Although I am English, I spent many happy years growing up in Malta and therefore regard it as my second home. I have recently returned from a fortnight’s holiday there and feel inclined to share my experiences.

As well as catching up with friends, my husband and I took our children sightseeing. We were very impressed by the new Malta at War Museum, in fact the whole development of the Vittoriosa marina.

We were lucky enough to obtain tickets for the Hypogeum and considered the visitor facilities excellent.

We noted that the Tarxien temples are due for a similar “make-over” and thought it was wonderful to see how Malta is celebrating its rich history.

However, we were less enamoured by the impression that Malta is becoming one large building site. In fact, as we drove from the airport to our accommodation in Mellieha we noticed how much of the countryside had disappeared under construction since we last visited four years ago.

We often recommend Malta to our friends in the UK but we wonder whether this job will now be more difficult since we feel that Malta’s unique countryside and historic towns and villages are being swallowed up by concrete and stone.

Surely “progress” does not have to be at the expense of Malta’s unique heritage.

Mandy MacVean

(née Fernando)

UK