The history of confraternities takes us back to the Middle Ages when the Church began to establish associations for lay people in all kinds of trades or profess
A study carried out by marine geologist Dr Aaron Micallef (‘Malta’s submerged landscape’, Times of Malta, January 4, 2013), found that the archipelago was two-and-a-half times larger and the sea level 130 metres lower during the last Ice Age. The subsequent rise in sea levels created bays and harbours, mainly in a south-southeast to northeast direction, including Grand Harbour, the Marsa l-Kbira (Mers el Kebir) and its innermost creek, Ix-Xatt tal-Marsa, the stretch of water beyond an imaginary line drawn between Ras Ħanżir and the spur below the Capuchin convent at Floriana. Ancient toponyms offer windows on history, being mainly derived from Arabic, in this instance, for ‘harbour’ or ‘anchorage’, and is thus found elsewhere in the archipelago, namely Marsalforn, Marsa ta’ Ħal Saflieni, Marsamxett, Marsascala, Marsa Xini, Marsa Xlendi, Marsaxlokk, (Wettinger, 2000).
A localâs guide to Malta: 10 top tips
Dome in the dusk ⦠the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a major landmark in Valletta. Photograph: Alamy
Dome in the dusk ⦠the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a major landmark in Valletta. Photograph: Alamy
The island has been at the heart of Mediterranean history and culture for centuries, and it can be enjoyed once more now itâs on the green list
FraNikolaSoukmandjiev
Fri 25 Jun 2021 01.30 EDT
Last modified on Fri 25 Jun 2021 07.58 EDT
Malta claims to be the first EU country to have achieved herd immunity. Vaccinations recently extended to all over-16s and 58.6% of the population have had two jabs.