Pocket Rough Guide Malta & Gozo (Travel Guide eBook)
185 pages
English

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185 pages
English

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Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

Description

Pocket Rough Guide Malta & Gozo

Make the most of your time on Earth with the ultimate travel guides.
Entertaining, informative and stylish pocket guide.

Discover the best of Malta and Gozo with this compact and entertaining pocket travel guide. This slim, trim treasure trove of trustworthy travel information is ideal for short-trip travellers and covers all the key sights (The Blue Grotto, St John's Co-Cathedral, The Marsaxlokk fish market, Gozo's Citadel), restaurants, shops, cafés and bars, plus inspired ideas for day-trips, with honest and independent recommendations from our experts.

Features of this travel guide to Malta and Gozo:
Compact format: packed with practical information, this is the perfect travel companion when you're out and about exploring Malta
Honest and independent reviews: written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, our writers will help you make the most of your trip
Incisive area-by-area overviews: covering Valetta, Birgu, Mdina, Dwejra, Sliema, St Julian's, The Three Cities and more, the practical 'Places' section provides all you need to know about must-see sights and the best places to eat, drink and shop
Handy pull-out map: with every major sight and listing highlighted, the pull-out map makes on-the-ground navigation easy
Time-saving itineraries: carefully planned routes will help inspire and inform your on-the-road experiences
Travel tips and info: packed with essential pre-departure information including getting around, health, tourist information, festivals and events, plus an A-Z directory and handy language section and glossary
Attractive user-friendly design: features fresh magazine-style layout, inspirational colour photography and colour-coded maps throughout
Covers: Valletta; The Three Cities; Sliema; St Julian's; Mdrina; Rabat; central Malta; the north; the south; Gozo; Comino

Looking for a comprehensive travel guide to Spain? Try the Rough Guide to Spain for an informative and entertaining look at all the country has to offer.

About Rough Guides: Rough Guides have been inspiring travellers for over 35 years, with over 30 million copies sold. Synonymous with practical travel tips, quality writing and a trustworthy 'tell it like it is' ethos, the Rough Guides list includes more than 260 travel guides to 120+ destinations, gift-books and phrasebooks.


Sujets

Informations

Publié par
Date de parution 01 février 2020
Nombre de lectures 7
EAN13 9781789196597
Langue English
Poids de l'ouvrage 5 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0240€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

CONTENTS Introduction to MALTA & GOZO When to visit Where to… Things not to miss Itineraries Places Valletta The Three Cities Sliema and St Julian’s Mdina and Rabat Central Malta The north The south Gozo Comino Accommodation Essentials Arrival Getting around Directory A–Z Sports and outdoor activities Festivals and events Chronology Language Small Print
MALTA
Has any other tiny archipelago contributed so much to the history books? What sets Malta apart from other island destinations is the sheer number of historic sites, cultural attractions and ancient monuments squeezed onto its 246 square kilometres. With a dizzying number of World Heritage Sights for its size – inescapable reminders of its complicated 7000-year-old-history – Malta feels like a huge open-air museum. But that doesn’t mean it’s stuck in the past; in recent years Malta has truly come into its own as an alluring, quirky and rewarding destination. An abundance of top-notch restaurants, charming villages, brightly painted balconies, bustling promenades, vintage cars and warm hospitality means this little island leaves a big impression.

The intricately decorated interior of St John’s Co-Cathedral
iStock
The majority of Malta’s historical sights are concentrated in Valletta and the “Three Cities”, laid out around the Grand Harbour and marked by immense limestone walls. These impressive fortifications are a legacy of its complex history; Malta has alternated between long spells of isolation and brief outbursts of momentousness during periods of conflict when the island’s strategic location at the centre of the Mediterranean gave it a significance disproportionate to its size. There are plenty of opportunities to get to grips with Malta’s military past, with a host of impenetrable forts and several museums dedicated to the islands’ crucial role during World War II and the Great Siege of 1565, when the Order of the Knights of St John repelled a six-month attack by invading Turks. The Grand Harbour’s fortifications enclose a host of extravagant churches and palaces, the legacy of the Knights, who ruled the island for the next three hundred years. While the Baroque designs of the Knights are ever-present, the Neolithic era made an equally significant mark on the islands. The magnificent outdoor and underground temples across Malta and Gozo are the oldest freestanding man-made structures in the world, pre-dating Egypt’s pyramids. Second to none, there are more major Neolithic complexes here than in the whole of the rest of Europe.

Statue of Queen Victoria in Valletta
iStock

When to visit

The most popular time to visit is in high season (May–Oct). In July and August, when the Maltese also take their summer holidays, the island can feel suffocatingly hot and crowded, but it’s a lively time to visit, coinciding with plenty of festivals and annual village feasts. Rain is nearly unheard of between May and September, and the countryside is parched and dry. Scorching temperatures make sightseeing difficult during the middle of the day, but evenings bring relief and life to village squares and promenades well into the night. Things get quieter in the low season (Oct–May), when the weather is mild, rain comes in intense but infrequent bursts, and the countryside is vividly green (though mosquitoes can be bothersome). The sea is too cold for swimming, but comfortable temperatures make sightseeing very pleasant. Outside of the high season, the best times to visit are the autumn or spring shoulder seasons. Festivals continue into the autumn and the sea remains balmy, while in the spring, the countryside is ablaze with wildflowers.

Terrone
Terronne
A short boat-ride from Malta, Gozo has a more rural character than its sister island. What it lacks in the number of historic attractions of the mainland, it makes up for with tranquility, natural beauty and an amenable Mediterranean lifestyle. Hilly topography, ravishing coastal cliffs and striking salt pans offer marvellous walks, while the dive sites offshore are widely acknowledged as some of the best in the Mediterranean.
Though a small island, it can take a while to travel on Malta’s congested roads, even by bus (there are 6 cars for every 10 people on the archipelago). Malta’s public-transport system is modern and robust, servicing the entire country, including the sparsely populated countryside. Buses typically run from 5am to 11pm, sometimes at night, and cost €1.50 (winter) or €2 (summer) and €3 (night) for a 2-hour pass. More economical and convenient is the Explore Card (€39), which offers one week of unlimited public bus travel and two ferry trips between Valletta, Sliema and the Three Cities. Travelling by foot or ferry can often be a faster option, particularly around Sliema, St Julian’s and Valletta (be sure to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road). Double-decker private hop-on hop-off bus tours are also a convenient for touring Malta’s major attractions (€20, 1-day pass). Renting a car will free independent travellers to stray off the beaten path, but is not for the faint of heart. Driving styles here are aggressive at best and chaotic at worst, with road rules inconsistently observed and road conditions quite poor in some areas. However, reasonable rental fees (from €20/day) make this an economic option for families and groups. Renting a motorbike or scooter offers a faster way to bypass traffic on congested roads, but again, can be perilous. Cycling is just beginning to gain popularity in Malta and with very few bicycle lanes and a hilly topography, casual cyclists will find it nearly impossible to travel on two wheels (especially under the scorching summer sun).
< Back to Introduction
Where to…
Shop
Undoubtedly, Malta’s riches lie in its plethora of cultural attractions – not its shops – but there are a few gems to uncover amongst its monotonous selection of high-street outlets and souvenir shacks. For your pick of handmade treasures head to Gozo, where artisan lace, reed baskets, leather goods and local delicacies are readily found throughout Victoria and the Ta Dbieġi Crafts Village. On Malta, you’ll find a Mdina Glass shop in every major village; a sure bet for gorgeous glass creations. For fashionistas, Sliema and Valletta are the places to see and be seen, with shopping malls and a few boutiques from local designers.
OUR FAVOURITES: Souvenirs That Don’t Suck Ta Dbieġi Crafts Village Charles & Ron
Eat
Dining out is an essential part of Maltese social life; according to national statistics, Maltese families spend just as much at restaurants as they do on rent and utilities. Unsurprisingly then, Malta is home to an astonishing number of restaurants: about 2300 at last count! Sliema, St Julian’s and Valletta are brimming with mid-priced and upmarket restaurants, mostly Mediterranean, Italian and Asian. Further afield, local pizza, pasta and burger joints are reliable for cheap eats. A particular Maltese favourite is the huge, long and boozy Sunday lunch, served at almost every restaurant but particularly popular at sea or countryside outlets.
OUR FAVOURITES: Harbour Club Terrone Piccolo Padre
Drink
The ratio of bars to churches in Malta is easily three to one – impressive, when you consider the island is home to more than 359 churches. Visit Valletta for atmospheric wine bars and elegant cocktail lounges (both often have live music), or Sliema for drinks with a view at its plentiful seaside kiosks. For a cheap pint in any village, the kazin (a marching-band club-cum-community centre) is a favourite of locals. The Italian aperitivo tradition is alive and well in Malta; most drinking establishments see a rush of patrons from 6pm for aperitifs and small bites.
OUR FAVOURITES: Charles Grech Il-Gabbana Hole in the Wall
Go out
The village of Paċeville, enclosed by sprawling seaside resorts and a small beach, is the centre of Malta’s nightlife scene. Techno and hip-hop clubs, British-style pubs and cocktail bars occupy most of its ten-block radius, making it a particularly popular destination for stag and hen dos. In the summer, the party scene shifts from Paceville to the massive outdoor club complexes around Ta Qali National Park, and the seaside lidos in Buġibba and Sliema, which compete to host the most impressive parties every weekend.
OUR FAVOURITES: Havana Club Hugo’s Terrace Café del Mar Lido
< Back to Introduction
15 THINGS NOT TO MISS
It’s not possible to see everything that Malta has to offer in one trip – and we don’t propose you try. What follows is a selective taste of Malta’s highlights, from its Baroque architecture to its stunning coastal landscape.
iStock
VALLETTA If you only visit one place in Malta it must be Valletta. This alluring Baroque capital is home to the country’s major museums, besides stunning architecture, lush gardens, lavish churches, hip bars and restaurants, and remnants of a unique local culture.
Jürgen Scicluna/ viewingmalta.com
GOZO’S CITADEL Offering panoramic views of much of Gozo, and home to no less than four museums, a cathedral, and a superb interpretation centre, the compact, honey-coloured Citadel punches far above its weight.
iStock
ĦAĠAR QIM AND MNAJDRA TEMPLE COMPLEX The beauty of these two spectacular Neolithic temples is enhanced by their location on a cliff head overlooking the sea and the untouched Maltese countryside.
viewingmalta.com
MDINA Visitors are swept b

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