Malta

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"Malta, Birthplace of my Parents, Resting place of Our Ancestors"

Returning to Malta felt like a homecoming—an emotional journey back to my roots. Reuniting with my uncle, Ziu Ninu, mentor, Victor Caruana, and many more cousins, I wandered familiar streets of Valletta, Mosta, Floriana, Rabat, Mdina, Birkirkara, and Qormi with renewed purpose.

My travels to Malta wasn’t just a visit; it was a deeply personal pilgrimage. I spent time researching historical documents in Valletta, Rabat, Hamrun, and Gozo and visiting my ancestors’ graves in Mosta and Paola, piecing together fragments of family history. Standing at those quiet, sacred sites, I felt the weight of generations before me—a silent connection bridging past and present.

As I immersed myself in the rhythms of daily life, the scent of traditional dishes wafting from kitchens, and the warm embrace of family, every moment carried a deeper meaning. The streets I once knew revealed new stories layered with memory and rediscovery.

My travels through Malta and Gozo were also a photographer’s dream. These islands, steeped in history and bursting with vibrant color, offered a canvas rich with detail and emotion. From the stately baroque architecture of Valletta to the honey-hued limestone facades glowing in the Mediterranean sun, every corner seemed to invite a photograph. Sun-drenched alleys gave way to soaring cathedrals and quiet courtyards whispering centuries of stories—each frame a moment captured, each step a rediscovery.

Floriana and Mosta stood out with their own distinct characters—Floriana’s tranquil gardens and imposing historical gates offered serenity, while Mosta’s iconic Rotunda awed with its scale and spiritual presence. I found myself drawn to the smaller details, too: the intricate, whimsical door knockers that adorn Maltese homes, each one a tiny piece of art hinting at the lives behind the doors.

My lens took me through the timeless streets of Mdina, the Silent City, where silence itself seemed part of the architecture. In Qormi, the scent of fresh bread and the hum of daily life revealed a different, more grounded rhythm. And then there was Gozo—quieter, pastoral, and contemplative. Its rugged coastlines and ancient salt pans felt eternal, the kind of beauty that speaks without needing words.

These islands offered more than just scenery—they offered soul. And in every photo, every conversation, every quiet moment among the stones of my ancestors, I tried to capture that sense of place and belonging.

Malta Photo Gallery:

Portes des Bombes, originally called Porta dei Cannoni, is an ornamental arched gate in Floriana, Malta. It was built in 1721 as an advanced gate within the faussebraye of the Floriana Lines, and it was enlarged with the construction of a second archway in 1868.

The Tritons’ Fountain is a fountain located in Floriana, Malta. It consists of three bronze Tritons holding up a large basin, balanced on a concentric base built out of concrete and clad in 730 tons of travertine slabs. The fountain is one of Malta's most important Modernist landmarks.

In Valletta, Malta, the Saluting Battery is a historical artillery battery where a cannon is fired twice daily (at noon and 4 pm) with ceremony. This battery, part of Valletta's defenses, has been in operation for over 500 years. The noon shot was historically used as a time signal for ships to calibrate their clocks.

Maltese door knockers, or “il-ħabbata”, in the native language, are a feature of most traditional Maltese houses. If you’ve ever taken a stroll through the streets of Mdina and Rabat, chances are you’ve already spotted a few of these characterful pieces.

Marsaxlokk is a small, traditional fishing village in the Southern Region of Malta. It has a harbor, and is a tourist attraction known for its views, fishing and history.

A luzzu is a traditional Maltese fishing boat, often brightly painted and featuring an eye on the bow as a symbol of protection, according to Wikipedia and other sources. The word "luzzu" is of Sicilian origin, referring to a type of fishing boat. They are commonly seen in fishing villages like Marsaxlokk and Marsascala.

The eyes on Maltese Luzzu boats, particularly on the bow, are a significant symbol with deep historical and cultural roots. They are believed to be a modern survival of ancient Phoenician traditions, also practiced by ancient Greeks and Egyptians, and are referred to as the Eye of Horus or Eye of Osiris. These eyes are thought to protect fishermen from harm while at sea, ward off evil spirits, and ensure a safe return.

The traditional karrozzin is one of the oldest forms of public transport in Malta, dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. It consists of a carriage pulled by a horse and is nowadays a popular tourist attraction.

Buses were introduced to Malta in 1905. As well as providing public transport across the country, up until 2011, the traditional Malta bus (Maltese: xarabank or karozza tal-linja) served as a popular tourist attraction due to their unique appearances grounded in the bus ownership and operation model employed in the country; by the end of this traditional operation, Malta had several bus types no longer in service anywhere else in the world.

The Gallarija (pl: gallariji) is a typical element of vernacular Maltese architecture, consisting of an ornate closed wooden balcony.

Mdina, Malta. Mdina (Maltese: L-Imdina [lɪmˈdiːnɐ]; Italian: Medina), also known by its Italian epithets Città Vecchia ("Old City") and Città Notabile ("Notable City"), is a fortified city in the Western Region of Malta which served as the island's former capital, from antiquity to the medieval period. The city is still confined within its walls, and has a population of 250.

Rotunda of Mosta: The Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady (Maltese: Santwarju Bażilika ta' Santa Marija), commonly known as the Rotunda of Mosta (Maltese: Ir-Rotunda tal-Mosta) or the Mosta Dome, is a Roman Catholic parish church and basilica in Mosta, Malta, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It was built between 1833 and the 1860s to neoclassical designs of Giorgio Grognet de Vassé, on the site of an earlier Renaissance church which had been built around 1614 to designs of Tommaso Dingli.

Located at the entrance to Maglio Gardens in Floriana, the Independence Monument was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Malta's independence (21 September 1964). The statue is made of bronze along with marble, stands 8.5 metres high and was built to be the tallest statue-based monument in Malta.

The Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery (Maltese: Iċ-Ċimiterju ta' Santa Marija Addolorata, "Cemetery of Our Lady of Sorrows, often known simply as the Addolorata Cemetery (Maltese: Iċ-Ċimiterju tal-Addolorata), is a state-owned, Neo-Gothic cemetery located in Paola, Malta.

The Maltese islands have a long history, mainly due to their strategic location and natural harbours, mainly the Grand Harbour as well as Marsamxett. The Grand Harbour has been used since prehistoric times. Megalithic remains have been found on the shores of the Grand Harbour. The Kordin Temples, the earliest of which date back to around 3700 BC, overlooked the harbour from Corradino Heights. Another megalithic structure possibly existed underwater off Fort Saint Angelo, but this can no longer be seen. Punic and Roman remains were also found on the shores of the harbour, with the main Carthaginian port at Cospicua possibly having been the original namesake of the island in Greek and Latin.

Founded in 1837, Caffe Cordina is a well-known family business with a long history. From its humble beginnings as a confectionery in Bormla, it has become a prestigious Cafe thanks to the foresight, daring and hard work of the late Cesare Cordina, when he relocated it to Valletta in 1944.

A statue of Queen Victoria stands in front of the National Library of Malta in Republic Square, Valletta, Malta. Sculpted out of marble by the Sicilian artist Giuseppe Valenti, the statue depicts the Queen sitting down and wearing a shawl of Maltese lace. It was installed in the square on 5 August 1891, replacing a bronze statue of António Manoel de Vilhena.

Clock Tower of Grand Master's Palace, Valletta, Malta

Victoria Gate (Maltese: Il-Bieb Victoria, Italian: Porta Victoria or Porta Vittoria) is a city gate in Valletta, Malta. It was built by the British in 1885, and was named after Queen Victoria. The gate is the main entrance into the city from the Grand Harbour area, which was once the busiest part of the city. The gate is located between Marina Curtain and St. Barbara Bastion, on the site of the 16th-century Del Monte Gate.

The Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery often known simply as the Addolorata Cemetery is a state-owned, Neo-Gothic cemetery located in Paola, Malta.

The Notre Dame Gate, also known as the Notre Dame de la Grace Gate (Italian: Porta della Maria Vergine delle Grazie), the Cottonera Gate, the Żabbar Gate (Maltese: Il-Mina ta' Ħaż-Żabbar) or Bieb is-Sultan (Maltese for "King's Gate"), is the main gate of the Cottonera Lines, located in Cottonera, Malta. The gate was built in 1675 in the Baroque style, and it is currently used as the headquarters of the heritage organization Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.

Birgu (Maltese: Il-Birgu [ɪlˈbɪrɡʊ], Italian: Vittoriosa), also known by its title Città Vittoriosa ('Victorious City'), is an old fortified city on the south side of the Grand Harbour in the Port Region of Malta. The city occupies a promontory of land with Fort Saint Angelo at its head and the city of Cospicua at its base. Birgu is ideally situated for safe anchorage, and over time it has developed a very long history with maritime, mercantile and military activities.

Grand Harbour Marina, Birgu, Malta. Luxury marina berths in Malta. World Class Marina with berths for sailing yachts, motor yachts and superyachts sailing around Malta and in the Mediterranean

Mdina's streets are known for their narrow, cobbled paths and historic charm. These streets, often described as "silent," feature grand stone buildings and flower-lined alleyways, offering a unique glimpse into the past. Some of the notable streets include Triq Inguanez, Triq San Pawl, and Triq Villegaignon.

A girna is a traditional Maltese stone hut, specifically a corbelled hut, often used by farmers in rural areas for storage, shelter, or as temporary dwellings. These structures are built from coralline limestone, typically with double walls and a dome-shaped interior ceiling, using a dry-stone construction technique without mortar.

The caper bush, scientifically known as Capparis spinosa, is a common plant found in Malta, known for its edible flower buds, which are pickled to create the well-known capers. The plant is also called "Flinders rose" and "Spineless Caper" in some areas. Capers are a key ingredient in Maltese cuisine and are harvested in the spring.

Maltese olive orchards, particularly those cultivated with the indigenous Bidni olive tree, are a significant part of Malta's cultural and agricultural heritage. These olive groves are not only vital for olive oil production but also play a role in preserving the island's unique landscape and culinary traditions.

View over Grand Harbour towards Vittoriosa, Valletta, Malta

View over Grand Harbour towards Floriana, Malta

View over Grand Harbour towards Birgu, Valletta, Malta

The Victoria Lines, originally known as the North West Front, are a line of fortifications that spans 12 kilometres along the width of Malta, dividing the north of the island from the more heavily populated south.

Saint Mary's Tower also known as the Comino Tower (Maltese: Torri ta' Kemmuna), is a large bastioned watchtower on the island of Comino in Malta.

Dingli cliffs are located on Malta's western coast just off the picturesque village of Dingli. They offer panoramic coastal views and are 253 metres above sea

Maltese Ricotta Qassatat from Cordina in Valletta

Stairway to the top of the Rotunda, Mosta, Malta