Malta
The spotlight will be thrown on the Mediterranean islands of Malta this month when the Duchess of Cambridge arrives on her first solo foreign tour.
She will be representing the Queen at celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Malta’s independence from the United Kingdom on 20 and 21 September.
Malta of course holds a special place in Her Majesty’s heart as she and Prince Philip lived there for almost two years as young newly-weds.
In recognition of their bravery, King George VI awarded its people the George Cross for their heroic struggle against occupation during the Second World War.
Malta is an archipelago of seven islands around 80km south of Sicily, and has been dubbed Europe’s Caribbean, thanks to its splendid beaches, blue waters and sunny climate. You can expect nine hours of sun a day and temperatures of 29C – even in September.
It’s even easier to get there now that a wide range of UK holiday companies include the destination in their programmes. In March, British Airways began operating direct ights there from Gatwick, and Jet2 is launching three new direct ights from Manchester, Leeds Bradford and East Midlands airports from May next year.
So, apart from rest and relaxation, what else is there for visitors to do?
Firstly, get your bearings on a visit to the Malta Experience, an audio visual show in the capital, Valletta, which encapsulates the islands’ history.
Valletta was built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege of 1565, and named after their Grand Master, Jean Parisot de La Valette. A Unesco World Heritage site and a designated European Capital Of Culture 2018, it has elegant churches and mansions to explore – St John’s Co- Cathedral is a baroque masterpiece and home to a couple of Caravaggios, too.
St John's Co Cathedral in Valletta
Mdina, The Silent City, with restrictions on the entry of cars, should be on your sightseeing list, for the beautiful architecture and narrow cobbled streets.
Special bus tours make sightseeing easy if you don’t want to miss anything – visit the Hypogeum, a vast underground necropolis hewn from the rock.
Other popular activities include watersports, especially snorkelling and diving or there’s golf and walking. Take a boat trip to see a different view, or to visit the Ggantija Temples on Gozo. There, you’ll glimpse a civilisation that lived on the islands some 5,800 years ago.
Marsaxlokk fish market is fascinating, or take a tour of one of the islands’ vineyards, with wine tasting, of course. Then, relax afterwards with some pampering – a number of top-class hotels offer spa packages – or head for a beach. The turquoise seas surrounding the Maltese Islands have been ranked the third best bathing waters in Europe by the European Environment Agency.
Later, head into town for dinner, followed by a wine bar, casino or nightclub – you never know who could be on the dance floor.
For more details, contact the Malta Tourist office: 020-8877 6990, www.visitmalta.com or talk to your local travel agent.
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
She will be representing the Queen at celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Malta’s independence from the United Kingdom on 20 and 21 September.
Malta of course holds a special place in Her Majesty’s heart as she and Prince Philip lived there for almost two years as young newly-weds.
In recognition of their bravery, King George VI awarded its people the George Cross for their heroic struggle against occupation during the Second World War.
Malta is an archipelago of seven islands around 80km south of Sicily, and has been dubbed Europe’s Caribbean, thanks to its splendid beaches, blue waters and sunny climate. You can expect nine hours of sun a day and temperatures of 29C – even in September.
It’s even easier to get there now that a wide range of UK holiday companies include the destination in their programmes. In March, British Airways began operating direct ights there from Gatwick, and Jet2 is launching three new direct ights from Manchester, Leeds Bradford and East Midlands airports from May next year.
So, apart from rest and relaxation, what else is there for visitors to do?
Firstly, get your bearings on a visit to the Malta Experience, an audio visual show in the capital, Valletta, which encapsulates the islands’ history.
Valletta was built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege of 1565, and named after their Grand Master, Jean Parisot de La Valette. A Unesco World Heritage site and a designated European Capital Of Culture 2018, it has elegant churches and mansions to explore – St John’s Co- Cathedral is a baroque masterpiece and home to a couple of Caravaggios, too.
St John's Co Cathedral in VallettaMdina, The Silent City, with restrictions on the entry of cars, should be on your sightseeing list, for the beautiful architecture and narrow cobbled streets.
Special bus tours make sightseeing easy if you don’t want to miss anything – visit the Hypogeum, a vast underground necropolis hewn from the rock.
Other popular activities include watersports, especially snorkelling and diving or there’s golf and walking. Take a boat trip to see a different view, or to visit the Ggantija Temples on Gozo. There, you’ll glimpse a civilisation that lived on the islands some 5,800 years ago.
Marsaxlokk fish market is fascinating, or take a tour of one of the islands’ vineyards, with wine tasting, of course. Then, relax afterwards with some pampering – a number of top-class hotels offer spa packages – or head for a beach. The turquoise seas surrounding the Maltese Islands have been ranked the third best bathing waters in Europe by the European Environment Agency.
Later, head into town for dinner, followed by a wine bar, casino or nightclub – you never know who could be on the dance floor.
For more details, contact the Malta Tourist office: 020-8877 6990, www.visitmalta.com or talk to your local travel agent.
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk