After the first month of response, the World Health Organisation had already considered Malta as “a model country” in dealing with Coronavirus. Earlier this week Minister Health Chris Fearne announced that Malta ranked as the most trusted healthcare system in the whole European Union.

Closely following our small Mediterranean island are Denmark and Finland, with Poland, Bulgaria and Hungary ranking lowest.

France and Italy, two of the most robust healthcare systems in the world, placed just a little over the EU27 average when it came to trust. To this day, Italy has recorded the second largest number of deaths in the continent, following the United Kingdom.

The annual Rolex Middle Sea Race is highly rated as a must-do and must-see race, which kicks off in Valletta’s majestic Grand Harbour. Every year the race takes place in mid October, so book your stay in Valletta to witness the spectacular international fleet set sail in the Mediterranean. The sight of sleek yachts sailing around the majestic bastions is definitely something you need to tick off your bucket list!

A challenging racecourse – The racecourse, often described as the most beautiful in the world, begins underneath the historic Fort St Angelo and Saluting Battery in Valletta, before heading northeast along the coast of Sicily, towards the Straits of Messina. Along the way, the International fleet will usually be able to see and hear the rumbling Mount Etna in Sicily, before continuing on its course towards Stromboli, another active volcano. Next, the fleet turns left towards the Aegean Islands until reaching the island of Favignana. After reaching this point, they will turn south towards Lampedusa, passing the island of Pantelleria, before returning towards the Marsamxett Harbour in Malta.

The origins of the Middle Sea Race – The challenging course has attracted hundreds of sailors from all over the world, since its first edition in 1968. The race was co-founded by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club in a bid to test the skills of two rival members of the clubs.

Held in October, crews and skippers need to be on their A-game to overcome to changeable weather conditions at sea. The exciting race has been held annually ever since, except for a brief break between 1984 and 1995. Last year saw over 120 crews from more than 30 countries meeting in the Mediterranean Sea for the race, and the current record stands at 47 hours and 55 minutes.

Malta’s mortality rate from Coronavirus is slightly above 1%, with 5 reported COVID-19 related deaths so far. Neighbouring Italy has a 13.8% mortality rate whilst Spain currently stands at 10.2%, however across the whole of Europe, the UK has the highest mortality rate at 15%.

There are only two states that have reported better results than us: the Vatican City which has reported 11 positive cases, Gibraltar with 144 and the Faeroe Islands with 187. None have registered a COVID-19-related death so far.

Verdala Palace is a palace in the Buskett Gardens, limits of Siġġiewi, Malta. It was built in 1586 during the reign of Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle, and it now serves as the official summer residence of the President of Malta.

This Palace can be taken over for events if given the permission by the President’s office and against a donation to the President’s charity.

The Palace grounds can seat up to 900/100 persons and the main dining inside can seat up to 60 persons for dinner.

Colours of Malta has hosted a handful of very presitigious events in the Palace due to good relationships with the President’s office.

The Malta Tourism Authority welcomes with satisfaction the announcement by the Foundation for Environmental Education in which eleven beaches in Malta and Gozo were awarded the coveted Blue Flag status for this year. For the beaches to qualify for this prestigious award, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related criteria must be met and maintained.

The beaches that have obtained the eco-certificate this year are Buġibba Perched Beach, Fond Għadir (Sliema), Golden Sands Beach, Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, Mellieħa Beach, Qawra Point Beach, St George’s Bay (St Julian’s) and Westin Dragonara Beach Club St Julian’s (managed by Westin Dragonara Resort) in Malta, and Ħondoq ir-Rummien Bay, Marsalforn Bay and Ramla Bay in Gozo.

The most famous artist who worked in Malta has to be Caravaggio. His ‘Beheading of St. John the Baptist’, a work once described as ‘the painting of the 17th century’ was commissioned for, and is still on display in, the Oratory of the Co-Cathedral of St. John, Valletta. Another of his most famous works, St. Jerome, is also in the cathedral. Together, these works represent a key period in the development of this unorthodox artist. His style, with its powerful use of shadow and shafts of light (chiaroscuro), created an almost choreographed drama with the subject; a technique which broke with the tradition of religious painting. Caravaggio arrived in Malta in 1607 in rather dubious circumstances having fled Rome to avoid justice. He was wanted for murder. However, in Malta, under his new patrons, he was feted and admitted to the Order of St. John. But his freedom from justice lasted only just over a year. He was imprisoned in Fort St. Angelo and later escaped to Sicily, only to die two years later at the age of 38 still hounded by the forces of justice.

1. Luxury for Less: Malta delivers the ultimate recipe for luxury with 15 five-star hotels and new luxury boutique hotels. It provides visitors the opportunity to experience the finer things for less as luxury accommodations in Malta are increasingly less expensive than similar hotels in Europe itself. So why not enjoy the champagne things in life — at sparkling-cider prices?

2. Valletta: The European Capital of Culture in 2018, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Valletta, travelers will find themselves engulfed in the rich history and religious attractions that make up this Maltese Capital. Built by the Knights of St. John, the city that is bustling by day and now by night, will transport you back in time with its historic architecture and Old World atmosphere. The narrow streets will lead you to historical landmarks, quaint coffee shops and elaborate churches.

3. Gozo and Comino: A trip to Malta isn’t complete without a visit to Malta’s two sister islands, Gozo and Comino. The more rural island, Gozo, is a perfect change-of-pace for those looking for a more relaxed and quaint stay. The island also comes complete with historical sites, forts and amazing panoramas, as well as one of the archipelago’s best-preserved prehistoric temples, Ġgantija. Situated between Malta and Gozo is a water lover’s paradise, Blue Lagoon. Home to the most spectacular diving, snorkeling and boating experiences, the car-less island Comino is home to the magnificent Blue Lagoon and the one single hotel on the island offers guests the most tranquil getaway.

4. The Dive Trail: Coming in as the third best diving destination in Europe two years in a row, all three Maltese islands offer unique diving experiences with an abundance of reefs, caves and wrecks, for a momentous experience. For the ultimate diving adventure, take on the Dive Trail.

5. Religion: With more than 360 churches and chapels scattered across Malta and Gozo, these religious sites form an integral part of the country’s history, landscape and skyline – they are at the heart of Maltese social and cultural life. St. Paul brought the Christian faith to Malta when he shipwrecked in A.D. 60, as his steps can be retraced through the shrines, grottos, catacombs, and more. Malta is home to religious experiences far beyond the ordinary and is a must-see religious destination. Malta has also developed a Jewish Heritage program.

6. Diverse Culinary Experiences: Malta offers travelers diverse culinary experiences, from the traditional plate of eclectic Mediterranean food curated by a relationship between the Maltese and the countless civilizations that occupied the island, to the never-ending vineyards delivering the finest wine. Don’t forget: Malta boasts three Michelin one-star restaurants.

7. Year-Long Events/Festivals Calendar: The year-long calendar of events and festivals provide a diverse option of unique, culturally immersive experiences for all. With events such as the Malta Arts Festival to Classic Car Races and the Rolex Middle Sea Sailing Race, there’s a niche for everyone.

8. Health and Wellness: The Maltese Islands are the perfect place to take time for your health and wellness. The fresh island air gives travelers the energy to walk or cycle through the beautiful scenery, or embrace some more adventurous activities like rock climbing or paragliding. There are many spas in Malta, especially at the luxury hotels.

9. Nightlife: Typical of the Mediterranean lifestyle, locals’ approach to life is to enjoy it as much as possible, giving Malta a lively and cheerful nightlife constantly. From clubbing and DJ’s, to classical orchestras, to traditional band music, nights on the Maltese coast are never dull.

10. Blockbuster Movie Locations: In recent years, Malta has become one of Europe’s most popular film and television locations – dubbed “the Mediterranean’s mini-Hollywood” by the London Times. The Maltese Islands are home to countless blockbusters like Gladiator, Popeye, and The Count of Monte Cristo. Most famously, the city of Mdina was home to the filming of HBO’s Game of Thrones, as the fictional city of King’s Landing.

The Cavallieri Art Hotel lit up over forty rooms as a sign of gratitude to all frontliners during these trying times.

“This too shall pass, brighter days await us, and we will stand up again,” the hotel’s general manager Mark Camilleri said.

HOPE is what we all live for – an optimistic state of mind for the future. We look forward to buzzing with energy, health and super events in the very near future.. till then #KEEPSAFE!

With a global pandemic going on, a collaboration between Heritage Malta and tech giant Google is now giving internet users the unique opportunity to virtually visit several of the agency’s national museums and sites through the online platform Google Arts & Culture.

This collaboration brings Malta’s cultural sites at par with other major international institutions, including the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Van Gogh Museum in Netherlands, the National Gallery of Arts in Washington, Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and many more. Virtual tours will immerse the viewer into the solemn grounds of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, walk you along the unique artifacts exhibited at the National Museums of Archaeology in Malta and Gozo, impress you with the exquisite colorful mosaic floors at the Domvs Romana, or accompany you through the turbulent times of World War II, at the National War Museum in Fort St. Elmo.

Heritage Malta invites the public to open these virtual doors to amazing discoveries, and to strive to visit them personally once the pandemic is over.

And if you’re a lover of opera, you’re in for another treat. Maltese Tenor Joseph Calleja will be taking viewers request to sing arias on his Facebook page, since there has been a stop to all travel.

And, once people globally aren’t quarantined anymore, there are great reasons to visit Malta.

What is the Maltese language ? A frequently asked question by foreigners visiting the Maltese islands and linguists alike.

The Maltese speak a unique language (us Maltesers call it a secret language) – Malti is the only Semitic language written in latin characters.

Through the ages many foreign words, mainly English and Italian have become part of the language. What is surprising is that the Maltese managed to retain this unique language in face of so many others brought in over the years.

Until the late 19th century, Maltese was only a spoken language as there were no grammatical rules written down and determined.

The earliest evidence of the Maltese language dates back to a ballad by Pietro Caxaro in 1485. The Knights also tried to script in the 19th century.

The survival of the language is testament to the resilience of the Maltese people to remain a distinct people and culture. The language thought to have arrived in Malta in 750 BC and derived from the ancient Phoenicians, is spoken only in Malta!

The influence of the Arabs who resided in Malta between the 9th and the 13th centuries shows clearly that the roots of the language are closely akin to Arabic, in fact place names and numbers are the more obvious examples of this Arabic influence.

Want to learn Malti? Is it difficult to learn? For non native speakers trying to learn Malti, the most awkward sound is similar to the Arabic q – an almost silent, but difficult to pronounce, glottal plosive. The Maltese language is comprised of 30 letters: 24 consonants and 6 vowels.