Malta Gallery

I was persuaded to go to Malta by a friend's recommendation. It turned out to be a far more enjoyable experience than I had imagined. There is plenty to see on the main island, although if you get bored you can always head for the ferry to discover the laid-back charms of neighboring Gozo. Valletta is an interesting city to walk around, with medieval battlements, a gorgeous harbour, and some beautiful little gardens.

Fort St Angelo is an imposing sight at any time, but at night the lights add an extra sense of drama.

St Paul was shipwrecked on Malta in AD 60 and promptly set about converting the population. There are over 300 churches on the main island. But why is this referred to as a co-cathedral? A papal decree in 1816 raised the status of this church to match that of St Paul's Cathedral in Mdina, resulting in two cathedrals on one small island.

The floor of St John's Co-Cathedral is a vast patchwork of marble tomb slabs.

This image was taken just as the first rays of the sun rose over Valletta's Grand Harbour.

One of the great things about Malta is that you can get around very easily and cheaply using the colorful buses.

Three generations of buses.

The walled city of Mdina is perched on a crag at the end of a picturesque winding road. Its cathedral was finished in the early 1700s and is, in my opinion, more attractive than Valletta's St John's Co-Cathedral. Possibly because it doesn't suffer from an overwhelming number of tour groups.

The roof of the cathedral is adorned with scenes depicting the life of St Paul.

Marsaxlokk is home to a determined band of fishermen, although the harbour is not quite as attractive as this picture makes out. On one side are the huge cranes of a container terminal while on the other are the tanks and chimney of a power station.

Fishing boats gaily painted in bright red, yellow, and blue are part of Malta's national identity. The 'Eyes of Osiris' on the bow supposedly ward off evil spirits.

Kalkara is the place to go to get away from Valletta's tour groups. There are no real sights in this area, but the narrow winding streets are full of atmosphere and real Maltese life.

Malta's prehistoric temples are the oldest freestanding stone structures in the world, built between 3600 and 2500 years BC. The largest of the megaliths in this temple weighs over 20 tonnes.

This shrine is set in a deep cave illuminated by flickering candles. Water from the spring is said to have healing properties. Baby clothes and crutches hung on the railings and walls are votive offerings in thanks for successful cures.

The pace of life on the small island of Gozo can only be described as slow. The narrow winding streets with brightly colored doors and windows are very picturesque.

Many of the houses in Victoria have small religious wall plaques near the front door.