The 316 km2 group of islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino, which lie 100 km south of Sicily, often get a bit lost on the map. Despite this, its peoples have been the key to power in the Mediterranean for thousands of years, defending themselves from the powerful Knights Hospitaller and later the British.

Dramatic landscape: the Dingli Cliffs

For the inhabitants of the conurbation around Valletta, the steep coast up to 257 m high is a favourite excursion destination. Here, the sunset is particularly impressive, with the small isle of Filfla in the distance. The steep coast descends to the sea in a succession of terraces on which, thanks to the fertile clay soil, wine, fruit and vegetables are cultivated. The constant winds have only allowed mostly low-growing shrub vegetation to develop.

One of the most interesting archaeological sites is the cart ruts of Clapham Junction, which reminded the British of the London station of the same name. A total of 27 ridges in pairs, which cross each other in places, have been cut into the limestone up to a depth of 50 cm. It is still unclear as to whether these are prehistoric guiding grooves for carts or sledges. Not far from the cart ruts lies Ghar il-Kbir, one of the many caves on Malta that has served as a refuge for the population during pirate attacks since the Middle Ages.