Megaliths, medieval dungeons and Calypso's Cave,The Maltese Islands are positively mythic. The narrow meandering streets of their towns and villages are crowded with Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces. As the countryside is dotted with the oldest known human structures in the world, the Islands have rightly been described as an open-air museum.The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, with Malta 93km south of Sicily and 288km north of Africa. The archipelago consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino with a total population of 400,000 inhabitants over an area of 316sq km and a coastline of 196.8km (not including 56.01 km for the island of Gozo).Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre. Gozo is the second largest island and is more rural, characterised by fishing, tourism, crafts and agriculture while Comino is largely uninhabited.With superbly sunny weather, expansive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do. With a little help from any guidebook, captivating places of interest are immediately identified – the world famous Hypogeum selected as a place of World Heritage by UNESCO, prehistoric temples and grand palaces are but a few.The long relationship between the Islanders and the various nationalities that occupied Malta over the centuries has created a marriage of styles and traditions, giving the Islands a fascinating eclectic culture.
Valletta: When the Knights of St. John were granted Malta as a fief by Emperor Charles V in 1530, they sent a commission to examine the islands and prepare an informative report. This fact-finding mission was disappointed by the islands' lack of greenery and the dearth of fortifications which would, in due time, thwart their Ottoman enemies. The memories of Rhodes was still in their minds. The Grand Harbour was Malta's only commendable asset. It was there that the Order's fleet would take shelter and be repaired after the various attacks from Ottoman galleys.On their arrival, the Knights embarked on a building spree in order to protect themselves and the Maltese from the imminent Turkish invasion. At that time the defenses of the islands were limited to the bastions encircling the old capital of Mdina and Rabat in Gozo. The Castello al Mare at Birgu was the only fortification which guarded the harbour area, an area which was of vital importance to the Knights.
Xebb ir-Ras (as the inhabitants called it) was practically a defenceless rocky highland with only a small fort, St. Elmo, standing at its tip. Successive Grand Masters fortified the harbour area but unfortunately seriously neglected Xebb ir-Ras. This proved to be a military flaw which, years later, the Ottomans exploited to the fullest. When Fort St. Elmo fell to their assault, the Ottomans were free to use Xebb ir-Ras to bombard the Knights and the Maltese sheltered on the other side of the harbour.But the Maltese stood firm and when the epic siege of 1565 was repelled, Grand Master Jean de la Valette obtained the necessary consensus to start the building of a new city on Xebb ir-Ras. The victory of the Great Siege was one of the rare moments in history when the Order and Maltese were toasted throughout Europe. La Valette’s popularity was high and it does not seem that he had any difficulties in procuring generous donations from Christian Princes.
Rabat evolved as the suburb of Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta. In ancient times burial inside the city was prohibited and this accounts for the various catacombs which are to be found in Rabat today.In the catacombs of St. Paul and of St. Agatha one finds many tombs of the early Christian era of various shapes and sizes. Most probably the Museum of Roman Antiquities is the best known place of interest in the Rabat area. This museum which was formerly known as the Roman Villa houses most of the remains which were found from the Roman domination of the islands. Things such as olive crushers used in the manufacture of oil, mosaics, stone and marble statues, as well as glass and potterware from that period are on show. It is believed that during his stay in the island in 60 AD, the apostle Paul lived in a cave upon which the present day parish church was erected.The closeness of Rabat to the city of Mdina made it a centre of several important social and cultural activities. During the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul (known in Malta as L-Imnarja) the traditional horse races took place on a gentle slope in Rabat. The prize was a damask banner (known as the Pallju) which was handed out to the winners by the Grand Master himself from a tribune which was built purposely at Saqqajja.On the same slope there is also a place where women used to gather to wash their dirty laundry. These places were very useful in a time when the distribution of water was of the utmost importance. These are known as L-Ghajn tal-Hasselin (The Fountain of the Washerwomen). Washerwomen used to get the needed extra money by doing the washing for their rich clients.
Rabat evolved as the suburb of Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta. In ancient times burial inside the city was prohibited and this accounts for the various catacombs which are to be found in Rabat today.In the catacombs of St. Paul and of St. Agatha one finds many tombs of the early Christian era of various shapes and sizes. Most probably the Museum of Roman Antiquities is the best known place of interest in the Rabat area. This museum which was formerly known as the Roman Villa houses most of the remains which were found from the Roman domination of the islands. Things such as olive crushers used in the manufacture of oil, mosaics, stone and marble statues, as well as glass and potterware from that period are on show. It is believed that during his stay in the island in 60 AD, the apostle Paul lived in a cave upon which the present day parish church was erected.The closeness of Rabat to the city of Mdina made it a centre of several important social and cultural activities. During the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul (known in Malta as L-Imnarja) the traditional horse races took place on a gentle slope in Rabat. The prize was a damask banner (known as the Pallju) which was handed out to the winners by the Grand Master himself from a tribune which was built purposely at Saqqajja.On the same slope there is also a place where women used to gather to wash their dirty laundry. These places were very useful in a time when the distribution of water was of the utmost importance. These are known as L-Ghajn tal-Hasselin (The Fountain of the Washerwomen). Washerwomen used to get the needed extra money by doing the washing for their rich clients.
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