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| Megaliths, medieval dungeons and palaces, not
to mention Calypso's cave from Homer's Odyssey - Malta isn't
just old, it's positively mythic. The narrow cobblestone streets
of its towns are crowded with Norman cathedrals and baroque
palaces. |
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The countryside is littered with the oldest
known human structures in the world. Malta is very good at
selling its romantic past of Copper Age temple builders and
crusading celibate knights, and it has used this image to
crank up a formidable tourism industry. Not that the islands
are overrun with highrise resorts - yet. In the face of modernisation,
the archipelago's staunchly Roman Catholic culture has helped
the Maltese maintain a tight-knit community and keep a lid
on runaway development.
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| The upshot of this is that travellers can enjoy
a refreshing balance of convenience and unvarnished local charm,
and can get comfort for considerably less than at many comparable
Mediterranean destinations. Despite their relaxed disposition,
the Maltese spend much of the year throwing confetti while carrying
statues of their patron saints through the streets and drinking
toasts to the Knights of St John. The religious festival season
is six months long - starting in February, taking up all summer
and ending in September. |
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