Beaches
12 Maltese seascapes that will make you head to the sea
These amazing Maltese seascapes will make you want to find these places and breathe in the salty air right there.

Melanie Drury

All photos, including cover photo, by Matthew Benn aka MotionLapse

Malta is picturesque, instagrammable, call it what you will. Almost every nook and cranny of the Maltese islands is worth a picture. From the traditional door knobs and balconies to the imposing cliffs and wide open spaces, photographers from around the world relish the unique landscape and light that inspire their photography. The internet is plastered with magnificent pictures of Malta, Gozo and Comino, yet these by Matthew Benn caught our attention and stirred our soul! A landscape photographer with a passion for long exposures, he captured these amazing Maltese seascapes that will take your breath away. And when you catch your breath, you’ll want to find these places and breathe in the salty air right there.

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

The famous Valletta skyline is here just the background to another interesting feature that caught the photographer's eye – a little man-made pool. It's just one of many curious shreds of evidence found scattered along the coast, of a long Maltese legacy of life by the sea.

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

Turquoise waters and extraordinary rock features such as these at the Blue Lagoon in Comino are not unusual around the Maltese islands. Prepare your eyes to be spontaneously stimulated!

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

Each rockface, every feature, every cove, every bay, every beach, every cave has its own character, its own personality. The Blue Grotto, for example, with its glittering blue depths and towering heights, draws hundreds of visitors each year. 

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

Man-made yet no less fascinating are the saltpans hewn out of the rock, that add a geometric or artistic twist to the face of the Maltese coast, here and there.

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

The ports and harbours inspire awe, whether by their simplistic beauty such as this at Mgarr, Gozo, or by the grandiose fortifications, such as those guarding the Grand Harbour between Valletta and the Three Cities. 

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

Old and new, earth, sea and sky come together within a single glance in an island that's like essence in a tiny bottle. Here's fanciful Sliema and UNESCO World Heritage site Valletta coming face to face.

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

A sprawling city lined by a yacht marina and an interconnected island featuring a centuries-old fort is another typical combination of unlikely coastal settings that seem quite ordinary in Malta. Welcome to Gzira, Marsamxett Harbour, Manoel Island and Fort Manoel.

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

The natural landscapes also offer plenty of contrasts, every section of coast marvellously unique and diverse. Here's Fomm ir-Rih, a secluded beach that offers highly instagrammable coastal features and waters to dive for.

The dawn and the dusk are when the light is most interesting, and when the play gets really fun for a fan of long-exposure photography. I feel so grateful that there are people out there who take the time to capture what lies beyond the sunset!

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

Deep blue below and deep blue above is when the stars come out, dancing their little lights on the water, as does the moon. A moment captured is the witnessing of the miracle of time and life itself.

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

So many things could remain unnoticed until photography draws attention to their remarkable beauty, almost as an ode to creation. Might you find your little star above or below those cradling waves?

A post shared by Matthew Benn (@motionlapse) on

Bewitched by beauty? It's alright, I understand. Do you feel it calling? Do you hear the enchanting song of the sea? 


Melanie Drury
Written by
Melanie Drury
Melanie was born and raised in Malta and has spent a large chunk of her life travelling solo around the world. Back on the island with a new outlook, she realised just how much wealth her little island home possesses.

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