Malta

Malta is one of those small places that is easy to miss, but almost impossible to forget.

It is one of the smallest countries in the world, yet every major power across the ages fought to gain control of these tiny islands. They are at a crucial location, between Europe and northern Africa. With such a location, controlling these islands meant naval supremacy in the Mediterranean.

The result is a collection of historical remains from all over Europe. From Roman baths to British military, it’s all in a small place. This makes it simple to discover it all in one go.

Articles by region

Select one of the Maltese cities, towns or villages to drill down and see articles and stories connected to it.

All my articles about Malta

• The bombing of RAF Kalafrana December 18, 2024 - On 9 May 1942, at the tail end of the Siege of Malta, an unexpected switch in Axis tactics led to loss of life at one of Malta's airfields. This… Continue Reading
• How the 1602 famine hit Malta and Sicily November 20, 2024 - We often don't think of how explosive and violent Mother Nature can be. In 1600 a volcano exploded in Peru, affecting life around the planet in many ways. In Malta,… Continue Reading
• The story behind a Maltese galleria October 30, 2024 - Maltese has adopted lots of Italian words over the years, much to the amusement of Italophones. It is rather curious then that some Italian words have a different meaning when… Continue Reading
• HMS Orwell March 27, 2024 - In 1903, a British navy drill off Corfu ended disastrously when HMS Orwell collided with HMS Pioneer during a night exercise. Continue Reading
• The Maltese Rosetta Stone September 19, 2023 - The Cippi of Melqart, discovered in Malta, are priceless because they were the key to deciphering Phoenician script. This article explains who Melqart was, what cippi are and what this… Continue Reading
• The RAF Vulcan crash in Malta April 15, 2023 - In 1975, a British RAF Vulcan bomber exploded as it approached the runway of Malta's airport. That few cilivians died is near-miraculous. This article describes what happened and the view… Continue Reading
• Russian exiles in Malta October 15, 2022 - Mentioning exiled Russians these days suggests pro-Ukrainian protesters or anti-Putin demonstrators. Malta's reputation as a haven for Russians goes back more than 100 years before Putin's antics. Continue Reading
• The Maltese chapel of bones March 1, 2021 - I’ve written about Czech ossuaries before, and I’ve visited the one in Paris, but few know there is a Maltese chapel of bones. Well, there used to be one anyway. Continue Reading
• Learn all about Malta’s lost Orsi Tower September 7, 2020 - We are so focused on preserving historical buildings that we often don’t realise how many already disappeared for one reason or another. Orsi tower used to stand guard at the… Continue Reading
• Learn how Portugal helped Malta in its time of need July 20, 2020 - If you ask people how Malta fought against French occupation, most will talk about how the British helped the Maltese out. Few know that the Portuguese navy played the decisive… Continue Reading
• The Temple of Proserpina June 29, 2020 - There are few Roman remains on the island of Malta. Not far from Rabat in the village of Mtarfa, the Romans had built the now-lost Temple of Proserpina. Continue Reading
• Marsalforn – The capital that almost was June 22, 2020 - In Malta, it won't take long before someone tells you that Valletta is the 'new' capital city and Mdina is the 'old' one. Few know that the same thing almost… Continue Reading
• Why did the Pope want to move to Malta? June 1, 2020 - In the 19th century, various states on the Italian peninsula united to become a single, new country. While some papal states merged with the others, the Vatican refused to be… Continue Reading
• The powerful Anglo-Egyptian Bank in Malta May 4, 2020 - In the 19th century an offshore British bank in Malta issued its own banknotes. It's unusual to think of a private company issuing banknotes, more so in a small country… Continue Reading
• The Battle of Ferozeshah April 20, 2020 - British forces fought wars all over India in the 18th and 19th century. Between tribal feuds, and the British, there were many sources of conflict. This article describes the Battle… Continue Reading
• Preserving Malta’s money supply March 23, 2020 - European geopolitics in the 1930s caused plenty of uncertainty. The British worried about riots in the Middle East, and the possibility of another major war with Germany. They hatched a… Continue Reading
• Blue eyes in the Mediterranean March 9, 2020 - Thomas McGill’s 19th century tourist guide to Malta is fascinating for the way he describes Malta with a foreigner's eyes. I’ve used him as a reference before and many anecdotes… Continue Reading
• Every parents’ worst nightmare: The carnival deaths February 24, 2020 - In the 19th century, the monks at the convent annexed to the Ta' Giezu church in Valletta would help young boys stay out of mischief during carnival. They would pray… Continue Reading
• The mystical messianic troglodyte of Comino January 20, 2020 - One early scholar of Kabbalah was a 13th century mystic called Abraham Abulafia. He had visions, tried to convince the Pope of his reasoning and lived in Malta. But who… Continue Reading
• Churches that are not sanctuaries January 13, 2020 - There are a few chapels and churches around Malta which sport an intriguing Latin sign: “Non gode immunity ecclesiastica” ("Doesn't provide ecclesiastical immunity"). I wanted to understand why a church… Continue Reading
• The mysterious secret of Dr James Barry December 2, 2019 - There weren’t many female physicians in the 19th century. Irishwoman Margaret Bulkley pretended to be a man for over 40 years to practise medicine. This article explains how this happened,… Continue Reading
• In exile in Malta November 11, 2019 - The town of Sliema, Malta, is marked with high-rise apartment blocks and frustrating traffic. It was not always so and people have fond memories of days gone by. Few talk… Continue Reading
• The Revolting Slaves of Malta October 14, 2019 - Malta is not known for its revolutions. Unlike other countries, the people preferred other ways of changing history. This article describes one unsuccessful plot to overthrow the Knights of Malta. Continue Reading
• Malta’s mysterious cart ruts September 16, 2019 - One of the great mysteries of this world is the Maltese cart ruts. They appear all over the islands. We still don’t know what they are, or what they were… Continue Reading
• The Chapel of Our Lady of Divine Grace August 19, 2019 - The old adage claims there are 356 chapels and churches in Malta, 1 for every day of the year! One tiny often neglected chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of… Continue Reading
• The Infant Jesus of Prague August 12, 2019 - The Infant Jesus of Prague statue is a key point of interest for many tourists visiting Prague's Church of Our Lady Victorious. This article explains the legends behind it, and… Continue Reading
• Do you know about the explosion in Birgu? November 5, 2018 - One of Malta's worst peacetime disasters took place in 1806. A military gunpowder store exploded in Birgu, across the harbour from Valletta. Continue Reading
• How did the British take control of Malta? October 8, 2018 - I often discuss Maltese history with others and have written about unusual parts of it here. Often people claims that ‘the British illegally took control’ of the Maltese islands. This is… Continue Reading
• The shock of the 1908 tsunami in Malta August 20, 2018 - One side effect of an earthquake in a coastal region is a tsunami that rips through the sea around it. Malta is close to a major earthquake fault line. In… Continue Reading
• From death to delight – Msida, Malta July 3, 2018 - Towns evolve for various reasons and we often marvel at how different things were in the past. It doesn't take too long for some stories to fade into obscurity which… Continue Reading
• The Unexpectedly Polish National Library of Malta May 21, 2018 - Valletta is an ornate and Baroque city built by the Knights of Malta. One of it’s most famous historical buildings is neo-classical which contrasts with the rest of the city.… Continue Reading
• The Secret of the Grey Lady haunting Fort St Angelo April 30, 2018 - There are many ? stories of Grey Ladies that haunt certain places. It's interesting that most of these ghosts that wish to warn the living about something or other. The… Continue Reading
• I didn’t know about these connections between Malta and Prague February 19, 2018 - I no longer am surprised at unusual connections between places. I've travelled enough over the years to know many things are connected in the strangest of ways. Imagine my surprise… Continue Reading
• Do you know when the Union Jack first flew over Malta? December 4, 2017 - Maltese history is a rich tapestry of events, influences and wars. The Maltese are proud of British heritage, but few seem to know where the British flag was first flown… Continue Reading
• Maltese windows October 9, 2017 - When the Knights of Malta built Valletta in the seventeenth century, it was admired by all who saw it. We don't realise that it took 400 years or so to… Continue Reading
• Illuminati symbols in Catholic Churches? September 11, 2017 - As I explore and stroll through churches and public buildings I can't help but notice patterns and symbols. Often, these symbols explain something to me. The Illuminati all-seeing eye had… Continue Reading
• The Knights of St Lazarus August 14, 2017 - The Knights of Malta (to give them their full name, the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta) are certainly familiar to followers of this site. I was… Continue Reading
• Skorba Temples in Malta June 26, 2017 - Would you bother to see a unique 6,000 year old temple just because it is not as impressive or complete as the others? If you answered 'no', you would miss… Continue Reading
• The Buskett Forest and the Maltese Falcon June 5, 2017 - When the Knights were given the Maltese islands they were asked to pay tribute of a Maltese Falcon every year to the monarch of Sicily. It's a strange request, and… Continue Reading
• Egypt and Malta – Unusual Historical Connections March 20, 2017 - Ask anyone in Malta to direct you to the Mosta Dome and you'll get immediate directions. Not all churches on the island are as well-known as this one is. Not… Continue Reading
• The US Liberty Bell (and the Maltese Connection) February 20, 2017 - I had hoped I would have slept a little on the red-eye from San Francisco but I had not. This is why I was groggy on the corner of Market… Continue Reading
• The Obelisk that Moved December 26, 2016 - In Malta, driving towards Valletta, you see a large obelisk amidst the many lanes of traffic fighting their way to work. This monument is Spencer Obelisk and has a connection… Continue Reading
• The Revolting Priests of Malta October 31, 2016 - Priests, especially in the Christian tradition, are rarely militant or warmongering. Even in the days of the Crusades, priests were not the ones at the front doing the fighting. So why… Continue Reading
• Fort St Angelo’s Fortifications October 3, 2016 - Fort St Angelo guarding the harbour. This is a quintessential view of Malta from the capital, Valletta. Many assume that the Knights built it for the Great Siege of Malta, but… Continue Reading
• The Fall of Constantinople & the Siege of Malta September 19, 2016 - On 29 May 1453, the Ottoman Empire captured the eastern capital of the Roman Empire, Constantinople. On 18 May 1565, the Ottoman Empire advanced on the tiny island of Malta… Continue Reading
• Ggantija – The Giant’s Tower in Gozo August 15, 2016 - On the island of Gozo, in the middle of the Mediterranean, you can find one of the oldest man-made structures. Older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids, this is Ggantija -… Continue Reading
• The Crying Madonna of Malta July 25, 2016 - In the centre of island of Malta lies a small neighbourhood known as 'Tal-Mirakli'. ('The Miraculous [Neighbourhood]'). It nestles between the three residential villages of Attard, Balzan and Lija. There you… Continue Reading
• The Mystery of Mnajdra June 27, 2016 - On the south-west coast of the island of Malta on a large open plain facing the Mediterranean, you can find two neolithic temples. These are some of the oldest religious… Continue Reading
• An Insider’s Tip for Genuine Mediterranean Dining July 27, 2015 - It is a fact of 21st century Maltese life that restaurants proudly flaunt their local roots in ways that had not been done before. It's not that the Maltese were… Continue Reading
• Revealing my 5 Ambitious Travel Resolutions June 8, 2015 - Over the New Year, while I was peacefully driving through the hills and valleys of Andalusia, it occurred to me that I had not really made any fixed plans for… Continue Reading
• Walk about – Senglea, Malta November 17, 2014 - When you stand on the south-facing fortified walls of Valletta, Malta's capital city, Fort St Angelo ⛫ is what captures your attention. A little to the West, across the creek,… Continue Reading
• Wine Tasting in Gozo August 18, 2014 - One of the joys of travelling to Malta is the trip down memory lane, and across the country, to get to the island of Gozo by boat. Gozo is many… Continue Reading
• Hypogeum – The Land that Time Forgot November 18, 2013 - If you're planning a trip to Malta and fancy visiting the oldest prehistoric temple that is completely underground, I would highly recommend a visit to the Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni in… Continue Reading
• Unseen Changes December 19, 2011 - I step back and look at the car. It is slightly outside the parking bay which means that, technically, I am incorrectly parked. However, I couldn't really do a better… Continue Reading
• The Guide to Malta’s International Airport December 16, 2010 - While the airport in Malta is not large by any measure, it can be a little dis-orienting to newcomers so here are a few tips for anyone who ventures that… Continue Reading
• The Unexpected Chapel February 22, 2010 - Majestic, regal almost. It possesses a quiet dignity which belies its turbulent history. It dips below the tree line, almost as if it is coyly daring me to try to… Continue Reading