The Rough Guide to Malta & Gozo 1 (Rough Guide Mini Guides) (Paperback)

by Victor Paul Borg (Author) "With its sunny climate, sparkling waters and clutch of sandy beaches, as well as lively bars and plentiful restaurants offering top-notch modern Mediterranean food, the..." (more)
Key Phrases: aleppo pines, World War, Grand Harbour, Three Cities (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
INTRODUCTION

Mention Malta and the images that spring to mind – the Knights of St John, the Maltese Falcon, the George Cross – evoke dignity and glory, chivalry and endurance. Malta, Gozo and Comino together comprise 316 square kilometres of land, barely half the size of London, and this cluster of tiny islands, strategically located in the central Mediterranean some 96km south of Sicily, 353km north of Libya, and equidistant from Gibraltar and Alexandria, have taken on an importance completely out of proportion to their size. They have stood up to the might of the Ottoman Empire during the Great Siege of 1565, cradled the core of Europe’s aristocracy for 268 years under the Knights of St John, and endured more bombing than any other country during World War II. From the Phoenicians to the British, all the great powers have fought over these dusty, windswept rocks, and courted the proud and defiant citizens, as laid-back and irreverent a people as they are industrious and adaptable.

Since attaining independence from Britain less than forty years ago (the only time the islands have not been ruled by an outside power), Malta has developed into a wealthy, modern democracy with a burgeoning tourism industry, now the mainstay of the economy both in the mainland and on Gozo and Comino. Over one million visitors descend each year, most drawn by the two-week sun-and-sea packages for which the islands have come to be known. The north coasts of Malta and Gozo are peppered with fully fledged resorts, which hold all categories of accommodation as well as a wealth of restaurants and cafés serving up Maltese, Italian and French delicacies, hordes of lively bars and the odd nightclub. In terms of beaches, you can choose between some gorgeous sandy swaths – some with unusual orange sand – or the rocky stretches of coastline, equipped with ladders for easy access to the water, which are equally popular spots from which to dive into the sparkling Med. Most of the popular! beaches hold watersports outlets during the summer, and the calm seas that surround the island are ideal for anything from jet-skis and banana boats to snorkelling and scuba; Maltese waters are said to offer the best diving in the Mediterranean. However, if you’re after some seclusion by the sea, there are dozens of undeveloped, less easily accessible coves and rocky shorelines which you’ll often have all to yourself.

There’s far more to Malta than beachlife, though, and you’d be missing out if you didn’t take time to explore the islands’ extensive historical sights, most of which are located in the fortified capital of Valletta, now designated a World Heritage City. The magnificent Neolithic temples scattered over Malta and Gozo – the oldest human-built structures in the world – are second to none: there are more major complexes here than in the whole of the rest of Europe, and they’re an absolute must-see. The Catholic church remains hugely influential in the Maltese islands: 99 percent of the populace are affiliated to the faith, as attested by the 350-plus churches that pierce the skyline (more than one for every square kilometre). Ranging from tiny rural chapels thronged by pilgrims to grandiose parish churches and ornate cathedrals, these shrines showcase some invaluable works of art as well as superlative Baroque architecture.

About the Author
Victor Borg has a well established background in travel writing having been published in Malta, the UK and the USA. He is a regular columnist for the Maltese daily paper, Malta Today.

Product Details

• Paperback: 391 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides (January 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858286808
• ISBN-13: 978-1858286808
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #808,008 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pocket sized, October 5, 2003

By	Stephen McHenry (Olney, MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This pocket sized 400 page guide to Malta & surrounding islands is full of facts, details, and helpful hints. This is a British made publication, which means: 1) you have great detail on after hour clubs, bars, and entertainment; 2), there will be practically no attempt to help you with the local language (which for the most part the natives can understand & speak English, even if they are heavily accented); 3) there will be no hesitation to give opinions along with the facts; 4) there will be good information on bus routes and transportation options.
There are only 4 pages of photographs out of the 400, so it helps to team this book up with one like the AAA Spiral Guide which is chock full of photos, but this Rough guide is the one to stick in your pocket when you head out into the street.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Thorough and Concise Guidebook, March 21, 2006

By	Mark D. Merlino (Vancouver, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Rough Guides' Malta Directions 1 (Rough Guide Directions) (Paperback)

Rough Guides' "Malta & Gozo" is a very handy guidebook. Although it is only 192 pages and pretty light, it is packed with information. The thing that I like most about this book is that it contains detailed maps of all three Islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino, in addition to numerous city maps and plenty of both colour and black and white photos.

The main focus of "Malta & Gozo" is to provide the reader with detailed and up to date descriptions of the main attractions, restaurants and hotels in each community. As well, this guide contains a basic overview of practical information, relating to transportation, money, communication, festivals and language.

One very special bonus is that this book is accompanied by a mini CD, showing the book's contents in digital format. This feature is nice if you would like to take a closer look at the maps provided in the book.

If you would like an up-to-date and thorough guide of Malta, this book is for you.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but..., December 1, 2008

By	A. Robinson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rough Guides' Malta Directions 1 (Rough Guide Directions) (Paperback)

Great book to read to prep for the trip & to have with you though not the book we used to find our way as we were out sightseeing. Not enough street maps, and there's far more to what we saw of Malta than was in this book.