Fawwara is a quiet rural area in the south-west of Malta, known for its open landscapes, agricultural land, and coastal views. Situated near Siġġiewi and overlooking the cliffs that stretch towards the Blue Grotto, it offers a peaceful escape from more developed parts of the island.
Annunciation Chapel
Fawwara Chapel, located near the Mnajdra and Ħaġar Qim temples, is a small historic chapel set within a rugged and open landscape. The site overlooks Malta’s southern coastline and is surrounded by walking paths and countryside views.
How to get there
By Car
Parking is available near St Thomas Bay.
By Public transport
Take a bus to Marsaskala, then walk towards St Thomas Bay. The trail begins just beyond the beach area.
Are there whales in Maltese waters?
Walking along the Dingli Cliffs, with the open sea stretching endlessly before you, it is easy to stop, fall silent, and let your imagination reach out beyond the horizon. Because somewhere out there, in those deep offshore waters, fin whales pass.
Fin whales
The Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is the second largest animal on earth and the only baleen whale that calls the Mediterranean home. Each spring, these giants migrate northward through the open sea, moving through pelagic waters far from shore. The chances of spotting one are slim — but they are real. And that possibility alone, standing on those clifftops with the wind in your face, makes the sea feel a little wilder and a little more alive.
The Shark on Your Plate
The Mediterranean Sea is home to many different species of sharks. What most people don’t realise is that many of us have already eaten one without knowing it — shark meat is widely sold under different names that hide what it really is.
The Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) is one of the most beautiful sharks in the Mediterranean — sleek, electric blue, and built for open water. Sadly, it is also one of the most threatened. Decades of overfishing have caused its numbers to collapse dramatically, and it is today considered Critically Endangered. Next time you order fish, it might be worth asking what’s really on your plate.
Artisanal Fisheries
Few sights along the Maltese coast are as timeless as a luzzu slipping quietly out to sea at dawn. Painted in bold reds, yellows and blues, with the ancient Eye of Osiris watching from the bow, these small wooden fishing boats have been part of Maltese life for centuries — and you can still watch them head out into the open water, just as fishermen have always done.
Artisanal fishermen working these waters fish for dolphinfish, swordfish, tuna, sea bream, and grouper, among others — using traditional methods that, at their best, leave a far lighter mark on the sea than industrial fishing ever could.