Malta is made up of a small group of islands, the largest being Malta, followed by Gozo and then Comino. As can be expected of a mediterranean island, the climate is warm and sunny most of the year. You can spend your days at the variety of sandy or rocky beaches. Or take an afternoon stroll along the beautiful tree-lined promenade that starts at Sliema and winds around several bays till finally ending at the charming Spinola Bay. Take a ferry to the greener isle of Gozo, or a boat to Comino island and enjoy a swim in the exquisite clear waters of the Blue Lagoon. Summer nights give you some spectacular fireworks displays as every village and town celebrates its own saint's day.

The Sights
Malta can proudly claim to have one of the most stunning natural harbours in the world. On the one side you have Valletta, one of Europe's most enchanting fortified capitall cities. It stands today in all its glory much as it did when it was built under the rule of La Valette, one of the Grand Masters of the Knights of St. John in the 16th.century. The gardens on the ramparts of the monumental bastion walls of Valletta overlooking the Grand Harbour are not to be missed. From there you can look across to the forts of St. Elmo and St.Angelo on the other side of the harbour.

Facing Valletta are the Three Cities, namely Birgu, Bormla and Senglea. Formally these cities were the seat of Malta's nobility and the homeground of the Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta. It wouldnt be too much of a stretch to say that most Maltese families have some ancestral link to this area. However, after the massive destruction incurred during WWII, the area fell on hard times. Fortunately, over the last few years this long-standing trend is being reversed and now the area boasts one of the most elegant marinas. Plans are in the pipeline to rejuvenate Dock One which reaches into Bormla and this promises to herald a major facelift to this part of the Three Cities which has perhaps suffered the worst reputation for being a rough area.

Our art studio is located in Bormla overlooking the Dock One marina. A few doors up from us is Bormla's huge parish church called the Immaculate Conception Church. Its seems to be the only church in the area which still has its massive bells ringing out the hour around the clock.

Three Cities Events not to be missed:
The annual Birgu-By-Night in October (when the ancient city's lights are all switched off and the winding lanes and the central piazza are lit solely by candlelight). Visit Birgu Council's Birgufest website for more information.

The annual Senglea Maritime Festival in June involves lots of street performances, art exhibitions and maritime activities.Visit Senglea Council website for more information

During Bormla's Easter Parade which involves a team of bearers carrying an enormously ornate statue uphill accompanied by a huge crowd of chanting followers, those in front walking backwards so as not to turn their backs on the Madonna statue. Its a truly impressive spectacle.

Other interesting sites in Malta:

Mdina, another perfectly preserved medieval fortress city, is located in the middle of the island. The citadel, known as the Silent City (because only residents' vehicles are permitted to enter), commands some wonderful panoramic views of the island. Walk through the labyrinth of shaded cobblestone winding alleyways and step back in time. Stand on the bridgeway leading into Mdina and look down into the encircling moat where scenes from "The Gladiator" were filmed.The central cathedral has a small piazza in front of it and this will serve as another painting spot for us.

Although Malta has plenty of sandy beaches on its eastern side, its the southern and western shores of the island that have some spectacular bays and grottos. We will take you to some of these bays where you can, for example, paint the rows of tiny boathouses cut into the craggy sandstone cliff-face of the shoreline or the brightly coloured boats anchored in the bays. We will also take you to Marsaxlokk, a fishing harbour on the southern coast. The harbour is crowded with Malta's gayly painted fishing boats and every Sunday a street market is held here, selling everything from beautiful linen tablecloths to buckets of homegrown olives. It adds a colourful hustle and bustle to the town's already charming picturesque appearance.

Getting Around
Malta has a very efficient and inexpensive bus system that covers almost every corner of the island, except when heading for the westerly beaches when one really does need their own car. However, when you've seen how Malta's talented busdrivers take you on a ride through the narrowest of village streets, you'll appreciate the lack of bus service to the rocky western bays which are accessed by roads that, at times, seem to verge on the perpendicular!!

Taxis are readily available from Malta's main towns and if you want to avoid dodgy charging rates, you should insist on a metered fare.

The other option is car hire, and there are quite a few reliable firms locally.

Tourist Information
Here are some websites you can access to read up on tourist information. Click on the links:

Malta Tourist Board Website

www.searchmalta.com/

Malta Car Hire -competitive rates -can be booked online and delivered to Malta Airport upon your arrival

Flight Information
Here are some links to sites for booking flights:
Air Malta Website

www.maltabargains.com

www.maltadirect.com