The Best of Malta

Marsaxlokk Harbour

Marsaxlokk Harbour is a fishing port located in the village of Marsaxlokk, on the southern coast of Malta
The harbour is famous for its colorful traditional Maltese fishing boats known as luzzus, which are recognizable by their eye motifs painted on the bows
The waterfront is lined with numerous restaurants and cafes where visitors can enjoy fresh seafood while overlooking the bay

Mdina is a fortified city in the Northern Region of Malta which served as the island's former capital, from antiquity to the medieval period
Initially a Phoenician colony known as Ann, it was established around the 8th century BC, sharing its name with the island and presumably acting as its capital
In the medieval era, Mdina remained the center of the Maltese nobility and religious authorities, and property continues to largely be passed down from families and from generation to generation
The city displays an unusual mix of Norman and Baroque architecture, including several palaces, most of which serve as private homes

Popeye Village, also known as Sweethaven Village, is a purpose-built film set village that has been converted into a small attraction fun park, consisting of a collection of rustic and ramshackle wooden buildings
It was built as a film set for the production of the 1980 live-action musical feature film Popeye, starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall
Currently, there are shows, rides and museums, as well as play houses where children can climb and explore the village

St John's Co-Cathedral is a Catholic co-cathedral in Valletta, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist
It was built by the Order of St. John between 1573 and 1578
In the 17th century, its interior was redecorated in the Baroque style by Mattia Preti and other artists
The interior of the church is considered to be one of the finest examples of high Baroque architecture in Europe

The Upper Barrakka Gardens are a public garden in Valletta
Along with the Lower Barrakka Gardens in the same city, they offer a panoramic view of the Grand Harbour
The gardens were originally used to offer recreation to the knights of the Italian langue of the Order of Saint John, but were opened to the public following the end of the two-year French occupation of Malta in 1800

The Lascaris War Rooms are an underground complex of tunnels and chambers in Valletta that housed the War Headquarters from where the defense of the island was conducted during the Second World War
Opened in 1940, the Lascaris War Rooms were crucial for coordinating the defense of Malta against Axis forces
The rooms were later used by NATO and are now open to the public as a museum
The Lascaris War Rooms now showcase wartime artifacts, including two original tanks: a Matilda and an M3 Stuart