A VIRTUAL TOUR OF MALTA
Last updated: Wednesday, January 14, 1998 10:59:21 PM
These pictures were taken during my visits to Malta, the last one in July of 1995. Some of the picture were taken from a helicopter during a sightseeing tour of Malta. The helicopter sightseeing service is operated by Malta Air Charter, a subsidiary of Air Malta. It's an experience not to be missed as it gives you a very different perspective of the islands.
The pictures were transferred from negatives to a Kodak Recordable Photo CD-Rom. This was done to obtain the best resolution possible. The pictures were then resized and converted to JPEG format using CorelDraw. The pictures are quite large and therefore take a few seconds to download (depending on the speed of your modem and the activity on the Web Server), so be patient! Best display is obtained with a Video Accelerator Card with at least 2MB of memory.
Enjoy!
Miscellaneous
Updated January 14, 1998
Prehistoric Temples
Updated January 14, 1998
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS
This is an aerial shot of the Blue Lagoon with Cominotto in the foreground. The south side of the Lagoon is closed to boats. This enables swimmers to enjoy the water in peace and safety..
How things have changed! For those of you expatriates that haven't visited Malta for quite a while, this is an example of how things have changed. Many new roads, divided four-lane mini-highways, under- and over-passes, and tunnels have been built to accommodate the ever increasing number of cars on the island. However...the Maltese still drive like they used to years ago! That is, driver and pedestrian beware! Oh yes, in Malta you drive on the left hand side!
Our Lady of Ta Pinu Church, Gozo (119KB)
This is an aerial shot of the Ta Pinu church located in the valley between Gharb and Ghammar. This church was built between 1920 and 1936. This church is named after Fillipino Gauci, a pious man who took care of a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption that stood on the site. There is a very interesting story about the chapels that stood on the site throughout the years. The story goes that on the morning of June 22, 1883, a peasant woman named Carmela Grima heard a voice calling her as she walked and prayed on her way home to Gharb. A friend of Carmela, Francesco Portelli, is also known to have heard voices commanding him to pay devotion to the wounds made in Christ's shoulders when He was carrying the Cross. As the word spread, the site became a center of pilgrimage, and the shrine become famous. Many miracles of healing, have been attested and attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Ta Pinu.
An aerial view of Mellieha Bay.
Another aerial view of Mellieha Bay. This one shows the Bird Sanctuary in the foreground.
THE DOORS OF MDINA
MDINA - THE SILENT CITY
The streets in Mdina were designed for horse-drawn carriages and the streets are narrow to conserve space. Walking down these quiet narrow streets almost takes you back to the time of the Knights. One can almost here the sound of horses and the clink of armour. The sound of church bells in the distance, a cat meowing as he sits on the ledge of an open window, and a canary singing a cheerful tune in a cage hanging in a shaded courtyard accentuates the silence of the city. You can spend hours wondering around the narrow streets. Not to be missed is a visit to one of the courtyard cafes and restaurants to enjoy a Maltese meal, a cup of hot tea and pastries, or a cold Kinnie with a lemon twist.
A Small Open-Air Restaurant on Top of the Bastions
Wondering around Mdina we came across this restaurant and coffee house right at the edge of the Mdina bastions. The restaurant owners told us that they had a small open-air roof-top patio with some very nice scenery. We decided to go up taking these narrow stairs to the top and we were very pleased we did. The view from this patio was unbelievable since the house sat right on top of the highest part of the Mdina bastions. We had a cold Kinnie with a lemon twist and sat back and enjoyed the view.
This picture was taken from the roof-top patio described in the previous section. It shows a typical Maltese farmhouse, called Razzett in Maltese. Typically the razzett was one or two storeys. The flat roofs are typical of Maltese housing. They serve many practical purposes, including: a place to hang and dry clothes; a place to spend a summer evening to catch the evening breeze; a place to watch fireworks displays from distant towns and villages; and for farmers, a place to let pumpkins mature. The roofs are also designed to catch rain water and to direct it to wells dug in the soft limestone.
This facade is typical of Mdina buildings.
MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOGRAPHS
The Blue Lagoon is perhaps one of the most beautiful beaches of the Maltese Islands. Nestled between the North-West side of the island of Comino and the small island of Cominotto, the Blue Lagoon offers a breath-taking view. The pure white sand that covers the bottom of the bay and the clear still water is a combination that is unbelievable. When the sea is calm, boats seem to float in mid air. This bay is very popular with tourists and many tour boats make the Blue Lagoon one of their main stops. If you're visiting Comino for a day, arrive early and track your way to the Blue Lagoon before the crowds arrive. It is peaceful and relaxing and a dip in the bay early in the morning is an unforgettable experience.
This is a picture of a traditional Maltese boat (Dghajsa). These colourful boats are very sea-worthy and can withstand very rough seas. The boats are painted with very bright colours and their owners take great pride in making their boats as bright and as colourful as they can.
This is a picture of the South-West fortifications of Valletta, the Manderaggio with a view of Marsamxett Harbour. The knights hoped to excavate this area to build a port for their galleys which was safe from storms, similar to the Manderaggio of Rhodes. The stone taken from the site was to be used to build the city itself. After quite a bit of digging it was discovered that the lower rock stratum was not suitable for building stone and worked stopped before sea level was reached.
The picture is taken from the roof of the house were my wife Rita grew up before her family moved to Canada.
This picture was taken from the Upper Barracca Gardens, across the Grand Harbour from Fort St. Angelo. Fort St. Angelo is built on the site of a temple of Juno built in Roman times. The original fort pre-dated the knights and De L'Isle-Adam was the first to repair the existing ruined fortifications. Grandmaster de la Sengle rebuilt the old Governor's Palace, which became the Magisterial Palace.
Fort St. Angelo sits on the promontory in front of the city of Birgu (Vittoriosa). Other historical buildings located in Birgu include the Auberge de Provence et Auvergne, the Auberge de France, the Auberge d'Aragon, the Auberge d'Angleterre, the Inquisitor's Palace, Provence Gate, Couvre Porte Gate, the Advanced Gate and the site of the Auberge de Castille, Leon et Portugal.
This picture was taken from the Upper Barracca Gardens. Fort Ricasoli guards the entrance to the Grand Harbour on the East Side with Fort St. Elmo guarding the west side of the entrance to the Grand Harbour. The Fort is built on Rinella Bay.
It was designed by Antonio Valperga who also built the Cotonera lines. It was a gift to the Knights by Fra Giovanni Francesco Ricasoli and construction started in 1670. When finished, the Fort housed a garrison of two thousand.
The Auberge de Castille et Leon is the building that greets visitors arriving in Valletta via Triq Girolamo Cassar. The auberge was designed by Girolamo Cassar but was later remodeled under Grand Master di Pinto, the Portuguese Grand Master of the langue of Castille et Leon. The architect, Domenico Cachia, who had studied in Catania and Lecee, started this work in 1744, at the age of 44. It is symmetrical and uniform. The building incorporates parts of Cassar's original building. The Auberge de Castille is one of the finest work of the eighteenth century on Malta. The building now houses the offices of the Prime Minister.
The picture is taken in the vicinity of Marsalforn. A drive along the coastal road of Marsalforn takes one to some very beautiful and interesting scenic spots. The Salt Pans are used to collect salt from the sea. Sea water is pumped into shallow pools dug out of the soft limestone. As the water evaporates under the hot Maltese sun, the salt is left behind. Sea salt is much more flavorful then the salt that is extracted from Salt Mines.
The picture is taken in the vicinity of Marsalforn. A drive along the coastal road of Marsalforn takes one to some very beautiful and interesting scenic spots. The picture highlights the deep blue colour of the Mediterranean Sea.
Marsalforn Bay is located on the north side of the Island of Gozo. The picture was taken from the Calypso Hotel. Traditional Maltese fishing boats can be seen in the foreground. The beach consists of smooth colouful pebbles.
In recent years, the bay and the surrounding area have been made more attractive. A promenade complete with benches has been built along the shore. Outdoor restaurants and shops selling souvenirs and T-shirts can be found across the street from the promenade. A large parking area is located off the bay. Qbajjar Fort is located around the western headland. Saltpans cut out of the rock can be found further west.
Maltese Traditional Balconies, Valletta
Ornate wooden balconies are a traditional building style in Malta. Many houses are built with an enclosed balcony. The balconies usually have hinged sections which can be opened to let fresh air in as well as to allow the occupants to watch the world go by or discuss politics and other matters of significance with neighbors and passers by. The density of Maltese housing and the lack of front yards and porches is alleviated by the very practical and useful balcony. Balconies also give the houses character since each one is different than the next both in style and colour.
This picture also gives a glimpse of how some of the streets of Valletta are constructed. Valletta is built on three hills and some of the streets begin as flight of steps stretching from Marsamxett Harbour on the West side, to the Grand Harbour on the East side of the peninsula! This was done for practical purposes when Valletta was built during the time of Grand Master Jean de la Valette. It also makes a walking tour of the City quite interesting.
A picture of me with my wife Rita! This was taken on top of the roof of my wife's old house in Valletta.
This is the biggest sandy beach in Malta. The water is quite shallow close to the beach. It's a very popular beach and get quite crowded at the height of the summer. It's also a popular place for late night barbecues. There are a number of places where you can rent umbrellas and beach chairs, paddle boats and Jet Boats as well as buy a snack of a cold drink.
This picture was taken in Valletta. Two cannons stand guard in front of St. John's Co-Cathedral. The cannons are in excellent shape and is an example of the weapons used by the Knights and the Maltese people to defend the islands against the Turkish invaders.
Is this the famous Maltese Falcon? This statue of a Falcon is located in the courtyard of the Grandmaster's Palace and Armoury in Valletta. This courtyard offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and the bustle of Republic Street.
Cafe Cordina is one of the oldest restaurants on the island. It is located on Republic Street across the street from Queen's Square and the Royal Malta Library (Library of the Order). Cafe Cordina offers excellent fare in very opulent surroundings. Cafe Cordina is renowned for the pastries, cakes and sweets.
Some of these English Style Postal Boxes can still be found in Valletta. This one is located at the end of a short street that suddenly turns into steps! It's a good thing for those unknowing tourists having their first driving experience in Valletta!
This is a small inlet located at the extreme South of Marsamxett Harbour. It's usually packed with colourful traditional Maltese dghajes (boats). You can also see the occasional horse getting a well deserved bath! I have fond memories of this area since our Mom used to take us there when we were small. We used to walk from home and back and we used to spend hours at a time playing in the small playground and the wooded slopes located in the shadow of the bastions. When we grew older, we used to go fishing off a pier just north of there. The pier is now used by the Gozo Lines for one of their ferries.
This picture was taken from an old playground located at Tax-Xbiex. Lookout points, or vedettes, can be found on many of the bastions that surround Valletta, Floriana and the three cities. The vedettes gave the guards an excellent view of the bastions and surrounding areas. Today, the vedettes provide tourists with excellent views of the bastions and the harbours.
Republic Street in Valletta, decked out for an upcoming feast. The parish feast, or "festa" in Maltese, is very dear and near to the Maltese hearts. Every parish celebrates the feast of its patron saint and there is great rivalry between parishes as to who can put on the best feast. The streets are all decked out with colourful banners and lights and statues line the main streets of the parish. The local band clubs hold noisy and boisterous marches through the local streets during the day. In the evening, a procession with the statue of the patron saint accompanied by marching bands precedes a fireworks display. Large sums of money are spent to put on the best fireworks display possible to wrap up the celebrations.
This statue can be found in one of the courtyards of the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta. These courtyards offer a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the streets surrounding the palace, now housing Malta's Parliament, museums and various government offices.
The calm waters of Balluta Bay.
This is a good example of one of the "step" streets of Valletta.
Old Mint Street with a view of the dome of the Carmelite Church (Tal-Karmnu).
This bay is also known as the Ramla il-Hamra (Red sandy beach) because of the Golden colour of the sand. The beach is surrounded by high hills. On the left, is Calypso's cave. Legend has it that the Nymph Calypso lived in this cave. Ulysses, after being lost at sea in a tempest, found himself on a small, beautiful island where he met Calypso and was enslaved by her for seven years.
This is a picture of Ramla Bay taken from the entrance to Calypso's cave.
The Blue Grotto is located near "Wied iz-Zurrieq" south of the town of Zurrieq. The Blue Grotto is a natural rock formation which has been carved out of the rock by the relentless pounding of the sea. A number of caves can be reached by boat from Wied iz-Zurrieq, the main one being the Blue Grotto. This cave is quite deep. The sea in this area tends to be rough at times but the fishermen who ferry tourists and Maltese alike to visit the grottos are very experienced at handling the seaworthy Maltese boats ("Dghajes"). During the tourist season boats are constantly plying the waters between Wied iz-Zurrieq and the Blue Grotto. Each boat holds a small number of people. Even when the water is a little choppy, the experience is not to be missed.
This is a picture of traditional Maltese fishing boat taken at Wied iz-Zurrieq. This is the type of boat used for tours of the Blue Grotto. The boats are very seaworthy and can whitstand very rough waters. The boat-ramp leads to the inlet from where tourists are picked up for tours of the Blue Grotto.
Street vendors used to be a common site in Maltese villages. There are still some merchants who sell their wares in this fashion. You could almost buy anything from street vendors at one time - bread, fish, vegetables, kerosene, housewares, clothing, and many other things. This picture was taken from a roof-top in Hamrun in 1983.
Buying Kerosene from a street vendor
Street vendors used to be a common site in Maltese villages. There are still some merchants who sell their wares in this fashion. You could almost buy anything from street vendors at one time - bread, fish, vegetables, kerosene, housewares, clothing, and many other things. This picture was taken from a roof-top in Hamrun in 1983.
This old method of transportation was rendered obsolete by the automobile and buses. However, one can still take a ride in these horse-drawn carriages to see the sites around Valletta and Mdina.
Ghar Hassan (Hassan's Cave) is a natural cave located on the edge of the impressive Dingli Cliffs on the south side of Malta. One of the passages leads to a window in the face of the cliffs and the view of the Mediterranean Sea from there is awesome. You can practically look down the face of the cliffs to the deep blue water as if you were suspended from the top of the cliffs.
This Lift was used to carry people from the Upper Barracca Gardens to the Wharf located at the feet of the bastions on the East side of Valletta. The lift was dismantled a number of years ago.
Weapons used during the time of the Knights of Malta (86KB)
The Church of Ta' Pinu in Gozo
The Azure Window, Dwejra, Gozo
of the Islands of Malta
1,000 years before the Pyramids
2,000 years before Stonehenge
4,000 years before Christ
For those visitors who for the first time set their eyes on Malta's megalithic achievements, the experience of seeing some of the oldest free-standing stone architecture still surviving in the world is as intense as viewing the great pyramids of Egypt. Like the pyramids, the Greek temples or the Cretan palaces, Malta's megalithic structures were recipients of some of the finest art ever produced in the Mediterranean. Yet the origins of the Maltese prehistoric art and architecture predate, often by hundreds of years, other equally important cultural achievements in the neighboring lands.
The origin of Malta's megalithic architecture are far from clear. By the fourth millennium BC, a clear division between domestic, ritual and mortuary structures emerged on Malta and Gozo.
The temples of Malta are amazing feats of engineering, even by today's standards. In these very structures: site planning, retaining walls, corbelling, the launch of a horizontal arch, the earliest use of forecourts - are all demonstrations of the birth of architecture in the Maltese Archipelago. Within the temples stone benches are decorated with carved parades of sheep and goats. Fish and birds, a sow suckling her piglets, a bull in bas relief, a four-sided "tree of life", and the rolling waves of the sea adorn haunting interior spaces.
They did not have metal tools, wheels or weapons. They decorated pottery and sanctuary alike with red ochre colour of life and the cyclical spirals of unending turning; daylight and darkness, summer and winter, birth and death and regeneration. This was the "fertility cult" of prehistoric Malta - successful for centuries and then suddenly gone without a trace by the time of Abraham, ca. 2,500 B.C.E.
The preceding is taken from an article by Anthony Pace, Curator of the National Museum of Archeology, Valletta, Malta. The full, illustrated article originally appeared in Treasures of Malta, (Christmas 1994) published by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti in association with the National Tourism Organization - Malta.
Tarxien Temples - 1
Tarxien Temples - 2
Tarxien Temples - 3
Tarxien Temples - 4
One of the chambers of Mnajdra)
The impressive facade and main entry to Hagar Qim
Another perspective of the impressive facade and main entry to Hagar Qim
The huge megalithic blocks of Hagar Qim
One of the chambers of Hagar Qim showing two altars
Hagar Qim
Hagar Qim
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