Markets are at the heart of Maltese culture, the sights sounds and smells drawing visitors and locals alike.
Weekly trips to the market are still commonplace and almost every town and village has their own market. Maltese markets do not just serve the purpose of buying produce, rather, they have always been a way of life, a place where the local people come to socialize, catching up with the gossip and neighbourhood news.
Most of the town markets offer a strange assortment of goods from household products to clothing, music and toys, as well as food. However, two of the island's markets have become so popular that they are a regular feature on tours and excursions.
Malta's capital, Valletta, has two noteworthy markets. On a Sunday, just outside the Valletta's city gate, there is a market which is a combination of a flea-market and the more conventional kind. This market is excellent for treasure hunting as there is a wide selection of bric-a-brac, antiques and books amongst the fake-designer clothing and souvenirs.
The daily market in Merchant Street starts early and is all but finished by midday, although this is true of most markets on the island. Here the stalls tend to sell more mainstream goods but there is a buzzing atmosphere as locals and tourists alike crowd the streets to barter with the street hawkers.
Marsaxlokk's famous fish market held every Sunday in the south of the island is a joy to behold. Get there early to see the stalls groaning under the weight of the freshest fish on the island.
The colours and smells of this market are vibrant and intoxicating; the colourful luzzas which make up Malta's largest fishing fleet bob enticingly in the bay and the stalls are laden with all kinds of fish that just hours before were swimming in the depths of the Mediterranean.
Of course the varieties are seasonal but expect to see fish such as sea bass, bream, grouper, mullet, tuna and swordfish, as well as delicious squid and octopus.
