Friendship on a small island

Oct 27 2007 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

The Maltese capital of Valletta is one of the great sights of the Mediterranean, with its World Heritage status _320

“With so many rivals for the traditional beach holidays, we should promote our historical and cultural wealth. We also have some of the best diving sites with marine life teeming around the many ship and WWII aircraft wrecks.

“Malta has the oldest freestanding structure in the world, il-Ggantija megalithic temple, in Gozo, dating from before 3,500 BC, which is older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids,” says Nicholas.

“The biggest remnants are from the time of the Knights, such as the eight auberges, or lavish hostelries. Valletta’s baroque churches are an artistic experience themselves, but this style is everywhere.”

From where we’re talking at the Corinthia St Gorg Hotel, he points out the 150-year-old Kursaal Palace, now a casino, across St George’s Bay, with a Knights’ 1617 watchtower behind. In the other direction are castle defences.

Malta is the EU’s smallest member state, but the island’s abundant heritage matches most other countries’ appeal.

* PETER ELSON was a guest of Corinthia International Hotels at its five- star Corinthia St Gorg Hotel & Marina Resort, St Julians. Air Malta flies daily from Manchester; economy fares from £69 return including taxes; business fares from £347.90 return. Air Malta reservations tel: 00800 662 221 11. Website: www.airmalta.com

Malta and Gozo specialist tour operators include Chevron Air Holidays, reservations tel: 0844 4124343; email: malta@chevron.co.uk. Including flights, three star hotel packages start at around £200 per person for seven nights; five star Corinthia Hotel seven night packages £300 - £500 depending on dates.

Malta Tourist Office, Malta House, 36-38 Piccadilly, London W1J 0LD; tel: 020 7292 4900. E-mail: office.uk@visitmalta.com; website: www.visitmalta.com

peter.elson@dailypost.co.uk