Photo: Flickr/ Aron Mifsud Bonnici
There is one great advantage to living on a small island: being surrounded by open views of sea and sky from almost any standpoint; we are never more than a few minutes from the coast, and beautiful scenes like the ones photographed below are daily available to us if and when we want them – all around us are seascapes that inspire dreams as the sun rises and sets over the horizon.
As light is reflected on rocks and water, and clouds colour the sky, photographer Aron Mifsud Bonnici captures the sheer beauty of it all; each of the 20 stunning photographs below are being showcased along with their name, and include the location where the picture was taken.
1. Ras il-Ħamrija (Qrendi)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
The Ras il-Ħamrija arch is located on the west coast of Malta, just below the Ħaġar Qim Temples; in the distance is the uninhabited island of Filfla. The Maltese archipelago is rich with a variety of rock formations, caves and other stunning coastal features.
2. The bay of great repose (Ġnejna)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
Dominated by a tall, rocky outcrop crowned by Lippia Tower (built in 1637), Ġnejna Bay is a sandy beach very popular with Maltese families. Although the valley is a protected area, the bay includes several illegally-built boat houses and concrete piers which, nonetheless, have come to form part of the bay’s unique character.
3. Salt pans II (Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
A typical example of limestone salt pans are these found at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq. The tradition of sea-salt production has been passed down within certain Maltese families for many generations across several centuries to this day, and similar salt pans can be found in many areas along the coasts of Malta and Gozo.
4. Other waves will follow (Fomm ir-Riħ)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
Fomm ir-Riħ beach, in the limits of Rabat, is characterised by vertical cliffs, clay hills and a pebble beach leading into crystal clear water. The bay and headlands, which are not so easily accessible, form some of the most stunning scenic views and varied geology of Malta.
5. The rocks, beckoning me (Xwejni Bay, Gozo)
There are 5 layers making up the geological layer of the island, and along the coast the layers are often clearly visible as they meet the sea in steep cliffs, broken boulders or hills of clay; here in Xwejni Bay we see big chunks of limestone broken up and sprawling into the water.
6. The other shore (The Three Cities)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
Some Maltese towns and villages are built along the shore. This is the view of Senglea (Isla) waterfront from the shore of Vittoriosa (Birgu), two of the three historic cities that lie within the Maltese Grand Harbour; the other is Cospicua (Bormla).
7. Love On The Rocks (Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
The Maltese coastline is dotted with historic watch towers built by the Knights of the Order of St John: 7 by Grand Master Wignacourt (1601 – 1622), 7 by Grand Master Lascaris Castellar (1636 – 1657) and 13 by Grand Master De Redin (1657 – 1660); this is St Mark’s Tower, located in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, which was the 3rd of the De Redin towers and completed in 1658.
8. Salina (Salina Bay)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
Beautiful hues of colour and different textures as captured in this photograph taken from the coast of Salina Bay, limits of Naxxar.
9. Beautiful tragic coast (St Paul’s Bay)
St Paul’s Islands with the statue of St Paul: after being imprisoned in Jerusalem and Caesarea, Apostle Paul was on a sea voyage to Rome when he was shipwrecked on Malta; on the islands he preached the Gospel and converted the people to Christianity, such that he was nominated the patron saint of Malta by the Roman Catholic church.
10. The rock, its shadow (Ġnejna)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud
An interesting composition of a lonesome rock sitting on the edge of the rocky beach in Ġnejna; such boulders dotting the Maltese coastline are not unusual and create interesting features to the landscape.
11. Dreams (Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
The mist creates an eerie scene on the coast of Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq; Qrejten Tower and three freighters can be seen in the distance.
12. Let me reach, let me beach far beyond the blue sea (Dwejra, Gozo)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
The Azure Window at Dwejra, Gozo, is one of the most photographed sites in the Maltese islands, and it is easy to understand why. The area also boasts the Blue Hole (a diving paradise), an inland sea and the Fungus Rock as well as an awe-inspiring view of the sheer western cliffs of the island lit up in golden hue during a gorgeous sunset.
13. Waiting (Ġnejna)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
Ras il-Qarraba, located between Ġnejna bay and Għajn Tuffieħa bay, is joined to the mainland only by the layer of clay that appears to be melting into the sea, forming beautiful hills in interesting designs and patterns.
14. I am a man pursuing the horizon (Fomm ir-Riħ)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
A golden sunset reflection on the sea is highlighted against a sheer cliff in this photo taken during a trek to the (almost) inaccessible beach of Fomm ir-Riħ; it is one of the seascapes more common on the western side of the island where much of the coast is made up of cliffs, the highest of which are in Dingli (near Rabat) at 250 m above sea level.
15. A line that’s hard to see (Fomm ir-Riħ)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
Another gorgeous photo displaying wonderful colours and textures during a sunset seen at Fomm ir-Riħ.
16. Blue skies smiling at me … (Ġnejna)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
Several hues of blue and green dominate this picture as heavy rain clouds give way to clear blue skies at Ġnejna Bay.
17. Yellow and Blue don’t make Green (Xwejni Bay)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
Another picture taken at Xwejni Bay, Gozo, this time portraying the smoothness of the soft limestone once eroded by wind and sea.
18. As darkness falls (Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
An interesting perspective of silhouettes in this sepia shot taken from Qrejten point looking towards the entrance to Magħtab.
19. The blues are back (Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
A remarkable shot where the clouds against a crisp blue sky are reflected in the still water at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.
20. Salt water (Ġnejna)
Photo: Flickr / Aron Mifsud Bonnici
Rock hewn graffiti is commonly found all over the island in limestone rocky beaches around the island, particularly along the coast of Sliema, however this shot is taken in Ġnejna Bay.
Click here to visit Aron Mifsud Bonnici’s flickr page
How do you feel when you see photos of the Maltese coast such as these? Do you notice the beauty around you in your day to day life in Malta? Leave your comments below and please rate and share.
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