Malta has been a location for
marine repair activity since the days of the Knights of St. John. Its central
Mediterranean location and ease of access by sea and air make it a convenient
choice to holiday or to cruise with some of the greatest historical and
architectural heritage available anywhere in the Mediterranean.
Malta – an archipelago of tiny islands
with a past shrouded in the ethereal mists of time – chequered with tales of
magic, myth and mystery. Megalithic Temples dot the landscape: still an
impressive and awe-inspiring sight and silent testimony to a mysterious complex
civilisation. The travels of Odysseus tell of the Hero being seduced by
the temptress Calypso on the delightful island of Gozo, whilst, Pliny the
Younger, commented upon a visit to the Islands ( during the Roman period) that
you could walk as far as the eye could see under the shade of olive trees.
Surrounded by the azure blues seas of the
Mediterranean the Maltese Islands have always been a magnet for seafarers – the
crossroads of the Middle Sea – fought over and conquered for generations before
finally gaining independence in 1964. The Islands history is a rich
colourful tapestry: at times poignant, but yet, a wildly romantic melange: with
Phoenician, Punic, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Knights of St John, French
and British ‘invaders’ coveting the Islands.
Today Malta is a vibrant bustling
destination, sought after by Mariners for different reasons: commerce through
its large Freeport, a wonderful destination for large cruise ships and for
sailors cruising the beautiful Island waters.
The Islands offer a superb range of
cultural activities with a plethora of world class museums, theatres, art
galleries and wonderful architecture: particularly attributed to the Knights of
St John in Valetta, and the British with their colonial and military legacy.