Villa Del Porto – charming boutique hotel in a traditional town house

 

Villa del Porto is one of the best examples of how to transform an old building into a stylish, modern boutique hotel while keeping the old spirit of the place. The hotel despite of the modern equipment and amenities managed to keep the authentic atmosphere. The old, Maltese patterned floor tiles, the timber balcony and the original stone slab ceilings supported by iron beams all show the efforts made in order to preserve the place as it was at its peak.

 

Villa Del Porto can be found in Kalkara, next to the city of Birgu. It is believed by some historians that it was the first inhabited land in Malta.  In 1530, the Knights of St John started the development and fortification process of the area and made Kalkara a suburb of Cottonera and Birgu. Due to the rapid increase of the population, Kalkara became independent from Birgu in 1897. Many of the houses were built between 1850s and 1950s and represent the traditional terraced houses of the era.

During World War II, the town suffered a lot due to its proximity to the drydocks of Cottonera. Despite of the damages caused by the bombardment, Kalkara has lots of sights that it can be proud of. The Chapel of Our Saviour, the Parish Church, Fort Ricasoli, Fort Tas-Salvatur, Fort Rinella, Villa Bighi and Villa Portelli. 

Who wouldn’t like to spend some time in a beautifully restored town house surrounded by the remains of history? 
Aldo Camilleri, the managing director of Villa del Porto shares our view concerning the importance of conservation and preservation of the old traditions and he strives to provide this authentic atmosphere for his guests. Though the hotel has all the important amenities that one would require in the modern age, it still kept the charming and peaceful interior of a typical Maltese terraced house. The twelve rooms are very well equipped and the view on the harbour is truly breath taking. The family rooms are comfortable for families who intend to spend some time in a friendly and calm environment close to the historical centre of Valletta and the “Three Cities”. 

After our visit at the hotel, we can say with confidence, that Villa del Porto is unique in its way and conveys value to its guests. The hotel represents how well the modern and traditional items go together and promotes the simplicity and grandeur of the old times. It is also a way of keeping the culture alive and we are really glad to find places like this in the heart of Malta. 

For more information please visit the website of the hotel.

Betti :)

For more information about the whole range of experiences we offer, please visit the Merill Eco Tours website. We organise experiences upon request for small and medium sized groups. Feel free to email us on info@merillecotours.com or call us on 21/27411388.

Agritourism in Malta - through the eyes of a foreigner

Beautiful Island in the heart of the Mediterranean, sun, sea, sand, rich history, interesting culture, friendly people. These are the first things that come to somebody’s mind when talking about the Maltese Islands. At the moment we can say that Malta, together with its sister island Gozo, are typical holiday destinations attracting thousands of tourists every year. Every visitor who comes to Malta is seeking for sunshine, relaxation, calm or if it is about the younger generation they are more interested in the night life and the leisure activities. Malta has a lot to offer. But is it all? sandy beaches, history and culture? or is there an other face of Malta that less people know? The answer is “yes”.

 

As a foreigner, I can say with confidence, that agritourism in Malta is something unique. It shows the hidden side of the island. It brings a special “life time” experience for those who participate on one of the tours. The best way to get to know a country is to see the traditions, the old habits, to taste the local flavours and to drink the local beverages. The local agriculture dates back to hundreds of years and some of the old traditions are still alive. The small part of the community that still works on the fields kept the habits and the rural lifestyle. The fresh products they make are the best one can ever taste. The friendliness of the families who live on the farms makes you feel welcome and in such an atmosphere, having breakfast or lunch leaves you memorable moments that you will never forget. While talking to the farmer you can get to know the life of the family, the old ways of land cultivation and farming. Sitting outside in the fresh air, soaking in the sunshine, admiring the breath-taking views, tasting the fresh, hand-made cheeslets, sun dried tomatoes, olives, jams, extra virgin olive oil and the local wines is priceless. It really gives you the feeling that even if just for a moment you are a local too and you belong to this exceptional country. The rural Malta has so much to offer. And not just for foreigners but also for the locals. It is the best way to break away from the busy daily lifestyle, and get to know a country or just to rediscover its forgotten treasures. It perfectly combines culture, tradition and local cuisine.

After visiting a vineyard, an olive grow and the landscape surrounding the farm houses I really think it is something that everybody has to see.  Rural tourism shows a hidden side of Malta. It is informative and interesting.  It helps to keep the old agricultural traditions and contributes to the local community as well.

Let’s discover the rural side of Malta!

Betti :)


For more information about the whole range of experiences we offer, one can visit the Merill Eco Tours website. We organise experiences upon request for small and medium sized groups. Feel free to email us on info@merillecotours.com or call us on 21/27411388.

The real Malta

Traditional Biscuits - Photo by Jeanette Borg

Punic Tombs - Photo by Chrisitan Borg

Honey Buzzard - Photo by Chris Cachia Zammit

Barracudas - Photo by Sonia Silvio

Hello Malta lovers!

We can now say goodbye to "September" and welcome to "October". Autumn look busy at Merill...eco tours and local products are keeping us on the go. We're very excited working on the new Eco-Hampers catalogue which will introduce a new range of delicacies and eco gifts that are strictly local and fair-trade :) 

At the moment eco tours featuring the culinary aspects of Malta are going strong. Appreciation of the local landscape goes part and parcel with this gourmet niche. In the meantime we pray for some rain to irrigate the fields and replenish the aquifers after a long dry summer. 

I added some interesting photos to this blog article showing a range of eco items in Malta. The traditional biscuits, known as "Biskuttini tar-Rahal" are still baked in traditional bakeries where the ovens are managed by hardworking bakers who keep recipes alive. Following that is the photo of the rock-cut tombs. These are very particular as their architectural arrangement resemble a set of pigeon holes. 

Autumn is a great time for bird watching. This is why I've uploaded a photo of a lovely honey buzzard in flight. Photo is kindly shared by one of our expert birders. Today I was at the Lippija area with some foreigners and  came across two hunters. We kept our distances from them and went on. We always adopt this approach during our tours and never encountered any problems so far. When necessary we do change our itineraries to avoid conflicts. 

In principle we are against hunting and very much pro bird watching. However we strongly believe that it is only through mutual respect that we can achieve harmony between eco tourists and hunters during the hunting season.  It is of no use pointing out a hundred and one negative aspects of hunting without promoting the fun and excitement one can experience while bird watching in Malta. 

Enforcement officers are all over Malta, keeping poachers at bay. Enough damage has been done to Malta's reputation because of poaching. Very few, if any, give credit to hunters when it comes to environmental stewardship. How many out there would spend money and time to irrigate trees and keep rubble walls in good shape? In my humble opinion there are only two active categories of stewards in Malta, whether people admit it or not: farmers and to a lesser extent hunters! All those that are not into agreement with this must bear in mind that tourism, especially ecotourism,  goes hand in hand with all stakeholders in rural areas. 

Last but not least, I added a stunning photo taken by our expert diver and underwater photographer, Sonia. This amazing shoal of Barracudas seems to be coming from a different world. Diving is such an eco-friendly activity for all nature lovers and photographers. 

Stay in touch for more news about eco stuff: follow us on Twitter (@merillecotours) and visit our website www.merillecotours.com to keep updated.

Summer is here! What to do in Malta when on holiday

The weather can't be better. Tourists who come to Malta at this time of the year have the opportunity to enjoy the sun and sea but also enjoy other activities as it is still quite cool. In the morning, outdoor activities are simply great. Our eco tours can show you the very best of the islands... nature, agriculture, and traditional food. 

Some prefer walking while others opt for more comfortable ways to tour around Malta. There is always something exciting going on in Malta. Visiting villages, swimming in secluded beaches and relaxing at magnificent view points are some of the activities included in an eco tour. Wildlife photographers can feast their eyes and spoil themselves taking close ups of the wide variety of local flora.