We hadn’t had enough time in Birgu the first time, so we decided to go back and actually visit one of the many museums on the island. The Malta Maritime Museum, housed in the former Old Naval Bakery, contains artifacts from 7,000 years of life on the water for the Maltese.

A Traverse Board – for recording speeds and directions during a sailor’s watch

Trip was particularly fascinated with the first display that we came across, that of historical artifacts used on ships throughout the ages.

The building itself, beautifully preserved, is a work of art.

Exhibits were very creative, going far beyond the traditional idea of ‘maritime’. There were many artifacts pertaining to the geology of the island. One huge hallway exhibit described the effect of pollution on the waters. And the final exhibit featured a film about the current human smuggling crisis (Malta lies smack in the middle of the route that most migrants take).

After the museum, we continued to walk along the waterfront and enjoyed the changing views.

The water taxis