Malta and Gozo Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide - with pull out map (Marco Polo Guides) (Marco Polo Pocket Guides)

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Attard, Lija and Balzan located in the central area all linked to each other. Accommodation in these areas are limited. The best in these areas are the gardens which form part of the official residence of Malta’s President which are open to the public. Numerous old houses with beautiful architecture line the old streets of the localities as they were inhabited by wealthy local families. Bus numbers 221, 223 and 225 will take you from Buġibba to Mellieħa in under an hour. If you’re staying in St. Paul’s Bay, take buses 41, 42 or 222. Malta’s summers are hot and humid. The sky is blue with no clouds for months. Temperatures can reach 36C. Since it’s an island, night and day temperatures rarely differ by more than a few degrees. So, during a heatwave, nighttime temperatures will remain relatively high. Comino almost uninhabited is a popular destination for the popular Blue Lagoon day-trippers and hikers.

The village has a lavish Baroque Parish Church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The ornate interior features marvelous ceiling paintings, gilded Corinthian columns, and an airy dome with stained-glass windows. db Seabank Hotel – Resort & Spa – offers 4-star accommodation with plenty of bars and restaurants within the hotel. It is very popular with families with children, being so close to the beach right across the road and promising a great time for young ones with games rooms and bowling lanes. Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa – A 4-star hotel in the centre of Mellieħa, just a few minutes walk from the beach and close to a lot of restaurants on the same street. Facilities include three pools, a gym and a spa. The spacious white limestone sanctuary is sparsely decorated with sculptures and modern paintings. The polished marble on the floor was sourced from Carrara, Italy, and the main altar is also carved in precious marble. Marsalforn's tiny harbor is a popular starting point for scuba diving expeditions. Favorite places to visit for scuba diving trips from Marsalforn include the Blue Hole and the Inland Sea on the Island of Gozo, around Cirkewwa on Malta Island, and the Comino Caves on the Island of Comino.The main resort town, Marsalforn, is surprisingly lively. In the high season, the harbor area bustles with activity: vacationers taking strolls along the promenade and dining at the waterfront restaurants, and sunbathers headed to the small centrally located beach. Nestled along a protected bay surrounded by steep cliffs, Ir-Ramla il-Hamra (Ramla Bay) is the largest beach on the Island of Gozo. Unlike most beaches in Malta, Ramla Bay has a wide shore covered in fine reddish sand. There are almost no pebbles except for a few where the shore breaks. Malta’s history is rich with maps that portray the development of the island but also an in depth understanding of how things were, the way of life so different than we live today. It is a fact that today it is considered as for granted fact. Books have been published on this subject. The pioneer for such research is Dr. Albert Ganado who started collecting old maps. Today his son has transformed his father’s collection into an incredible study in collaboration with Emeritus Chief Conservator Joseph Schirò. Maps reveal details that enlighten historians understand the way things developed. The Mellieħa air raid shelter is the largest of 46 shelters dug in Mellieħa during World War Two, reaching a length of over 500 metres. It was recently opened to the public by the Maria Bambina Choral and Orchestral Society of Mellieħa. The shelter includes waxwork characters in various rooms, showing how the Maltese took shelter during the bombing. The admission price is €2.40. You are left to your own devices to explore the tunnels in your own time. Popeye Village In this sheltered location, the gentle sea is shallow and calm, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The Green Flag that is usually flying indicates the safety of the waters. Many vacationers come to Ramla Bay simply to sunbathe and lounge under parasols.

Barely visible on the world map. So where is Malta? The islands of Malta are in the very centre of the Mediterranean sea, between Sicily and Africa. The small island Nation of Malta is an archipelago located in the southern-central region of the Mediterranean Sea, in Southern Europe. It is positioned both in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth. Malta is situated about 80km South of Sicily (Italy), 284km East of Tunisia and 333 km North of Libya. Paradise Bay | Golden Bay | Ghajn Tuffieha (Riviera Martinique) | Mellieha Bay | St. George’s Bay | St. Peter’s Pool The island of Comino lies between Malta and Gozo. It’s 3.5 square kilometres (1.35 square miles) and has four official inhabitants.One80 Kitchen & Lounge – Further up the hill towards the village, this restaurant is renowned for serving high-quality cuisine, whether in the modern dining room or on the terrace offering panoramic views. The bay begins with the Inland Sea (Il-Qawra), a natural lagoon of shallow water in a recess along the coastline. The Inland Sea is a favorite spot for swimming and snorkeling. The second harbour is at Marsaxlokk where other villages are located around it. The old capital was Mdina until the arrival of the Knights of St. John. It is located more in the central area on a high hill surrounded with fortifications a good vintage point to observe any arriving ships over the horizon and a considerable view of the island sea shore. Just up the road from the Gozo ferry terminal, you can find the best tour operator on the island, Yippee, where you can opt for a few types of tours: 1) A guided full-day tour on a Tuk-tuk (private tour also possible), or 2) A self-driven/guided Quad Bike tour (also full-day). (TIP: Get 5% off using coupon code MALTA5)

Xlendi - a popular place of entertainment located south west of Gozo. The beach here is small but enclosed between high spectacular cliffs which make Xlendi one of the best spots in Gozo. Verdant valleys surround this historic hilltop town, which looks out to the Mediterranean Sea. This strategic location was the watchpoint where the Knights of Saint John kept vigil over the channel between the islands of Malta and Gozo. The name of the village comes from the Maltese word that means "to keep guard."

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You can find a full list of my recommended hotels here: The Best Mellieħa Hotels based on personal recommendations