Malta: 7000 years of history

La Valletta Malta

The first known human settlement in Malta  dates back to 5200 BC. After more or less 7000 years, in 2004 Malta joined the European Union, only 40 years after having achieved its independence. Besides its ancient history, Malta has its own traditions, language (which is also an official EU language), architecture and cuisine. You may feel attracted to Malta because of it sunny climate, its beaches, its sea.. But do not forget to search for the foundation of Malta’s capital, La Valletta, laid by the Knights of Malta in the XVI century. La Valletta is one of the world’s greatest fortified baroque cities and it has been designated as World Heritage Site in its entirety. I remember how I felt when, from Upper Barrakka Gardens, created in 1661 by an Italian Knight as a retreat for fellow knights and La Valletta’s highest point, I could take in the view of the splendid Grand harbor with the medieval cities of Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cispicua in the background. You really could embrace Malta’s history. In a couple of days you can visit the most important sites around Republic Street, which runs along the lenght of the ity, from City gate to Fort St. Elmo. In the pedestrianized street, long more or less 2 km, you’ll easily fall into the remarkable St. John Cathedral, former a Knights’ conventicle church, actually one of the most ornate baroque churches of the world, which stands as a testament to the Knights’ culture and wealth. Inside St. John Cathedral, if you’ll be patient because you’ll probably have to queue for some times, you can admire one of Caravaggio’s masterpiece, ‘”The beheading of St. John the Baptist”. Half way down Republic Street have relax and a fresh drink in one of the outdoor cafés. Do not miss the Grand Master’s Palace, Malta centre of rule since 1571, nowadays seat of the Parliament (House of representatives and the President’s office). Fort St. Elmo stands at the end of the Republic Street: it owns its fame to the role played in the great siege of 1565 and in World War II. This is only a short view of La Valletta, but in Malta, as in Gozo and Comino you’ll have a lot of things to discover…

Kapadokya: a dream land

Cappadocia

Canyons, plateaux, valleys and Fairy Chimneys were created approximatively 60 millions years ago. Nowdays these Fairy Chimneys are the symbol of a dream land called Cappadocia, in turkish Kapadokya.
You may wonder how they came to life: it is the result of volcanic eruptions, rain, changes in temperature, wind erosion: a wonder of nature.
Human hands added, later, their own work carving shelters into the rocks, churches, huge undergroung cities.
The Persians first called the region Kapatukya, literally “the land of beautiful horses”, then came the Romans, the Byzantines, the Selucs and the Ottomans.
Less famous than Turkey coastlines, Cappadocia is really worth a travel and I would suggest a motorcycle to visit the area in the most flexible way.
Do stop at Goreme: a settlement of some 2000 locals, many of them still living in homes carved out of the Fairy Chimneys. It’s a kind of open air Museum you cannot miss.
You can find a good choice of hotels, from guest houses to four stars hotels, in Urgup, the most developed tourism centre in the area with the highest bed capacity of any town in Cappadocia. Some of these hotels and resataurants have part of their structure cut into the stone.