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13 Reasons Malta Is The Most Unexpectedly Fascinating Place You’ll Visit
Have you, in all your worldly wanderings, encountered a place so packed with charm, history, and enough surprises to make your jaw drop faster than you’d willingly admit? Enter Malta, the little island with a big personality.
It’s like someone grabbed a Mediterranean postcard, sprinkled it with ancient secrets, threw in food that’ll make you question your next meal choices forever, and wrapped it all in sunshine so persistent even your sunscreen feels challenged.
Think knights, cliffs, hidden spots, and enough cultural quirks to keep your eyebrows raised. Curious yet? Good. Have your own Malta moment? Don’t be shy – flex those keyboard muscles and leave a tip or two in the comments.
The Azure Window Collapsed In 2017
Remember that iconic rock arch straight out of a fantasy? Well, the weather had other plans. Thanks to a fierce storm, one of Malta’s most photographed spots did an Olympic-level plunge into the Mediterranean in 2017.
While it’s no longer standing tall on the Gozo coastline, its memory lives on in postcards, old photos, and Game of Thrones scenes. Now, divers flock to the site of this “now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t” wonder to explore its remains underwater.
Malta Has Its Own Deep Blue Hole
You think you’ve seen blue? Think again. Just off the coast of Gozo, the Blue Hole is nature’s equivalent of a hidden treasure chest… except full of salty adventure. This natural underwater sinkhole seduces divers worldwide with its crystal-clear waters and dramatic rocky guardians.
Drop in, and you’re inside an underwater cathedral lit like something Spielberg would dream up. And for once, it’s not filled with tourists taking selfies. Just a few fish who look like they’ve been reading travel brochures themselves.
The Oldest Free-Standing Structures On Earth Are In Malta
Who needs Stonehenge when you’ve got the Ggantija Temples? These bad boys on Gozo are ancient enough to make pyramids look like they’re still in preschool. Dating back to around 3600 BCE, they’re accused of being built by giants – not entirely unbelievable when you see their massive limestone blocks.
Walking through these temples feels like time travel without the DeLorean. You can almost hear the whispers of prehistoric rituals and catch the faint scent of incense… or maybe that’s just sunscreen.
There Are More Than 365 Churches
That’s right; Malta went ahead and gave us one church for every day of the year. From grand cathedrals like St. John’s Co-Cathedral to little chapels tucked into quiet streets, it’s practically impossible to walk 500 feet without running into one.
Guess the only downside is possibly forgetting which church you told the priest you’d pray in. Oh, and those bells? They chime like they’re auditioning for Eurovision, so if you’re looking for quiet mornings, you are out of luck.
It Has Its Own Unique Cuisine
Foodies, rejoice! Maltese cuisine is what you get when a Mediterranean culinary genius throws a potluck. Italian, Arabic, French, and British influences collide in dishes like pastizzi (a flaky pastry) and slow-cooked rabbit stew (don’t tell Bugs Bunny).
Dessert enthusiasts, brace yourself for sweets like imqaret, deep-fried dates that are basically sugar explosions wrapped in doughy perfection. Every bite tastes like a celebration… or at least an excuse to unbutton your pants.
Malta Has Three Inhabited Islands
Malta, Gozo, and Comino – three islands, three radically different feelings, one epic experience. Comino, population fewer than 5, is basically the introvert of the group, while Malta and Gozo serve louder personalities with bustling villages, winding streets, and historical landmarks.
And each island has stories as rich as the pastizzi you’ll eat while exploring. Pro tip: If you think “small island, no problems,” just try finding an open restaurant during siesta time.
Maltese Nobility Still Exists
Yes, kings and queens are so last season, but Malta’s noble descendants still kick around with fancy titles like they’ve just stepped out of a historical drama. Sure, their titles no longer mean they can rule a castle or start an army, but hey, it’s all about the tradition, right?
Spotting a countess sipping espresso nearby might be your closest brush with royalty – unless she beats you to the last pastry at the cafe.
It Has Been A Filming Location For Blockbusters
Move over Hollywood – Malta’s been stealing the cinematic spotlight for years. Movies like Popeye (yes, that Popeye, with Robin Williams muscles and all) put Malta on the map as a film set in 1980, transforming a patch of its coast into a cheerful, candy-colored cartoon village.
Not to be outdone, Gladiator gave us brutal arena battles with Malta doubling for Ancient Rome, while Game of Thrones served up some royal drama amidst Malta’s dazzling architecture. Walk through Mdina, the “Silent City,” and you might just feel like you’re an extra on set.
Public Buses Were Once Iconic And Wildly Decorated
Before 2011, Malta’s buses weren’t just a way to get around – they were rolling works of art, like some fever dream of a mechanic who moonlights as a carnival designer. Bright yellows, reds, and blues exploded across the beaten-up vehicles, complete with fringed curtains, religious icons, and questionable slogans.
The drivers? Oh, they were characters themselves, driving with a flair that felt part race car, part survival test. Now, with a modernized system, the buses are far more boring… efficient, but boring. We all miss the chaos, don’t we?
Malta Has One Of The World’s Smallest Capitals
Valletta might cover less space than your local mall, but it packs in more history per corner than most capitals could dream of. Built in the 16th century by the Knights of St. John – because hey, they apparently needed a shiny HQ.
It boasts grand baroque architecture, narrow streets that could make a GPS weep, and harbor views that are perfect. Step into St. John’s Co-Cathedral, where opulence practically drips off the walls. Small? Sure. Satisfying? Definitely.
Luzzus Are Painted With The Eye Of Osiris
Imagine a fleet of tiny boats looking like they’re auditioning for a role in a Mediterranean Pixar flick. Luzzus, Malta’s traditional fishing boats, are painted in bright yellows, blues, and reds, making the harbors pop with color.
But it’s the eyes (yes, actual painted eyes) that steal the scene, said to protect fishermen from suspicious sea spirits or just some bad luck. Stroll around Marsaxlokk, Malta’s most famous fishing village, and try making eye contact with one. Warning: it won’t blink back.
Fireworks Are A Cultural Staple
Think you’ve seen fireworks? Malta would like to politely laugh in your face. Nearly every little village on these islands has its own fireworks factory and turns its religious feast day into a pyrotechnic showdown.
The air crackles with excitement, cannon-like booms echo through the valleys, and colorful bursts light up the night sky with all the subtlety of a carnival on steroids. It’s loud, it’s spectacular – and frankly, it’s a wonder there’s anyone left with eardrums.
Malta Has No Forests, Rivers or Lakes
A lush, green island paradise? Not quite. Think rocky cliffs, sun-scorched landscapes, and a near-total lack of anything resembling a forest. Rivers, lakes? Forget it. All the water is either harvested rain stored in a man-made lake or borrowed from the sea and desalinated.
It’s like a survivalist’s dream, proving that Malta thrives despite being nature’s slightly dehydrated cousin. Yet somehow, it all works. The dry terrain only highlights the sparkling waters surrounding the island, a reminder that what Malta lacks inland, it more than makes up for in sea views.
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