Malta & Gozo 5

This new, thoroughly updated fifth edition of Bradt’s Malta remains the most detailed guide to the country. Written by the author, broadsheet ‘destination expert’ and tour leader who wrote the original guide and has updated every edition since, Bradt’s Malta has built a reputation as the go-to resource for getting beneath the surface of this island nation. With this guidebook in hand, discover cultural and other delights that lie beyond the island’s famed beaches.

The deeper you delve, the more you will uncover of the varied riches of Malta and the adjacent islands of Gozo and Comino. Malta has the highest density of historic sights of any country, the result of a unique cultural and built heritage that fuses Neolithic, Roman, medieval, Arab, Punic, French and British influences.

On one day, you might visit what is arguably the world’s oldest accessible stone architecture – UNESCO-listed temples that are more ancient even than Egypt’s great pyramids and Britain’s Stonehenge. On other days, choose between unusual Roman catacombs, medieval citadels and the baroque legacy of the Knights of St John, or the secret headquarters and underground shelters of World War II (used by General Eisenhower to command the invasion of Sicily) – or perhaps come right up to date in the vibrant capital of Valletta by admiring the new parliament building, designed by Renzo Plano, architect of London’s Shard.

For something different, gawp at Caravaggio’s largest (and only signed) painting, visit one of Malta’s 300-odd village churches, enjoy world-class diving on Gozo, or make merry in colourful parish festas, where parades and fireworks are complemented by music and food. Talking of cuisine, why not treat yourself to one of Malta’s six Michelin-starred restaurants, which represent the zenith of the island’s recent surge in gastronomical delights? And if you need some downtime, relax on beaches that enjoy 300 days of sun each year and take a dip in clear blue seas that are delightfully warm from June to November. Whether you class yourself as a culture vulture, history buff, foodie, church lover or diver, this new, fifth edition of Bradt’s Malta has you covered.