Malta-The most picturesque port on our 6-country cruise itinerary.

Malta

The last port on our cruise is Valletta, Malta. Malta is a five-island country between Africa and Europe that is one of the most Catholic (320 churches on this tiny nation), and new to the EU. Known for its Knights of St John, Falcons, and being the most bombed nation in WWII. More than ½ million cruise tourists visit this charming port annually. Malta has its own language which is derived from Arabic and peppered with Italian. Most residents, however, speak English, as it was a British colony until 1964 when it declared independence.

I agree with everyone who feels this port is the most picturesque of all those on our tour. In fact, this port exemplifies picturesque!

I decided to tour the entire island by boarding a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tour bus (15E). From atop the double-decker bus, we saw breathtaking views of this stunning island from the scenic coastal ways to the mazes inside the cobblestone streets of small villages.

Highlights of the tour included Fort Saint Elmo, St John Cathedral, a glass blowing factory, and the walled city of MDINA. The 8-pointed cross from the Crusading Knights can be seen everywhere.