Sunshine and art in Malta
New festival adds to the spring break fun, says Aine Fox
This small archipelago in the Mediterranean has a rich history of different cultures, having hosted – not always willingly – the Romans, Napoleon and the British Empire among others over the years.
The island nation may have been vulnerable to invasion, but its resilience and fighting spirit is evident as we traverse the beautiful walled cities of Valletta and Mdina, as well as the somewhat imposing Citadel, a ferry ride away on nearby sister island Gozo.
It is fitting that my visit involves a trip to one of Malta’s many olive groves, a 20-minute drive from capital city Valletta, as these form part of the theme for the country’s first-ever biennale.
From March until the end of May, visitors can take in the major celebration of art, heritage and culture, under the theme Baħar Abjad Imsaġar taż-Żebbuġ, meaning White Sea Olive Groves. While the island’s population is just over half a million, when sunseekers arrive in their droves in high season, it swells. More than three million tourists visited in 2023. Peak season in the summer months can be crammed and, with the mercury sometimes hitting 40C in July and August, a cooler and perhaps slightly less crowded trip either side of these periods is advisable. The biennale – which should bring perfect spring temperatures in the low to mid 20s – is intended to be a fusion of contemporary art with Malta’s rich heritage.
Some of the island’s bestknown sites will become stages for art and performances, while artistic films, interactive workshops, and family-friendly events will take place. I imagine visitors will be in for a treat because I already find myself wowed by how much Malta has to offer, and that’s before the biennale has begun. Leaving the quiet Maltese countryside behind, I explore the cobbled lanes of the ancient fortified cities of Valletta, Malta’s capital, and Mdina, its predecessor. Among the legacies of occupation across the centuries, none is surely more visible than that of the grandly named Knights of St John. Made up of noblemen from the most important families in Europe, the order ruled the islands for 250 years. A trip to St John’s Co-cathedral (entrance €15/£13 per adult) is a feast for the eyes. Not one inch of wall, ceiling or floor is left plain – instead the walls are covered in gold, the high ceilings display intricate paintings and the ground we walk upon is made up of marble tombstones laid in tribute to knights of the order.
The island’s former capital Mdina is another wondrous legacy of the knights. Sometimes known as the Silent City, the name seems apt given that its current population is thought to number less than 250. As we weave through its narrow, winding laneways, our guide explains the design was intended to foil attackers shooting arrows in years gone by.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP
Fly to Malta from London Heathrow Airport with AirMalta from €78/£66 one way. Flights operate daily. Visit airmalta.com.
Stay at Malta Marriott Hotel and Spa from £218 per room per night. Visit marriott.com.
For more information on the destination and biennale, go to visitmalta.com.