Cottonera

Malta’s ‘three cities’ - Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua - form the Cottonera, a not-too-touristy area that gives you a glimpse into the island’s daily working life. A shipbuilding centre since the Middle Ages, the name comes from the 17th-century fortifications that protect the area.

Attractions include the Maritime Museum which has exhibits on Malta’s naval history. Those with a taste for the macabre can visit the misnamed Folk Museum, housed in the Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa. The museum has displays of Inquisitors’ instruments, and you can take a peek at the ominously named Hall of Judgement and the dungeon. A few kilometres to the southwest is the Hypogeum, located in the suburb of Paola. The Hypogeum consists of a 4400-year-old underground network of caves, tunnels and rooms, all carved out of rock with flint tools.