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Malta: Day 14: Comino

Comino, previously known as Ephaestia, is a small and peaceful island of the Maltese archipelago, situated in between the two larger islands of Malta and Gozo. It is named after the cumin seed that once flourished in the Maltese islands. It has a permanent population of only three residents.

Previous days of our trip to Malta: Day 13, Day 12, Day 11, Day 10, Day 9, Day 8, Day 7, Day 6, Day 5, Day 4, Day 3,  Day 2 and Day 1.

On our way to Comino we stopped in Nadur and visited Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul.

 

The construction of the present church was started on 28 September 1760 and the design is attributed to the Maltese architect Giuseppe Bonici.

 

The word "Nadur" which in Maltese means "look out", is derived from the Arabic word nadara.

 

Waiting for the ferry

Our ticket for the ferry to Comino

Goodbye Mġarr

The Blue Lagoon is one of the best beaches in Malta, situated between the island of Comino and the islet of Cominotto.

Kemmunett (Cominotto) is an uninhabited island, that lies 100 metres to the north-west of Comino.

View back to Gozo.

Walking along the coast

Waters of the Blue Lagoon (Maltese: Bejn il-Kmiemen, literally "Between the Cominos"). 

 

Successful selfie

Saint Mary's Tower was built in 1618 and is the fifth of six Wignacourt towers.

What kind of canon did that hole?

Comino is the third largest island in size in the Maltese archipelago.

 

Crystal Lagoon, accessible only by boats

 

One of many natural holes

The rocky island of Comino is a bird sanctuary and nature reserve and very few people live there permanently. The peaceful landscape consists of cliffs, two small white sand beaches, coves and creeks. There are no roads or cars in Comino, only pathways where you can hike or ride a bike.

Saint Mary's Tower was built in 1618 to defend the island of Comino since ships travelling between Malta and Gozo were often attacked by Barbary corsairs based on the cliffs and creeks of Comino. It also served as a communications link between the island of Gozo and mainland Malta in case of an attack on Gozo.

In the 17th century, Comino served as a place of imprisonment or exile for errant knights. Knights who were convicted of minor crimes were occasionally sentenced to the lonely and dangerous task of manning St. Mary's Tower.

 

Former Isolation Hospital

Official notes from Environment and Resources Authority

Chapel of the Return from Egypt was first mentioned in a map dating from 1296. The original chapel must have been ravaged on numerous occasions by pirates that attacked island.

Santa Maria Bay and it's equipment

Shadowed

Time to find a geocache

 

Comino's rugged coastline is delineated by sheer limestone cliffs, and dotted with deep caves which were popular with pirates and marauders in the Middle Ages.

 

The caves and coves of Comino were frequently used as staging posts for raids on hapless boats crossing between Malta and Gozo.

Nada and Tuši

 

Exiting the cave system

Out of the dark

Cliffy coast

Another cave

Hike across the island

 

Catching rabbits

Hotel Comino in Saint Nicholas bay was closed

The boat picked us up at 2 p.m.

Exploring Comino

Leaving Comino

 

Full Speed Ahead

Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel is overlooking Mġarr Harbour

 

Żebbuġ is one of the oldest towns in the country.

 

Church of St. Philip of Agira

View to the East

Tas-Salvatur Hill

Salt pans

Qolla l-Bajda (the White Hillock)

Qolla l-Bajda Battery

Windy day

The city, where we stayed is called Marsalforn

GeoCaches found (all received a visit by trackable items "Bryan 2014 Tag", TB6PQA1, "2008 Groundspeak Volunteer Geocoin - sponsored by GC-KNECHT", TB20DYH, "Proving Trail Geocoin", TB2GZV8, "gran san bernardo", TB84C9J, "De reiziger", TB6R4VV, "Der Kleine Maulwurf", TB61FZ4, "La licorne montoise", TB7J5G7 and "FarmtagZ klompendans", TB6BAG2, until some were dropped off):
- Basilica of St Peter and St Paul, Virtual, GC7B8Q0
- The Cachehole, GC49FDJ
- Comino Watchtower, GC3T1WV
- The Malta Challenge, Mystery, GC4E73D
- Comino Cemetery, GCKDCQ, where dropped off the trackable item "La licorne montoise", TB7J5G7 and retrieved trackable item "Travel Bug Dog Tag", TB6D3XP and it stayed with me for the rest of the day
- Monte Cristo's Treasure, Multi, GC3M1JX, where dropped off the trackable item "Der Kleine Maulwurf", TB61FZ4 and retrieved trackable item "Key chain #2 Happy Face",TB6R4PD and it stayed with me for the rest of the day
- The Cliffs, GC49FET
- In-Numri, Mystery, GC6KHCZ
- Zebbug, GC7BYPQ
- Zebbug Niche, Virtual, GC7B6MT
- Qolla I-Bajda - or - the end of a mountain, EarthCache, GC4CR74