Malta Travel Forum

Two of us will be in Malta in Nov. via cruise ship. We have a tour booked to visit Mdina and all it's treasures!! We are certainly very excited about visiting this interesting island. Both of us are intersted in shopping for locally made items and would appreciate information of what might be purchased in Mdina and the location of the shop. I understand lace, filigree jewelry, and perhaps glass and pottery are locally made. Is this correct? Any information is needed as we have limited time for shopping as there is so much to enjoy of the history i'm researching. We aren't interested in imported items but only items that support the Malta residents. From what i'm reading, this will be my favortie port of our trip and my husband will probably return for a week with me in the near future.

he tour may take you to the Ta Qali craft village very near to Mdina in which case you can see all sorts of local crafts most particularly the Mdina glass being made.
There are a few shops in Mdina selling this glassware - I'll happily send you a couple of photos I took while we were there in July - and there are a few "seconds" shops too if the prices are better for you.

The same items are in the shops in Valletta too if you have time there and prefer not to lug heavy delicate glassware around!

In my opinion, there was very little of interest in Malta for the avid shopper and we didn't buy anything significant to take home.

Typically the main "Malta" items were glassware, brass door knockers and knitware. Maybe I just missed the rest?

The best, most representative for us was the Mdina Glass - http://www.mdinaglass.net/ - (or Gozo glass - http://www.gozoglass.com/Gozo%20Glass%20Catalouge.pdf) or Valletta Glass - http://www.vallettaglass.com/index.asp )

Alternatively there were some really nice local knitware items which my wife liked - a sort of very soft wool cardigan with a ribbed texture and flecked wool in various colours.

Oh yes - Valletta is FULL of jewellery shops too! Millions of them.........

Lace and filigree jewellery are also typically Maltese items, and you'll find plenty of places selling them.

If your tour is going to Mdina I think you will almost certainly stop at the craft village mentioned above (it's actually, a collection of Nissen huts on an ex-army base), so you shouldn't have any problems in finding somewhere to buy things. There are also shops in Mdina itself, and in adjoining Rabat.

From your post, I think you may be slightly surprised by what provision is made for the visitor to Malta (a popular UK holiday destination): there is no shortage of things to buy or places to buy them. There are also many small galleries, so you might think of buying a painting or drawing by a local artist.

Items will say 'Made in Malta' (or similar phrase) if they are.

I bought a lovely paperweight made in Mdina. There are a lot to choose from and it is a practical and pretty souvenir.

Malta is small and Mdina itself could be walked in a relaxed pace in 30 minutes.

Not much local-Art is available for purchase.
The "Crafts Village" of Ta'Qali, a ramshackle bunch of huts, where gold, silver, glass and pottery is produced would surely be penciled into your Mdina Itinerary.

Shops in Medina are few and most are in its main road.
There might be 5 or 6, from memory, so you are hardly likely to miss one of them.

May I suggest you buy Ernil Bradford "The Great Siege of Malta 1565"
Failing that try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjz1QLv29Bg

Thank you for your recommendation of the reading as I am interested in the history of this Island.

You dont need to buy anything else while you are in Malta because you would have allready bought 5000 and more years of history.
have a nice holiday