on the town
Entering
ancient Mdina
Also nearby is Hagar Qim, a large
megalithic temple said to be more
than 5,000 years old. A UNESCO
World Heritage Site, the complex is
covered by a white, tent-like dome
to protect it from the elements, and
is representative of Malta’s status as
something of a living museum.
Prehistoric archaeological sites are
found across the country’s three islands.
Some are formal attractions with tick-
ets and guided tours, while others are
simply found in easy-to-access open
spaces. There’s even one temple ruin
by the Qawra bus depot, a few blocks
from the Seashells Resort.
Make friends with some locals and
ask about their favourite “secret” sites
and walking trails. Large swaths of
Malta are only now beginning to be
treated as tourist attractions, so there’s
a lot to discover off the beaten path.
“There isn’t anywhere in the world
with so much history in such a small
SEE IT WITH
AMA
Malta long Stay
Exotik JoURNEYS
Catch of
the day
space,” Mitch says, noting that he
and his wife particularly enjoyed
the easy-to-walk Xemxija Heritage
Trail, about five kilometres from their
resort, which features Punic tombs,
granaries, temple ruins and a Roman
apiary. “It’s continuous history, like
reading a book,” he adds.
Immerse yourself in malta with a long-stay vacation, including flights
between calgary or edmonton and malta, arrival and departure
transfers, and 21 nights at the four-star Seashells resort at Suncrest
(standard inland room) with daily breakfast. upgrade to a seaside
room for $200 more per person, and add a five-excursion package
for $289. (Solo travellers add $700 for single supplement.)
The Maltese countryside is also dotted
with small villages that are easily
reached by bus or car. Each has a
parish church named after a patron
saint. Once a year a weeklong feast
or “festa” will honour that saint with
parades and fireworks. (Your hotel
will be able to advise which festas are
planned during your stay.) Each town
also has a “band club” that acts as the
centre of community life. Be sure to
drop in; the Maltese are known for
being friendly to strangers.
In the middle of the island, Mdina is
a hilltop fortress town that was Malta’s
early capital. Cars are mostly restricted
within the gates of this “Silent City,”
making its narrow streetscape a
pedestrian marvel.
Walk over to the Fontanella Tea
Garden, situated on top of the bastions
and boasting a magnificent view of
half the island. It’s a perfect spot for
sampling traditional Maltese fare
like pastizzi, a savoury pastry filled
with ricotta, peas or meat, and ftira, a
san