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Advertisers MFSC - Malta Financial Services Centre Maltese-American Chamber of Commerce METCO - Malta External Trade Corporation Ltd.
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Motoring around Malta
Southern Malta includes the area between Zabbar to Zurrieq. The drive around this region is spectacular and characterized by beautiful bays and inlets. Many caves, grottos and old temples are located in this region.
Blue Grotto
A boat trip in the Blue Grotto is the best way to see these dramatic cliffs. The grottos are at their best in the mornings, when the sunlight reaches into the caves. Catch a boat in Wied iz-Zurrieq, a small fishing village on the south coast. Tourists no longer have to worry about dishonest boatmen, so jump in a small fishing boat and head off towards the caves. To reach the actual Blue Grotto, named for its deep blue waters, boats pass under a massive arch that looks like a flying buttress. The caves reach almost 140 feet into the cliffside.
The Hypogeum
Malta’s most famous prehistoric site is located in the middle of the town of Paola. The Hypogeum dates back to 3000 BC. It was a fascinating discovery, as its incredible labyrinth of chambers housed the remains of about 7,000 bodies, along with personal property and pottery. Although no one has uncovered the true mission of this complex, most assume it was used as a temple, burial site and sanctuary.
Marsaxlokk Bay
As the largest of Malta’s fishing villages, Marsaxlokk comes to life on Sundays, when hundreds of locals and tourists arrive for an afternoon of shopping and eating. Fresh fish of all shapes and sizes are available, as is the freshest octopus, perfect with a glass of Maltese white wine.
The village’s name comes from "marsa", which means "harbor" in Arabic, and "xlokk", which is the local name for the dry scirocco wind that blows from the Sahara and makes tourists crave an air conditioned restaurant and a cold beer, perhaps a locally made Cisk.
With the construction of the Malta Freeport, the cute little fishing villages around the bay from Marsaxlokk have changed a bit. Signs along the road remind tourists of the dangers of swimming and lighting barbecues. Despite these warnings, locals still swim in the waters, sunbathe on the beach and eat in the little restaurants along the road.
The Temples
The twin temple complex of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra may look like a bunch of rocks, but their location and size are significant. The sites date to the Tarxien period, 3000 to 2500 BC, and have some similarities to the Tarxian Temple Complex, the largest and most recent of the Copper Age temples in Malta.
Hagar Qim, which means Standing Stones, is a badly eroded, but still massive temple complex. The temple was built from limestone blocks, the largest of which is 21 feet by nine feet. During excavations in the 19th century, archaeologists found seven statues including the Venus of Malta, a headless clay figure of a female nude with large proportions. The mushroom-shaped tables, the shrine, the pitted decorations and the temple façade are all other interesting touches to examine.
Mnajdra is set closer to the sea and was built with stronger limestone, so it is better preserved than Hagar Qim. Part of Mnajdra collapsed in 1994 and is under reconstruction. Entrance to the site is free, while entry into Hagar Qim is $2.50.
Zurrieq
The large village of Zurrieq is one of the oldest in Malta. Some of the buildings date back to the Knights. The Church of St. Catherine has some beautiful paintings by Mattia Preti who lived here in 1675. At the edge of the village is the Armeria Palace, which has a watchtower in the back. The palace was built as an armory for the Knights.
The village is known mainly for its two competing summer festas. Parades, parties and processions last for several days and end with a massive display of fireworks, made in a nearby town. During the festas, locals put on their best clothes, walk through the streets eating nougat and other traditional sweets, greet old friends, listen to the band and await the entrance of the Saint, at which point townspeople begin to cheer, clap and celebrate.
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Table of Contents Building bridges and embracing the future |
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Forget about hiring a cab to get around Malta. The price is prohibitive. And although Maltese buses are a cheaper option, during the summer months the best choice is a rental car, which gives you the freedom to go where you want, when you want. Luckily, the island is small and in a short weekend you can see almost all there is to see. Driving on the left may be a challenge, but the island is well signposted and people are willing to help lost tourists.
After eight years of renovations, the Hypogeum is again open to the public. Tourists can take controlled, guided tours through some of the damp and cold rooms. The most interesting is the chamber known as the “Holy of Holies.” Traces of red ochre, the color of blood and death, can be seen on the walls, which leads archaeologists to believe this room was both a burial place and a shrine. In the “Oracle Chamber” a square block has been cut out of the wall. From this point, deep male voices carry to all ends of the chamber; interestingly enough, high-pitched female voices have no effect. Most likely, the priest-oracle interpreted dreams in this niche. The discovery of the “Sleeping Priestess” and other obese female figures implies that the Hypogeum housed a fervent fertility cult.
The harbor is bursting with colorful fishing boats. On the docks, fishermen repair their orange nets and prepare for another day of bringing in the bacon, or in this case, the fish. Others touch up the expressive Eyes of Osiris that are carved and painted on the front of the boats and protect the fishermen from the devil. In front of the quays is the market, which sells traditional lace and linen tablecloths, typical sweets, t-shirts and some other remarkable souvenirs.