The beauty is in the detail: 14 photos that celebrate Malta's unique details

It's the details that define a character. Yet, even 'characteristic' may be an understatement when these details have become iconic symbols of a Mediterranean island called Malta.

The village festa

A weekly occurrence across the island throughout the summer months and a huge annual event for every Maltese town and village, everyone who knows anything about Malta must know what a big deal this is.

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A post shared by Adriel Vella (@adrielvella) on May 30, 2018 at 3:08pm PDT

The prickly pears

They grace the Maltese countryside everywhere you go. They make great boundary walls for fields, keeping out not only intruders but also the wind. And they make delicious fruit juice too!

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A post shared by Luke Ciantar (@lululukinu) on Aug 23, 2018 at 11:29pm PDT

The luzzu (Maltese fishing boat)

Colourful and with its traditional set of eyes to ward off bad luck, this Maltese fishing boat captures everyone's heart.

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The eight-pointed cross

The eight-pointed cross was an emblem of the Knights of St John, but it has also come to be known as the 'Maltese Cross'. You'll see this decorative design absolutely everywhere.

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The gardjola

This cute little piece of architecture from the time of the Knights was a sentinel engraved with an eye to watch, an ear to listen... and a goose to give the alarm!

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The narcissus flower

It grew profusely across the Maltese countryside until over-picking made it scarce and protected. This flower is too pretty and smells too sweet for its own good.

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The street niches

You'll find street niches being the permanent homes of various saints in every old Maltese town. These were generally the result of some affluent person obtaining a benediction or hoping for one.

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The Maltese door knob

Maltese door knobs are quite a thing. From fish to lions and mermaids, these heavy brass knockers or door knobs decorated ancient heavy wooden doors. You can still see them in old cities such as Mdina, and buy them as a souvenir.

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A post shared by John (@barbagan) on Apr 11, 2016 at 6:38am PDT

Handmade Maltese lace

Here's another souvenir to take home. Lace-making in Malta is a dying local craft but you can still see Gozitan old ladies passing time making lace in their front porch.

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A post shared by Marie Crean (@marie_antoinette57) on Jun 23, 2018 at 10:49pm PDT

The Maltese balcony

The Maltese balcony is quite unique in design, and triggers the fascination and attraction of any visitor to the islands. 

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A post shared by gallarijamaltija (@gallarijamaltija) on Jun 8, 2018 at 11:46pm PDT

Maltese filigree

Delicate silver filigree work is carried out to a very fine standard in Malta, with designs ranging from the traditional Maltese cross to an amazing variety of contemporary designs.

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A post shared by The Maltese Cross (@maltesecross1565) on Dec 23, 2017 at 4:52am PST

The Valletta shop signs

Valletta is 451 years old, and within it you'll find all remnants from different eras of its history. Its antique shop signs remain one of the most iconic emblems of the city.

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The rubble wall

Stone upon stone is carefully placed and the rubble wall holds together, through all kinds of weather, for centuries. The rubble wall has marked boundaries and levelled out slopes with terraced fields across the island, becoming a characteristic of the Maltese countryside.

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.