Tips before you go to travelers who visit Malta island
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à
Malte |
The Neolithic sites, Antiquity,
the Order of Saint Jean (Knights of Malta), visit of Valetta,
visits island of Gozo, visits of Mdina "the city of the silence", English protectorate,
School of English in Malta, Diving center in Gozo,
Boat rental with or without license for discover Malta island, windsurfing school
More pictures to Malta: click on the link
Informations about the Malta Island
The
archipelago of Malta it's 200 km of coasts, surrounded of a crystalline
water, which one says " the purest of the Mediterranean",
the yellow stone of its buildings, which takes a gold color but, as
soon as the sun appears, it gives the softness of honey ! Its privileged
climate, allows stays all along the year.
It's
composed of 3 islands : Malta, Comino and Gozo. Malta is blazing by
its monuments and its architecture, Comino considered for its scintillating
and transparent water is a natural swimming pool, a lagoon of a major
blue very appreciated by the divers. Gozo is a preserved place, with
the green hills, the multiple splits, the fine and red sand beaches,
with abrupt cliffs and water so 
clear
that it also proves to be it, a paradise for the divers.
7000 years of civilization made this archipelago,
a place which does not leave anybody indifferent. Of its enigmatic monuments
of the Neolithic sites, to the heritage architectural left by the Knights
about Malta, this archipelago which balances between the East and the
Occident, invites to the discovery, and it's for that, that it's called
"The Treasure Island".
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Single monuments in the world, with
the sites of Hal Saflieni, Tarxien, Mnajdra, Hagar Quim or Ggantja
of the time of the Neolithic era, which leave still today perplexed
and of which thousands of tons of filled up stones of mysticism, push
our curiosity. Fascinated, we go to the archaeological museum to admire
extraordinary parts, with the famous Venus of Malta or the attractive
Déesse of the fertility. The Tarxien spirals leave admiring,
and we cannot not think of this civilization, disappeared in circumstances
which one is unaware of still today, but who, it there has 4000 years
before J.C., had shown genius and was capable of a refinement which
leaves us without voice. top
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It sees the phenicians, the Carthaginians and the
Romans to leave their prints, that the antiquities's 
museum
of Rabat, shows if you are a curious visitors. One should not miss the
splendid mosaics which testify to the opulence of Malta during the Roman
occupation. But this time is also the Christian era on Malta. Indeed,
it is towards 60 after J.C., that the boat which carries out the apostle
St Paul in Rome as a prisoner, fails. This stay, dates christianization
from the Maltese archipelago. Many well preserved and decorated catacombs
point out the first times of a religion which was going to become official
in IV century. top
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The Midle Age and the visit of Mdina (the city of the silence)
It's
very present here and in all its splendour with the old capital of the
island, Mdina. The Normans influences and
Spanish mix in the narrow lanes with this city which seems deadened.
Protected by its ramparts, Mdina wakes up in the passing of the tourists,
time to reveal its palates, its churches or its cathedral St Pierre
and St Paul of XI century. The escape in
the past is total, the charm 
intact.
It's also interesting to make a small visit by night, Mdina, then got
dressed with light, omnipresent silence wraps you and guides you towards
another vision of the old capital, romantic and mysterious at the same
time, Mdina plays the enchantress, the magic of the place operates.
Mdina "the city of the silence", is a beautiful representation
of medieval architecture, the spectacle of day or night, is assured.
Moreover, one finds excellent restaurants there!!
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In
1048, monks create a "hospital' ' for the pilgrims, in Jerusalem.
We are in full crusade and from many lords will be attracted by this
order whose ideal is devotion, not excluding the recourse to the weapons.
These monks soldiers will remain out of Holy Land until at the end of
the crusades. It's in Cyprus that they will settle after the fall of
Jerusalem, then in Rhodos until the Othomans take the island at the
end of a long fight. In front of the 
bravery
of these knights, Charles Quint their offer in 1530 the Maltese archipelago.
Two centuries begin then, under the order of these "Chevaliers
of Saint Jean" who will make Maltais archipelago a true jewel.
In first they will settle
on the 3 cities Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua.
They
are a fabulous builders and testimonys of these buildings are present
everywhere. But the Othomans of Soliman continue their progression and
in 1565 it is the large seat, they are with the doors of the 3 cities.
The Maltese archipelago will tremble under the threat, but the knights,
however fewer, will succeed by their strategy and their military engineering,
to push back the enemy definitively. But the 3 cities showed their vulnerability,
and the knights will decide to build a new capital, which they will
want impregnable, just opposite. Valetta was born. Elegant, sovereign,
it is the Great Master of the moment, the victorious French of the large
seat, Jean Parisot of Valette, which leaves him its name. top
of the page
Today,
to walk in the capital, it's to discover the city of XVI century with
the Co-cathedral Saint Jean with the 8 vaults,
corresponding to the 8 languages which brought together the knights.
The latter could be surrounded of large artists, thus the covered Co-cathedral
of gold and of frescos is surprising. Its ground is consisted of the
tomb stones of the Great Masters
(attention the heels are prohibited in order to preserve this superb
ground), the statues of style Baroque, paintings, show the ostentation
and the richness of the order. You will be able to also see the various
inns, left embassy of the time, like the inn of Provence,
Aragon or Castille.
To discover the famous hospital of the knights, it will be necessary
to return to you towards the fort, on the port Saint Elme.
The
gardens of Barraca is an obliged
passage, overhanging the large port, they offer an admirable sight on
the 3 cities. Continuously our dawdling, all beside the Palate
of the Great Masters, it will be possible to visit the
interesting arms museum which shows a multitude of parts all the more
beautiful and interesting ones that the others. Most beautiful parts
being without any doubt, armours of parade, admirably worked. You will
be able to also discover a residence La Casa Rocca Piccola,
always inhabited by a Knight of Jean Saint.
Museum
of La Casa Rocca Piccola is a residence of XVI century,
inhabited since the beginning by the same Piro family. This noble residence
is today the residence of the 9th Marquis de Piro, who will have had
the kindness to open the doors of this house to us and to be used to
us as guide. This Knight of the Order thus will tell us the
history of a family and that of an always popular order today. 
Thus,
after having climbed the monumental staircase, it is a jump in the past
which this residence allows us, which is not a museum, but true a Maltese
house. Coin after coin, 400 years of the history of a family is told
to you and reveals you its memories, today true treasures. Each visited
part reveal us a side of the history of Malta. The dining room is a
splendid part, the library is full with knowing and of heat, the room
to be slept has a splendid furniture and the
whole of visit with 
pleasure
and a great interest, it's impossible to set out again of Malta without
to have visited it, you would miss something of essence in the Maltese
history. This residence forms part of the inheritance of the archipelago,
it forms integral part of a history quite simply. To discover more in
detail La Casa Rocca Piccola , used the link below : www.casaroccapiccola.com
The 3 Cities.
Today the tourists tend to neglect this place and yet the 3 cities prove
to be a 
place
extremely pleasant to visit. These 3 fortresses, Vittoriosa,
Senglea, Cospicua had to face
the large seat but also of terrible German bombardments during the second
world war. If the cities were heavily touched, it does not remain about
it less than they have much charm still today. Medieval streets strewn
with flowers, always visible military fortifications, the peace which
reigns there, as many assets which make, that one should not especially
miss going there.
The
"small sister" of Malta does not have anything to envy to
him. In the past called Rabat, Victoria is the capital of the island
of Gozo. With its citadel, its cathedral of the XVII and XVIII century,
its ramparts, its museums and its villages surrounding, Gozo is an island
full with charm. It's called the green island,
so much its vegetation is luxuriant. 
The
bay of Dwejra with its azure's window, its ground strewn
with fossils, its inland sea are splendid. The salt
are not to be missed. But the myth has also its place with in particular
the Calypso nymph which allured Ulysses, the cave where the beautiful
one lived, does not visit itself, but the site remains to be seen. And
then obviously there is the temple megalithic of Ggantija.
It most imposing and is best preserved Europe for this time. Boats easily
carries out you to Gozo, you have of them all 45mn and the crossing
lasts 20mn. top
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From
1800, the archipelago passes under English protectorate and becomes
a British colony what will be worth in Malta a paramount role during
the second world war. If Malta will never be invaded, it will be very
bombarded. In 1947 the autonomy of the archipelago
is 
declared
and in 1974 the Maltaise republic was born. Today of the English period,
there remains control on the left and although the Maltese is the language
official, English is spoken in all the archipelago.
Today Malta forms part of the European Community, even if the euro makes its appearance only in 2008. top of the page
It
should be recognized that one eats rather well on the archipelago, very
influenced by Italy, the kitchen has here resonances frankly Mediterranean,
very good wines and a cordial population always ready to have fun the
festival, and these last are numerous :
The carnival, between the 3 and on February 8, are one of oldest of Europe.
The Festival of Mediterranean food, between the 10 and 13 the Mars, a beautiful way of tasting the Mediterranean kitchen.
The
Holy Week, between the 20 and 27 the Mars.
The Festival of fireworks, between the 6 and on May 7, the largest manufacturers of fireworks present a festival in the Port of Valetta.
The "Festi", between June 1st and on September 30, each city or village of Malta celebrates its "Festa", dedicated to a Saint.
The
international Festival of jazz, between the 16 and July
18, in the Port, under the illuminated ramparts.
The Festival mediterranea on the island of Gozo, between October 28 and November 7, it recalls the 7000 years of history of the island of Gozo in 10 days. top of the page
TO KNOW
You need more informations about the Malta Island, contact: info@itinerairesbis.com
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The Councils to move you in the archipelago :
In order to be able to move you easily and quietly, here the solutions which are offered to you :
Bus
: it is the most economic transport. The line of bus number 8 carries
out directly to the airport.Lines 32, 34 and 35 serve the stops of
buses located near the airport. The buses leave or go in direction of
Valetta but stop at several stations during the voyage. There are buses
all the 20 mn and they circulate of 5h30 of the morning up to 11 p.m.
the evening.
Below links to know the places served as well as the tariffs :
Some links to the transport :
To the bus : www.publictransport.com.mt
To the shuttle aiport : gettinghere.maltairport.com
For the crossings in ferry, you will find all the schedules on : www.gozochannel.com
Car
: It's possible to rent a car starting from the airport.
We recommend to you however to pay attention, indeed, the Malteses circulate
on the way of left as in the United Kingdom, and the wheel is located
right side of the car. top
of the page
Electricity :
Attention, you will need adapters (Anglo-Saxon system).
www.itinerairesbis.com, thank's for your visit.
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