| Megaliths, medieval dungeons and
Calypso's cave - Malta is positively mythic. The narrow cobblestone
streets of its towns are crowded with Norman cathedrals and baroque
palaces. The countryside is littered with the oldest known human
structures in the world.
Malta is very good at selling its romantic past of Copper Age
temple builders and crusading celibate knights, and it has used this
image to crank up a formidable tourism industry. Not that the
islands are overrun with highrise resorts - yet.
In the face of modernisation, the archipelago's staunchly Roman
Catholic culture has helped the Maltese maintain a tight-knit
community and keep a lid on runaway development.
The upshot of this is that travellers can enjoy a refreshing
balance of convenience and unvarnished local charm, and can get
comfort for considerably less than at many comparable Mediterranean
destinations.
The religious festival season is six months long - ending just in
time for the holidays. If you overdose on nougat and wine, you can
slip off to the tiny neighbouring islands of Gozo or Comino for some
serious peace and quiet.
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