Holidays to historic Malta

Renowned for its sparkling blue water, Malta’s Blue Lagoon is so clear that when the sunlight hits the waves, the boats look as though they’re hovering above the sandy seabed. Here you can either take a boat trip to explore, or take a dip yourself – especially if you enjoy snorkelling. If you’d rather admire the waves of this enchanting bay from above and stay dry, you might prefer to visit in autumn or spring; it may be too cold to swim, but the crowds will be less and you’ll have a more private experience.

Designed by military engineer Francesco Laparelli da Cortona in 1565 as a home for the Order of the Knights of St John, Valletta’s buildings were excellent architectural examples of their time, and also sturdy enough to withstand any kind of attack. Despite intense bombing during World War II – which saw Malta awarded the George Cross in 1942 – the buildings still stand to this day. Unsurprisingly, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and well worth exploring.

For such a small island, Malta is jam-packed with intriguing glimpses into the past. If your interest is piqued by the history of Valletta, you’ll find the centuries-old grooves that criss-cross various sections of land even more fascinating. Disappearing off cliffs and appearing again under the sea, the generally accepted explanation for the tracks is that they are the ruts left by carts carrying goods around 2000BC.

Malta also has its fair share of Roman influences from its time under Roman rule after the Punic Wars of 264-146BC; perhaps most well-known are St Paul’s Catacombs, labyrinthine burial chambers are located just outside of Mdina, the former capital of Malta. It was here that the apostle is thought to have spent three months after he was shipwrecked on the island, and if you wish you can visit St Paul’s Grotto, a peaceful shrine where you can collect your thoughts.