Malta is an exciting and up-and-coming destination that is increasing in popularity with every holiday season. The tiny archipelago is made up of numerous islands, each providing their own unique charm. The capital city of Valletta is by far the most popular with holidaymakers, but centering your trip on the country’s capital means you’ll miss out on the other exciting spots that Malta has to offer.
The Azure Window
This picturesque feature is a great stone arch that stretches out in the sea just off Dwejra Bay. Dwejra is situated on the island of Gozo, and is home to a miraculous rock formation, which was created when a limestone cave system collapsed. The Azure Window, the Inland Sea and Fungus Rock are all key attractions and are well worth the trip from Valletta to visit them.
It regularly appears on holiday cards of the region and is a popular spot for budding travel photographers..
The iconic backdrop that the window and the surrounding sea provide has become famous across the world. It has featured in the adverts of many top designers, such as Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss, and even made an appearance in hit TV series, Game of Thrones. Unsurprisingly, it has becomes Malta’s selfie capital, so don’t forget your phone (or camera)!
The Inland Sea
As another casualty of the cave collapse, the Inland Sea is an awe-inspiring lagoon that is fed from the Mediterranean through a passage in the cliff face. This area is probably most well-known for diving, although it is possible to pass through the tunnel in boats on calm days when the water is still. However, for those who love getting up close and personal with the ocean, this is an opportunity that can’t be missed.
From the open water, the dive offers 80m of underwater caves that can be enjoyed whilst the boats rush over ahead. There are many vast crevices in the rock face that can be explored and an array of marine life to be found within. However, it’s important to note that this dive is only recommended when the water is crystal clear, as the silt can easily affect visibility.
The Fungus Rock
For geology and history aficionados, Fungus Rock is an extremely fascinating site whose prevalence goes back to the Knights Hospitaller, when they discovered that the unique and strange flowering moss on the great rock had healing properties. In 1746, the rock was held in such high esteem that it was cordoned off from the public and constantly guarded.
Today, the rock stands as another prominent feature on the skyline of the view from Dwejra Bay. The 60m high limestone giant marks the entrance to a circular lagoon and has also become a popular spot with divers. Its base is home to a wide variety of large fish and there are urchins and starfish around the walls. If you don’t fancy taking a dip, many boat tours of the bay will take you out to witness this site close up.
Whilst Valletta and the main island of Malta provide many wonderful attractions for visitors from all over the world, to get a taste of the true beauty of this spectacular country, you really have to get over to its sister island of Gozo so be sure to add all of these places to your itinerary!
This is a guest post sponsored by the Radisson Blu Malta.
All Images released under the Creative Commons license.
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