Discover Malta's hidden gems: unveiling the magic of this Mediterranean paradise

Malta sits in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. People visit for its long past striking scenery and lively way of life. Some arrive for action, others for quiet - the island gives both.

Walk through old towns where every wall tells a story. In Valletta, the capital, you see tall Baroque palaces, tight cobbled lanes and a cathedral built in the 1500s. Sometimes called Solid, has dark stone alleys besides Roman floor mosaics that place you among knights plus nobles. On Gozo, the village of Rabat guards stone temples older than the pyramids - they stand as the last marks of a people who vanished long ago.

The land itself changes shape at every turn. Yellow sand meets sea so clear it looks like glass. Flat fields of green sit above cliffs that drop straight into the water. Put on a mask and slip below the surface - reefs full of color and fish wait a few arm lengths down.

Along the edge of the island, sun warms long stretches of beach. At Għajn Tuffieħa, soft gold sand invites you to lie back or to paddle out with a snorkel but also sailboat. Each cove gives a choice - do nothing at all or dive into sport.

Food tells the same mixed story as the island. Plates carry tastes of Rome, North Africa and nearby Sicily. Try rabbit slow cooked with wine and herbs, bite into flaky pastizzi filled with peas or ricotta or fork up char grilled fish pulled from the sea that morning. End with a honey-ring as well as a cup of thick local coffee served in a stone walled café.

Time your visit with a feast. The Valletta International Arts Festival fills nights with music, theater and light. L-Imnarja, held on the feast of Saints Peter or Paul, brings folk songs, horse races and tables loaded with rabbit or wine. Each drumbeat and lantern adds another layer to the island's story and gives you a place inside it.