The 6 Best Places to Watch Sunset in Malta

The 6 best places to watch sunset in Malta

The Bastion Pool, The Phoenicia Malta

One of the many beauties of Malta being a small island in the Mediterranean, is the multiple spots from where you can watch the sun setting over the horizon.

We have put together a list of the top 6 spots in Malta to enjoy a magnificent sunset:

1. Għajn Tuffieħa

A natural sandy beach surrounded by clay mounds, limestone cliffs and historic towers. This beach is located in the north-west of the island of Malta. Take a blanket, and a bottle of your favourite drink to enjoy as you watch the sun setting across the glistening Mediterranean Sea.

2. Fomm Ir-Riħ

This small bay in the limits of Mgarr is surrounded by white cliffs and pebbled beaches. This unspoilt area of natural beauty is not easily accessible by car; therefore, a good pair of walking shoes is highly recommended. A short walk towards the majestic cliffs, that are the highlight of the area, one may find the ideal spot to enjoy a panoramic sunset over the sea.

3. Dingli Cliffs

Standing at Dingli Cliffs, looking out at the vast expanse of Mediterranean Sea is an awe-inspiring feeling in itself. This is the perfect spot to watch the sky change colour as the sun sets over the little island of Filfa.

4. Wied Iż-Żurrieq

The remarkable cave of Blue Grotto is found here. This is a picture-perfect spot to capture the beauty of Malta’s caves while you enjoy the golden sun setting in the distance. At Blue Grotto one may also take a traditional fishing boat tour of the many sea caves that are located in the vicinity. 

5. Popeye Village, Mellieħa

Originally the whimsical set for the 1980s film, Popeye, now a well-known attraction in Malta. Situated in Anchor Bay in Mellieħa, head down to the pier to appreciate the wonders of nature as the sun sets behind the cliffs and reflects on the colourful buildings of Popeye Village.

6. The Bastion Pool

Situated at the end of the lavish gardens of The Phoenicia Malta is the Bastion Pool. Nestled in the historic fortification bastions of Valletta, lies this tranquil area. From here you may marvel as the bastion walls transform into a golden colour as the sun sets over Marsamxett Harbour.

Sunset at Fomm ir-Rih, Malta
Sunset at Ghajn Tuffieha, Malta
Sunset at Dingli Cliffs, Malta

Breast Cancer Awareness: An Ongoing Battle

Action For Breast Cancer Foundation Malta - Team Members

This month, The Phoenicia Malta has partnered up with local NGO Action for Breast Cancer Foundation. In our efforts to raise awareness towards the ongoing fight against Breast Cancer, we will donate money from our Afternoon Tea sales for the month of October.

Action for Breast Cancer Foundation was co-founded in 2007 by Esther Sant and the late Helen Margret Muscat. The organisation was originally set-up to lobby for better quality service and support for cancer patients. Esther Sant, a mother of three, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 at the age of 36. It was her journey that inspired her to form this organisation. Helen Muscat was a breast care nurse by profession at the time, and this is how they met. Esther recalls fond memories of Helen and it is with her support that Esther pulled through her cancer journey.

Today, the voluntary organisation has grown with a total of seven members working towards raising awareness and improving the services available for patients. In Malta, a total of 300 new breast cancer cases are recorded per year, 1% of those being male. Action for Breast Cancer Foundation works closely with the Breast Care Unit found at Mater Dei hospital to aid patients, and their families, during their cancer journey.

Upon being diagnosed, all patients are given a Personal Folder. This includes information about what to expect, as well as having one place to hold all documents related to the journey, such as scans, appointments. This folder is provided by the organisation on a complimentary basis.

Breast prosthesis is one of the greatest challenges faced by cancer patients. To encourage women and to aid them with this physical change, the organisation supplies the Breast Care Unit at hospital with a mastectomy bra. These are available in a range of sizes and styles and given to patients without charge. The aim is to help women restore their confidence.

Moreover, psychological aid is offered to those patients, and their families, who seek this service. This service is offered to provide coping tools for both the patients are their supporting circle to make the journey more manageable.

Moreover, Action for Breast Cancer Foundation offer a range of educational videos and campaigns which aim to teach people about the reality of this illness. They work closely with local schools and health care professionals to ensure that this reality is made known to all age groups.

The main message that the organisation would like to make is that although Breast Cancer is a harsh reality, many do survive the battle. It is important to take precautions and follow the advice of the health professions. Furthermore, it is vital to check yourself regularly. Doing so may lead to early diagnosis which in turn could save your life.

The foundation currently relies on donations from individuals and businesses to operate. If you would like to donate, visit www.actionforbreastcancer.com or visit Palm Court Lounge where €1 from every Afternoon Tea sold in October will go to Action for Breast Cancer Foundation.

Although October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness, it is important to note that this is an ongoing battle and must be thought of all year round.

Top 5 historic sites to visit in Valletta

Valletta - Malta's Capital City

The island of Malta has a rich history spanning thousands of years. The Knights of St John occupied Malta for 250 years leaving behind a strong influence on Malta and its people. The city of Valletta was one of the greatest treasures created by the Knights. The city was built following the Great Siege in 1565 when Grand Master La Valletta felt the need for a stronger fortified city for the island of Malta. The building was complete by 1571 when Valletta was named as Malta’s Capital City.

There is plenty to see and do in this vibrant city. We have compiled a list of our favourite historic sites that are a must see when visiting Valletta:

Saint John’s Co-Cathedral

This church was built in 1577 by the Order of the Knights of St John and is dedicated to St John the Baptist. In fact, this church houses the famous painting of the beheading of St John by artist Caravaggio. The baroque interior of the church reflects the wealth and importance of the Knights of Malta, who protected Europe and the Catholic faith from attacks by the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century.

Grand Master’s Palace & The State Rooms

Situated in Palace Square, which is often used for traditional ceremonies, the Grand Master’s Palace was one of the first buildings to be built in Valletta. It was used as the residence for the Knights of Malta in the 16th century. Here one may find a collection of historic tapestries, artefacts, and armour.

National Museum of Archaeology

Housed in the former Auberge de Provence renowned as one of the most elaborately decorated Baroque buildings in Valletta. The archaeology collection found at the museum provides visitors with an introduction to the prehistory and early history of the Maltese Islands.

Grand Harbour

Valletta’s Grand Harbour is one of the finest harbours in the Mediterranean. The entire harbour is surrounded by massive fortifications, bastions, and defensive towers. Today, it allows entry of large commercial ships, ocean liners, and cruise ships. One can enjoy a bird’s eye view of this magnificent harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

Upper Barrakka Gardens & Saluting Battery

The gardens are built on Valletta’s highest point from which you may enjoy the breath-taking views of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. The gardens were built in 1661 by the Knights of St John as their private gardens and exercise grounds. The peaceful and shady gardens are beautifully laid out with fountains, flower beds, rows of archways and statues. The Saluting Battery may be found at the Upper Barrakka Gardens where you can enjoy a guided tour. Also, gun salutes are fired daily at noon and 4pm.

The Phoenicia Malta is located on the doorstep to the capital city of Valletta. This makes it ideal for visiting these historic sites as they are all within walking distance from the hotel.

We hope these tips will help you to enjoy some of the history of Malta and Valletta. We look forward to welcoming you at The Phoenicia Malta on your holiday to Malta.

Grand Harbour Valletta, Malta

Grand Harbour

St Johns Co Catherdral, Valletta, Malta

Saint John’s Co-Cathedral

Upper Barakka Gardens, Valletta, Malta

Upper Barrakka Gardens & Saluting Battery

The Phoenicia Malta appoints new General Manager

Robyn Pratt - General Manager - The Phoenicia Malta

Phoenicia Malta appoints Robyn Pratt as General Manager

Mark Shaw, Owner of The Phoenicia Malta recently announced the appointment of Robyn Pratt as the hotel’s new General Manager.

Robyn has lived in Malta for 11 years with her husband Brian. They have 3 sons, 2 of which attended Verdala International School until recently when Sebastian left to attend Clongowes College in Ireland to further his passion for Rugby.

“I am very humbled and proud that Mark asked me to take on this role and am excited about the possibilities that are in front of us. This is more than taking on a hotel – this role is about building upon a wonderful story rich with history, pride and sense of family. For many years I would walk into Valletta and look towards The Phoenicia and think what a beautiful building it is but actually never realised how much more it is than a beautiful building. You enter the hotel lobby and before you is the open and spacious Palm Court Lounge with the view beyond from the Phoenix Terrace overlooking The Phoenicia Gardens and Harbour it creates a wonderful energy.”

When I first walked down to The Bastion Pool, I had no idea how beautiful it is especially when walking through the lush gardens and then it opens up to the pool area nestled in with the beautiful Bastion walls seeming to protect it. Whenever I take someone to the pool area who hasn’t previously visited, they share my sense of awe as you come across what really is a treasure located so close to the beautiful city of Valletta.”

Robyn has worked in the hospitality industry for almost 45 years with her very first job being a waitress in Rockhampton which is the city that Robyn was born in Queensland, Australia. Hospitality gets into your blood and try as we might we find it hard to leave. Robyn owned her own restaurant by the time she was 20 and then went on to join ITT Sheraton which then became Starwood Hotels & Restaurants. She held various positions with this company including General Manager, Regional Sales and Marketing in Australia and then moved to Belgium to headquarters for Europe, Africa and Middle East where she held senior roles in Six Sigma, Operational Innovation, Customer Experience, and Brand Leadership for Design and Luxury brands. “I value the fact that I have worked in a hotel in most departments and then have Regional and International experience working across Countries and Cultures.

In recent years I have been working with individuals and teams to reach their full potential through challenging their paradigms and self-limiting beliefs in order to achieve different results and this is something we will be working on here at The Phoenicia. “What has got us to where we are today is great however, times are changing, and our vision is to be acknowledged as the “the best in the Mediterranean” so together with the team we are working together to determine how we need to change in order to achieve this bold goal. “Nothing is impossible – it is our thinking that makes it so” is a great quote that reflects how we want our team to think going forward.

These are very challenging times for our industry specifically with the severe shortage of HR resources available which again means we need to think differently and what is most important to me is that we will focus on bringing our Phoenicia promise to life from the inside out which means we will continue to focus on engaging our team in our goal and supporting them so that they can be proud to be an integral part of our success. The team here at the hotel are fantastic and the “sense of family” that I have felt from the outset is what I hear time and time again from our guests who comment on the great team spirit and their willingness to deliver the best possible experience for our Phoenicia Malta guest.

We are definitely not standing still. We have our recently opened Deep Nature Spa, our gardens were given a major uplift over the Covid period, we are excited with the recently announced collaboration with Beefbar which will open in what was Café Phoenicia and there is more to come so stay tuned.
I have heard from many over the past few years that Malta must focus on improving the quality of guest experience for visitors which we absolutely agree with, and this will continue to be our focus going forward.”

Stephanie Borg Artist in Residence for October

Stephanie Borg - Artist in Residence - The Phoenicia Malta

For the month of October we welcome Stephanie Borg® as the Artist in Residence at The Phoenicia Malta. During this month you will find a series of artworks from the Malta Inspired Collection together with the Nwar Homeware and Tableware Collection displayed at the Palm Court Lounge.

The exhibition was officially launched on Friday 1st of October with a few privileged guests and partners of the Stephanie Borg® brand. The artist explained the inspiration and the hard work behind the Nwar Blue Blossom concept and its collection. Some ambitions for the future of this prestigious collection were also spilled.

“NWAR is the result of what has inspired me over these past 13 years since I began my Malta-inspired creative journey. It is a personal ode to the patterns and designs created by our forefathers who painstakingly executed their craft to perfection. My objective is to celebrate these crafts though contemporary design and application, thus allowing them to blossom into something new.”

A striking addition to the NWAR tablescape is the NWAR-themed stationery design by Stephanie Borg®. Compliment your tablescape with Place Cards, Menu Cards, favour boxes and Event Invitations for a coordinated set up that will impress your guests. The NWAR Blue Blossom Collection is also available for rent for weddings, private parties and corporate events.

Stephanie Borg & Robyn Pratt at The Phoenicia Malta

Stephanie Borg, Artist (left), and General Manager Robyn Pratt (right)

NWAR Scarf Collection - Stephanie Borg - The Phoenicia Malta

Dott.ssa Dorothy Scicluna – Face of NWAR 

NWAR Collection on display in the Palm Court Lounge

Photos taken by Therese Debono

The artist’s 2021 NWAR Limited Edition Silk Scarf was officially launched during the event at The Phoenicia. This bold yet elegant limited edition scarf in pure silk is a timeless fashionable addition to any wardrobe. Its blue and white pattern is another unique interpretation of the Nwar design concept. Stephanie has purposely chosen Dott.ssa Dorothy Scicluna as the Face of Nwar for 2021/2022.

Dott.ssa Scicluna is a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist who has the well being of mind and body at heart ~ she puts her heart and soul in ensuring that those who seek her advise blossom into their full potential. And whilst going about listening, helping and guiding others, she is also a committed mother and friend. By choosing Dott.ssa Scicluna, Stephanie Borg®’s aim is to celebrate all the unsung heroes that are real life celebrities with those they meet.

The collection is limited to 200 silk scarfs each supplied with a numbered certificate by Stephanie Borg®. As per every annual tradition for Stephanie’s silk scarfs, clients have the option to reserve their favourite number from
year to year.

The NWAR concept is about creating unique pieces with a sense of heritage. Guests commented on the high quality craftsmanship and how each piece feels like a work of art. NWAR is about versatility triggering emotions. That’s the beauty of NWAR. Go on, discover NWAR.