The mystique of Malta

Stroll through this Mediterranean island and soak in its rich history, culture and natural beauty


The sun is shining in its full glory, the breeze is crisp and cool as the ever-present turquoise blue waters shimmer to create ever-changing patterns. There is peace and quiet. And something faintly mysterious.

This is Malta, the lovely island country, secreted away in the middle of the Mediterranean sea. Yes, it offers peace, privacy and joie de vivre and lots more. Any wonder why actor Tom Cruise has chosen Malta as the place for his marriage?

Funnily, a Maltese acquaintance teased if I had come in advance to cover the wedding of the film star and waxed eloquent on how their country is the venue for celebrity weddings and holidays.

Malta may have its own arcane charm and romance for celebrities, politicians and the well-heeled, but for a first time visitor like yours truly, Malta is an enigma, a precious antique in the Mediterranean. Its history and heritage, churches and temples, palaces and buildings, forts and monuments, its villages, art, architecture and culture fill you with wonderment and joy at every turn.

Indeed, it is Malta's natural beauty and rich glorious past, so well preserved by its people down the ages, that makes it a unique treasure trove and such a stirring experience.

The first thing that strikes you is the catholicity of the place. Churches, chapels and cathedrals abound in this tiny place whose towns and streets are named after catholic saints. Not surprisingly, on first December the country is already decked up for Christmas. It is perhaps, only in Malta that one can go to a different church every day of the year. True, there are 365 churches, ample testimony to the religiosity of its people.

The St John's CoCathedral in the capital Valletta is imposing enough but its sober facade belies the invaluable treasures inside it. The ornate marble tombstones, the rich baroque statues, the wealth of paintings on the vault are awe-inspiring. Two rare masterpieces here are the beheading of St John the Baptist and St. Jerome by Caravaggio. And as you go around Malta, you see scores of churches dotting the landscape, each ancient and splendid in its own right while the way side Chapels, some clinging to cliffs are a sight to behold.

Personally, I loved the streets of Malta where one walks into another time capsule. You can walk and walk blissfully in the labyrinth of narrow streets where grand residential and commercial buildings stand cheek by jowl. Pause and admire the buildings. Their art, architecture and quaint beauty can take your gasp away. Carved facades, beautiful wooden and brightly coloured balconies and staircases, arched passageways, artistic doors fitted with equally artistic knockers can engage your attention almost an entire day! The bright red telephone booths, post boxes and sculptures at street corners lend an old world charm.