Travel guide Malta

It's a braided motif of small golden balls adorning Maltese jewelry pieces. It is thought to have originated in Portugal, the only country where similar works can be found. This work requires a particular skill and dexterity, which justifies the high price of these veritable works of art: the tighter the weave, the heavier the object.

Dating back to 1535, this tradition is still very popular, especially in Valletta and Victoria (Gozo). Parades, music and dance are the order of the day. Competitions are held for floats and costumes. The Carnival King and his floats are accompanied by decorated horse-drawn carriages. And the balconies are crowded to get a front-row seat.

It was introduced to the Neapolitan coast by the merchants and citizens of Amalfi, who set up a hospital on the island for the Knights returning from the Crusades. Its four branches recall the cardinal virtues: Justice, Prudence, Moderation, Courage. At the extremities, its eight points indicate the eight nationalities of origin of the Knights.

The daïssa is a typical Maltese boat, brightly colored and resembling a gondola without a tail. The less slender fishermen's boats are called luzzu (or luzzijiet). They are characterized by the "eyes of Osiris" painted on the bow. Fewer in number today, these wooden boats are carefully maintained.

Called bizzilla, this typical art from Malta and especially from Gozo was imported by the Knights. After its decline, it was revived in the 19th century by taking up the fashion of Genoa, derived from the Venetian tradition with its rosette motifs and spirit stitches. This tradition will then be copied by other countries: France, Spain and England.

This is the name of the traditional Maltese bread. Round in shape, this sourdough bread is baked in a wood-fired oven and must be shaped by hand by the bakers. Often topped with olive oil, capers, tomatoes, tuna or onions, it is one of the most typical snacks, which has just been incorporated into the intangible heritage of UNESCO in December 2020.

Whether you arrive in Malta by boat or by plane, you'll soon be fascinated by the island's soft color. This color is that of honey, that of globigerine, a stone used to build sumptuous ancient palaces as well as modern houses in endless horizontal residential suburbs. It's one of the symbols of the archipelago.

You will be very surprised by the insistence of the islanders to define themselves as Maltese or Gozitain. When you arrive in Gozo you will simply have the impression of being in another country: wilder landscapes but above all customs and habits that claim to be different from those of Malta, such as a taste for work and small economies.

This is truly the most original wealth of Malta's heritage. But the big surprise comes from the finesse of prehistoric art as practiced by the island's tribes at the time. The zoomorphic and geometric friezes of Tarxien, the fish of Bugibba, the Sleeping Lady and the Venus of Malta are a delight to the eye.

They're the equivalent of our "corner café" and a veritable institution in Maltese villages. Often small, they are sometimes affiliated to a soccer club, a bocci (Maltese bowls) club or a political party. With an authentic decor: plastic tablecloth, frame with the Virgin Mary, photos of soccer teams and fake flowers.

The hero of theOdyssey stayed seven years as a prisoner on the island of Gozo, captive of Calypso. The daughter of the titan Atlas gives him an enchanted cave and offers him immortality, if he decides to stay. Moved by Odysseus' cries, Zeus sent Hermes to order Calypso to release him. She will then help him to reach his homeland, Ithaca.

Her popularity is extraordinary, and she is venerated in all walks of life and at all ages. In August, weeks are dedicated to her in many villages of Malta and Gozo, with people gathering in the main square every evening to recite the rosary. Young people can also be seen displaying her image on their T-shirts.