The small Mediterranean nation of Malta is deservedly shining in the international travel spotlight today, as more people discover its 7,000 years of history, 300 days of sunshine, and simply gorgeous scenery. Located about 100 miles south of Sicily, due east of Tunisia, Malta is composed of three islands. Malta, the largest, is home to the capital, Valletta. Gozo, a 25-minute ferry ride away, is more rural and home to about 30,000 people. Then there's the quiet island of Comino - its population is listed as 2 or 4, or just "a handful." It's home to gorgeous beaches, including the popular Blue Lagoon. Everyone speaks English in Malta, and the euro is the official currency.

The upscale 150-room Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa is located just outside Valletta, amid lush gardens and across from the President's Palace and San Anton Gardens.

The two-level, 21,000-square-foot Athenaeum Spa officially opened in October 2020 at the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa Malta. The Vitality Suites are perfect for recovering after an international flight with an indoor pool with bubbling jets, a sauna, steam room, heated marble loungers and an outdoor relaxing area.

Colorful luzzu boats bob in the harbor at Marsaxlokk, a fishing village that is home to Tartarun, a Michelin Guide restaurant run by a local family. As you might guess, it serves delicious seafood in a variety of ways. Another Michelin Guide restaurant is Caviar & Bull in St. Julian's, a tourist area with hotels and eateries. Both restaurants are highly recommended.

Malta is home to a small but much-respected wine industry. One small producer, Markus Divinus, uses indigenous grapes in new ways. Owner Mark Borg got started as a "garageist" - making wines as a hobbyist in his garage - but now is lauded by no less than Michelin.

First excavated in 1839, the remains of Hagar Qim are thought to date back to 3800-2200 BC, according to Heritage Malta, the national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage. "One of the prehistoric chambers at Hagar Qim holds an elliptical hole which is hewn out in alignment with the Summer Solstice sunrise," Heritage Malta reports. "At sunrise, on the first day of summer, the sun's rays pass through this hole and illuminate a stone slab inside the chamber."

The Blue Grotto from above. Visitors can take a boat ride into the network of six caves and see the stunningly blue water close-up.

St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta has a very simple exterior and a very elaborate baroque d¨¦cor inside. A shrine to the Knights of St. John, many are buried in marble-inlaid tombstones that form the floor. It's called a co-cathedral because it is the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese along with St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina. The cathedral houses the Caravaggio painting - said to be the only one he ever signed - called "The Beheading of St John the Baptist" from 1608.

The ferry boat whisks visitors and vehicles from Malta to Gozo, passing the virtually unpopulated island of Comino and its old guard tower. The waters are an intense blue.

The Citadella, an ancient fortified city in Gozo, offers gorgeous views across the valley to the sea.

Entering the walled city of Mdina is like walking 4,000 years back in time - that's why many "Game of Thrones" scenes were filmed here, as well as other locales on Malta. Visitors can easily walk among limestone buildings since no cars are allowed.

Set amid semi-tropical gardens, the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz features 137 "elegant rustic" rooms and suites. Its Ayurveda Centre offers a variety of therapies and cures, while the spa features wellness treatments.

Mixta Cave, a natural cave on Gozo made famous by Instagrammers, looks out over an idyllic Ramla Bay beach.

Traditional Maltese dghajsa boats in Valletta offer tours around the island or can be used as a taxi.

We'll close our photo tour of Malta with a view overlooking the cruise port in Valletta. Malta is a popular stop on many cruise itineraries, and even served as a homeport when cruising resumed after the pandemic. To plan your visit to Malta and Gozo, head for the Visit Malta page by clicking here.