Malta Snow Globes
Malta is a country composed of 5 islands in located in the central Mediterranean Sea, 50 miles south of Italy. It is the world's tenth-smallest country and the ninth most densely populated. It is known for having thousands of years of history: Neolithic remains; the oldest free-standing temples in the world and the remains of the Phoenicians, Romans, Knights of St. John, Napoleon and the British Empire. The island has a fully developed tourist industry with snow globes galore.
Valletta is the capital city of Malta and the commercial centre of the main island. It is the most southerly capital in Europe, and is the European Union's smallest capital city.
Valletta was named after the Frenchman Jean Parisot de Valette, who defended the island against the Ottoman invasion during the so called Great Siege of Malta. The city was founded in the sixteenth Century by the Knights of St John.
The city has many fortifications, and Baroque palaces, gardens and churches. It sometimes wins the sunniest city in Europe yearly classification.
The globe contains the dome of the Carmelite Roman Catholic basilica built from 1958 on the site of a 16th century church destroyed during World War II. The extensive city walls and traditional mode of travel are pictured.
A note on the distinctive cross.
The eight-pointed cross which appears on many snow globes and as a symbol around Malta itself, is thought to be of at least of Byzantine origin. The monks of the Order of St. John adopted the cross in Jerusalem and it became popular with pilgrims to the holy land. When the Order had to retreat from Jerusalem to Rhodes (in 1310) and then to Malta (in 1530), it took with it the symbol which became known as the ‘cross of Malta’. Its eight points symbolize the eight virtues the Order must possess:
loyalty, piety, honesty, courage, honour and glory, contempt for death, solidarity towards the poor and the sick, respect for the Church. It is an intrinsic part of Malta’s culture and heritage, as well as a much - loved symbol by the Maltese.
The globe contains the ‘LOVE’ sculpture constructed in 2003. It’s in the centre of a major tourist spot in Malta overlooking the water in Spinola Bay at St Julian’s which form the globes background.
Its confusing as the word is spelled upside-down and back-to-front, but this is because its supposed to spell LOVE in the sea waters reflection
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The Grand Harbour (Port of Valletta), is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been a seaport since Roman times and was the base of the Knights of St. John between 1500s - 1700s.
Most of Malta's population lives within a three kilometer radius of its centre and it is one of the most densely populated areas in Europe. It is still used by cruise, sightseeing, and commercial ships.
Mdina was the former historic capital city with a history going back 4000 years. When the capital was moved to Vittoriosa and Valetta. Mdina became so empty as people moved out, it became known as the Silent or Old City. It still has about 250 people living in it but is essentially a part of the town of Rabat. Mdina is said to be where St Paul, the Apostle recovered after being shipwrecked.
Cars are usually not allowed within the walls, and horses and carriages as pictured in the globe transport the tourists.
The dome on top of St. Paul’s Cathedral is a main feature alongside the two bell towers. This 1702 Baroque building replaced a previous church.
The globe shows the Mdina cathedral and bell towers with typical town houses around the base all crammed together.
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The second globe shows an example of the 16th-century Valetta buildings constructed by the Knights Hospitaller with traditional boat and bus around the harbour like base​​
This is one of only 2 snow globes in our collection which has a circular image with the water limited to the area between the plastic and the image.
It shows various Maltese scenes including the bus, traditional dress, and carriages. St John's Cathedral is pictured and Gozo's cathedral (behind the bus), the Cathedral of the Assumption, building of which started in 1697 on the site of a previous church and an earlier Roman temple. The Victoria Gate bult by the British into the walls and named after Queen Victoria can be seen near the carriage. The crests of Malta and Valetta are above the vehicle arches
This globe shows a Knights Hospitaller of the Order of the Knights of St. John. with background cross motif. They were given control of the islands of Malta and nearby Gozo in 1530 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V after they retreated from Rhodes when the Turks invaded. The knights controlled Malta until 1798 when Napoleon removed them.
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The Knights Order all were from noble families around Europe and were ruled by a Grand Master. They built palaces, churches, forts, aqueducts and the walled city of Valetta, much of which is still there to see and appears in snow globes.
The Knights and local population successfully resisted the Ottomans during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. Valletta then named after the Grand Master who commanded the knights during this siege.
The Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady known as the Rotunda of Mosta was built between 1833 and the 1860s on the site of an earlier Renaissance church from 1614. Its design is based on the Pantheon in Rome. it has the third-largest unsupported dome in the world. The church narrowly avoided destruction in 1942 when a German bomb
hit the dome during Mass, but did not explode. The repair to the roof can still be seen from the inside.
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Buses were used in Malta since 1905 and travelled the island from Valeta for the locals and tourists. The traditional Malta bus seen in the globe was yellow in colour with an orange horizontal stripe. Drivers and owners would customise them individually. These were all replaced by more modern buses in 2011. They are still used in special events today. They also appear in a number of the globes on this page.
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