malta
EUROPE,  MALTA,  MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Malta: the island full of life, history and cultures in the Mediterranean Sea.

March 17, 2018 /

Malta

Let’s start with a bit of geography of Malta.

Malta is a Southern European Island Country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea.

It’s very close to Italy (Sicily) and Africa (Tunisia). Because of that, the climate is very mild and sunny. It has 300 days of sun per year. Therefore you can visit it without thinking about the season.

The archipelago of Malta consists of three major islands: Malta (of course), Gozo and Comino.

Unfortunately I didn’t have so much time to visit all but only Malta Island.

Malta has two official languages which are Maltese and English.

However, the Italian language is also spoken from more than half of the population.

A thing you will surely notice visiting the island is that it’s very chaotic for the traffic. Moreover, the cities are very near the other ones: you cannot understand when one city ends and the other starts. In fact, the datas say that it is one of the World’s smallest and most populated country.

The capital of Malta is La Valletta.

The towns to visit in Malta Island

Valletta…

First of all, La Valletta. It’s the first city I visited as soon as I arrived.

Valletta contains essentially baroque buildings of 16th century onwards mixed with modern architecture.

It is located in a peninsula between two harbors. For that reason, from here you can enjoy stunning view of Sliema in the North, the Three cities in the South and the open sea to the East.

You will need a full day to visit it and prepare your legs because it’s all up-and-down alleys but it’s worth the fatigue.

Least but not last, the capital of Malta is a UNESCO World Heritage City and the 2018 European Capital of Culture. The city center is full of historical and religious buildings. Since it’s pedestrian only, it represents the perfect escape for the Island traffic.

Finally, what I like most are the colorful balconies of the picturesque alleys. You can see them below.

…Other pretty cities

Birgu also called Città Vittoriosa is an old fortified city on the South side of the Grand Harbor of Valletta. It’s one of the Three Cities and I loved strolling and getting lost in its narrow and quiet alleys.

Mdina is the previous capital of Malta. Also known as the Silent City, it’s located in the north of the Island. The name of the city is Arab but with a Cathedral in its center. It’s a walled city with narrow and quite laneways and cobblestone surfaces.

I love stroll in these narrow silent streets with lots of beautiful details.

Marsaxlokk is without any doubts one of the most picturesque city of Malta located in the South region.

It’s now a fishing village and the largest fishing harbor of Malta. You have probably already seen it in some pics: a vessel’s line in a colorful display with a beautiful background.

Sliema is a major residential and commercial area with lots of shops and cafes. It has also a promenade known as Sliema front. I imagine that here is beautiful running and walking.

It’s very well connected with Valletta. For visiting the Island I used public transport.

The Valletta station is just a 20 minute ride from Sliema and then most places are within an hour ride from there (they are near but you have to take into consideration the relentless traffic).

Here is were I stayed at The Palace Hotel. A charming place!

The Palace Hotel in Malta

The Palace is a 5 stars luxury hotel in Sliema and offers different rooms such as the comfort rooms as well as the deluxe, superior and executive rooms arriving to the designer and junior suites.

Sliema is a city with a unique style and I adore the combination of modern elements with the typical maltese narrow streets.  The views from The Palace are unique, especially the ones from the 9th floor where you can find the Infinity pools and the TemptAsian Rooftop Restaurant.

ThePalaceMalta

The location is ideally located near the Mediterranean Sea, the city of Valletta and St. Julian’s. So it could be perfect for anyone.

The Rooms and Suites

Regarding the rooms, the designer suites are unique of its kind. I’ve stayed in the Flavours Suite but there are also the Fragance Suite, the Light Suite, the Music Suite, the Texture and the View Suite.

What I like most of my room is obviously the view from the 7th floor and the 50s style Deco influenced by Coca-Cola. The lime and pastel blue tones are perfectly combined with the atmosphere of this sensational room. It’s more like an experience than just only a room. I was so surprised when I found out that this is the one and only Coca-Cola branded room in the entire World. The retro style that this brand’s theme evokes in the Suite is in line with the other selected objects that are there too.

When I first entered into this room, I felt like being catapulted back in time. The bar was also prepared for me and there were so many tasty desserts and fruits to eat. Perfect gifts after the flight and the travel.

Oh my, the bar! What can I say, I’ve never found a bar like this in a hotel.

Even the Jukebox  and the dining table are unconventional, too!

Moreover, the private terrace of the Suite provides a stunning view of the Sea and the city of Valletta.

The places in here is large enough for hosting small private events. The location is just perfect!

Dining at The Palace in Malta

TemptAsian Rooftop Restaurant is located on the 9th floor of the building and as I have already said it offers spectacular views.

I was so pleased to be invited to have dinner in here. The location is super cool as well as the Asian fusion menu and the wine’s list.

The atmosphere here is very harmonious and the furniture is very charming.

I eat some delicious food accompanied by a perfect glass of wine for each course.

In summer you can also enjoy a pool bar that is opened all day long for drinking a cocktail or a refreshing drink or snack by the infinite pool enjoying the view over the harbor.

This is my personal experience but if you want to tell me yours or if you need any other tips for planning your holiday, don’t hesitate to comment below or send me an email. I’ll be very happy to help!

 

You May Also Like

Hamburg: what to see in 48 hours in this Hanseatic city

October 3, 2018
krakow main square

Krakow: one of the most fascinating medieval cities in Europe

January 4, 2018
Cologne

48 hours in two pretty Germany cities: Cologne and Münster

June 27, 2018

70 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *