2023-08-12 08:22:36
Bays with turquoise water, rugged cliffs, bizarre rock formations: Malta not only attracts culture and party tourists – nature lovers will not be disappointed either.
We visit the archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea in midsummer. The sun is beating down, the temperatures are skyrocketing. We escape the heat of the capital Valletta and head to the coast.
We quickly realize that every stretch of coast is a natural site that never ceases to amaze us with the contrasting play of colors between land and water, bizarre rock formations and sweeping views. Here are three places that we were particularly excited about.
The natural swimming pool of St. Peter
If you search the internet for pictures of Malta, you will almost certainly come across the fishing village of Marsaxlokk in the south-east of Malta with its many colorful fishing boats that float around the harbor and seem to be posing for the perfect photo.
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A trip here is not only worthwhile for this picturesque scenery and the lively market bustle in the village, but also for St. Peter’s Pool on a promontory a little further east. A natural swimming pool carved into the rocky coastal plateau by wind and waves.
Not an insider tip, but still beautiful: the natural swimming pool in St. Peter
Source: dpa-tmn
The green-blue water offers cooling on hot summer days. St. Peter attracts masses of locals and holidaymakers in the high season – it is no longer an insider tip. Contrary to what the lonely idyll of the postcard motif suggests, which one often sees in the pictures on the Internet, in reality we find a bathing bay plastered over with towels.
With so many people, it’s not just tight at the edge of the pool, but also in the water. This can get uncomfortable: Some dare head jumps, belly flops and butt bombs from the edge of the cliff. If you don’t swim away fast enough, it can hit you hard from above.
A little away from the pool of St. Peter you can see this unusual landscape. Here you share the sea with fewer people
Source: dpa-tmn
The small stretch of coast to the right of the natural sea pool is worth a detour. When you turn the corner of the cliff, you feel like you are on another planet. The tides have carved a spongy relief into the bottom of the plateau. Large, oddly shaped boulders are standing around – almost as if a giant had left his Lego bricks here after playing.
The Blue Grotto in the south of Malta
The waves around the bay of Wied iz-Zurrieq glisten in the midday sun. From there the boat tours to the Blue Grotto on the south coast of Malta start. Located at the foot of a 50-metre-high rock arch, it consists of six caves carved into the rock over centuries by the sea.
As soon as you enter the cave system with the small fishing boat, the water takes on an almost impossible bright turquoise. Shimmering blue light reflections dance on the rock walls. It is a special play of colors that is revealed to our eyes here. Hence the name Blue Grotto, says our guide.
From this vantage point east of Wied iz-Zurrieq you have a good view of the Blue Cave
Quelle: Getty Images/joe daniel price
It is the largest and, for us, the most impressive, but by no means the only cave that is approached on the thirty-minute boat tour along the cliffs.
If you don’t just want to admire the Blue Grotto from the boat, you can walk to a vantage point east of Wied iz-Zurrieq in just a few minutes. From here you have a new perspective: You can see the entire rock arch in all its size, turquoise spots dot the otherwise azure sea. And if you look into the distance, a seemingly endless horizon stretches out.
The white gold of Gozo
Malta consists of 21 islands: the three main islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino and 18 uninhabited islands. While Malta is the cultural and economic center of the country, the second largest island of Gozo is known for its rural character and wide open spaces. Ferries to Gozo depart daily from Valletta.
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The capital with its old churches and palaces is enthroned on a rock. Picturesque alleys meander down to the ferry dock in the “Grand Harbour”. The ship casts off and we enjoy the gentle swaying of the waves, the blue sky and, yes, the calling seagulls circling overhead, waiting for some treats.
After 45 minutes we reach Gozo and head north by bus. Because there the salt pans of Gozo extend directly on the coast. Sometimes rectangular in a chessboard formation, sometimes organically shaped, some completely encrusted with salt, some flooded with seawater – viewed from above, the salt pans appear like a gigantic watercolor paintbox.
Salt has been mined on Gozo since Roman times
Source: dpa-tmn
Already in Roman times, salt was extracted here on the north coast of Gozo. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid with it, hence the Latin origin of the word salary: “salarium”. Even today, around 300 salt works are still in operation, which are managed between May and September.
The sun sizzles our skin as we walk between the salt pans. The hidden bathing gorge Wied il-Ghasri at the end of the salt pans is just right.
Put on your bathing suits and off into the cool water! It is particularly pleasant that the bay – unlike many others in Malta – is not completely overrun with tourists even in summer.
Source: Infographic The World
Tips and information:
Getting there: Several airlines offer flights to Malta from various German airports.
Entry: An identity card is sufficient.
Travel locally: With the public buses you can easily reach all sights. We recommend a weekly ticket for 21 euros: publictransport.com.mt
travel time: Most tourists visit Malta from June to September. Then the temperatures are usually above 30 degrees Celsius and the sea is a pleasant 22 to 25 degrees warm. If you don’t want to experience the coast as crowded, you should arrive in the off-season.
Information: mta.com.mt, malta.reise
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