Shop For Souvenirs
Being asked to describe souvenir shopping in Malta is a bit like being asked to paint a naked Jessica Alba with melted chocolate. You know you need to get on and do it but you’re just not sure where would be the best place to start! Souvenir shops are to Malta what fast food joints are to America. There are tons of them and they are, quite literally, all over the place!
The main thing to keep in mind when carrying out both of the above activities is not to rush into anything. Stir your chocolate for a bit, while you ponder the task because, speaking metaphorically here, reaching for a large roller and covering Jessica’s entire front in one movement is not the way to get the most pleasing results from this activity.
In shopping terms, it’s much more important to weigh up your subject, use a very small brush (sorry I’ll forget about chocolate painting now, promise!) take your time and shop around. Most shops sell pretty much the same things in any case, or variations on the same theme but prices can fluctuate quite a bit so make sure you’re getting a decent offer.
Popular souvenirs include filigree jewellery, hand-made Malta lace, distinctive brass Maltese door-knockers and glass ornaments as well as the usual books, t-shirts, hats…etc.
A good place to visit if you’re looking for hand-crafted Maltese souvenirs, as opposed to the mountains of plastic tat that abounds in many souvenir emporia, is the Ta’ Qali Craft Village. This is a small collection of shops where local craftsmen create unique artefacts or items.
Often you can even watch them at work while they produce anything from hand-blown glass to metal work, lace and fabric, pottery, furniture, jewellery etc. The list, though not endless, is quite large!
Other souvenirs can be found at the Marsaxlokk market. Here you can find many household items such as hand-made lace and crocheted tablecloths, novelty t-shirts, candles and other home decorations. The stall-keepers are a friendly bunch and most have a good grasp of English (which is handy, especially when you want to haggle with them).
Also popular with tourists visiting Malta is filigree jewellery. This is intricate jewellery, hand made using traditional techniques that date back centuries. Speaking of traditional crafts that date back hundreds of years, you should seek out Malta lace because that too is hand-made and very popular. It is also beautiful and makes for a special memento or gift.
Until a few years ago, it was quite a common sight (especially in Gozo) to see Maltese women sitting outside their house, creating pieces in lace of exquisite design. Whilst it is sadly no longer a common sight, the tradition lives on. Watch out for though for inferior, cheap, machine-made versions.
If you have a car then getting to the Crafts Village is quite simple – just follow signs to Ta’ Qali and the village itself is well signposted from there. If you are not sure about getting to Ta’ Qali is smack in the middle of the island near Attard, and it’s where the football stadium is located, so just aim for the floodlights. For bus users there are plenty of direct routes to the village of Ta Qali.
To view the souvenir shops listed in the Findit business directory click on the link below.
