend. As you wonder around the streets of some of the less touristy destinations such as Xewkija, you’ll often be greeted with a warm smile.
As we drove around the streets of Xewkija looking for the small house my grandma grew up in, searching for the initials, S.H. embossed on the grate above the door we were approached by two men offering their help. In the strangest of circumstances the first man happened to be a friend of a friend from our hometown of Mackay in North Queensland, Australia.
After talking about our family’s mutual friend and more trivial topics, we were pointed in the direction of the house he said my great grandparents lived in. Moving futher along the street, we were approached by the man living in the house we believed to be our grandma’s to help us out. This man turned out to be related to us; he was my mother’s close, but distant cousin.
Malta will forever hold a place in my heart and I can’t wait for my next visit. For those who have never been, I urge you to add it to your bucket list, you won’t regret it!
