Exploring cultures and communities – the slow way

Virtu Ferries have until recently enjoyed a monopoly in the market from Malta to Italy, but a new ferry route launched this summer brings some competition.

article summary —

Things are happening in the seas around Malta. For an island community with a considerable maritime history, it is surprising just how poorly served Malta is by major ferry companies.

The Arab Spring signalled the demise of Malta’s long-standing links with North Africa. In recent years, the car ferry connections from Malta to the Italian mainland have been severed — either through the routes being axed or operators switching to a freight-only operation. Regular passenger services to Civitavecchia, Livorno and Genoa all slipped from timetables. By spring this year, Malta was left with just one car ferry link with Italy, the Virtu Ferries service from Malta to Sicily.

But now things are looking up. A new weekly link with Tripoli attracts good custom and there is also a new link to the Italian mainland.


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About the authors

hidden europe

and manage hidden europe, a Berlin-based editorial bureau that supplies text and images to media across Europe. Together they edit hidden europe magazine. Nicky and Susanne are dedicated slow travellers. They delight in discovering the exotic in the everyday.

This article was published in hidden europe 40.