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Holiday information on Malta

"Malta is reassuringly familiar - look out for the British style policemen and bright red post boxes - yet has its own identity with a wealth of fascinating sights and sounds to discover."

Closer to Africa than Europe, Malta has an incredible sunshine record, which, along with sparkling clear seas and magnificent natural harbours, tiny coves and sweeping bays, have made it a popular destination for centuries. Journey through honey-coloured villages amongst fields of wild orchids, red poppies, tulips and anemones towards fascinating archeological remains, followed by the delicious scent of wild herbs, olive and citrus groves.

The waters around Malta are widely regarded to be amongst the clearest in the Mediterranean. Mellieha Bay has a wonderful sweep of clean, gently shelving sand which benefits from the shelter of a sunny headland. In other resorts sand is scarce and bathing areas comprise mainly of smooth rocks. Snorkelling and scuba diving can be excellent as the array of fish and coral are simply breathtaking. You'll find almost every imaginable watersport from windsurfing to paragliding to water-skiing.

Locally-made goods are well worth a look at, in both the shops and markets, especially gold, silver, lace and glassware. There is good shopping in Valletta (especially Republic Street and Merchants Street), Sliema, Marsaxlokk harbour and Ta' Qali Crafts Village.

If nightlife is high on your agenda try St Julians which has plenty to offer, with lively bars, nightclubs, an ice rink, IMAX cinema, bowling hall, cinema and shopping complex. There's even a casino if you fancy a flutter. For traditional entertainment, join in with the local village 'festas' that take place all over the island during the summer. These are lively affairs with impressive firework displays.

Malta's rich heritage can be seen in its wealth of archaeological, architectural and artistic treasures including Megalithic temples which are over 1000 years older than Stonehenge. Other historical sights include Roman mosaics, Baroque churches and mighty fortifications. Nowadays, the island is often used for filming (Midnight Express, Gladiator and Troy all had scenes shot here), but other famous visitors have included the Apostle Paul, who was shipwrecked in the bay named after him, the Knights of St John and the painter Caravaggio, whose work adorns the altar of St John's cathedral in Valletta.

Malta boasts an impressive range of menus. Fish and seafood are widely available - try 'lampuki pie' - fish and spinach baked in shortcrust pastry or enjoy octopus, squid and cuttlefish stuffed with juicy Mediterranean vegetables. Due to its location there's also a strong Italian influence so you can expect to find lots of delicious pizza, pasta and ice-creams. Malta produces excellent wines including a variety of red, rose and white. Locally-made 'Cisk' beer or the orange and herb-based 'Kinnie' soft drink are refreshing accompaniments to any meal. For afternoon tea, try Maltese 'pastizzi' - a savoury pastry filled with cottage cheese which goes particularly well with a frothy cappuccino.