Can you see that sparkling gem emerging from the horizon?
That’s Filfla, one of the smallest islands in the Maltese archipelago.
Its name means “pepper” in Arabic, which is a nod to Malta’s linguistic heritage, shaped by Latin, Arabic, and Italian influences.
I could go on, but today is all about Filfla, and she has quite the story…
Once upon a time, the isle of Filfla was much larger and housed a chapel that offered refuge to sailors.
But a powerful earthquake in 1856 sent much of the islet crashing into the Mediterranean Sea.
As, if that wasn’t enough, the rest of Filfla was almost blown to smithereens by the British Army during the 19th and 20th century.
Not only did that reduce its size even more, but some of that ammunition may still be live today.
So now Filfla is strictly off-limits and protected by a nautical mile no-go zone.
But you don’t need to set foot on Filfla to appreciate its beauty.
You could do what I did and head south-east to beautiful spots in Zurrieq like Blue Grotto to get a good view. I caught this shot during sunset on my way back from Għar Lapsi, and you know me—I just had to get my camera out.
But there’s more to Filfla than a rumble, a run-in with the British Army, and a gorgeous sunset painting the sky in vibrant shades—it’s also a bit of a wildlife sanctuary!
You see, where the islet has been left alone, nature has taken its course, and Filfla is home to thousands of European Storm Petrels, along with Cory’s Shearwaters—who get to live rent-free on its rugged cliffs.
And an equally rich marine world exists below too.
Just say you were given the type of permission needed to dive into Filfla’s protected waters…
You’d soon discover eagle rays, octopuses, tunas, small-spotted catsharks, stingrays, and more teeming in the pristine waters.
Oh, and here’s another fun fact:
In 1987, a massive great white shark measuring a record-breaking 23 feet and weighing over 2.3 tonnes was caught not too far from here!
But not to worry…
That was a one-off.
So, although you can’t get too close, this only adds to Filfla’s mystique.
But there’s nothing stopping you birdwatching, taking in the views, enjoying sunset orrrrrr…
snapping a photo.
