Ara Malta Tours

11/12/2022

Always delicious at any time of the day

Delicious 😋

13/11/2022

Some pics taken by our young clients on a Valletta walking tour

28/03/2022

24/03/2022

À propos de hier...de au et

22/03/2022

Whilst on Gozo...

21/03/2022

This is what we have been up to today!

30/01/2022

We are recommending Il-Wileġ Bed & Breakfast Gozo for that feels like home stay, good food and friendly hosting.

Offering an outdoor pool and views of the countryside, Il-Wileġ, is a Bed and Breakfast accommodati

04/01/2022

Un petit pensé des clients. A little token for à better year from some clients!

04/01/2022

Avec Ara malta tours, On visite, on découvre, on écoute et on apprend ! Jamais trop t**d!

27/11/2021

Avec nous que des sourires même sous la pluie ☔

12/11/2021

A little secret garden in the city, for tranquility at the end of à busy road.

07/11/2021

La promenade guidé à la valette. The guided walk of valletta

06/11/2021

Un aperçu d'une journée bien réussie à Gozo:

08/09/2021

FESTA!!

21/08/2021

A glimpse of what we can see during a walking tour in Birgu

Remember when leaving the front door open was common practice?

In this photo from Kappa Vision’s series, we peack into a charming residence in Birgu (Vittoriosa), Malta.

AN ENTRANCE THAT'S A WORK OF ART

So much to see here: from the anti-porta (or ante-porta), to the door knockers in the shape of a dolphin fish, the wrought iron gate out of focus and the rocking chair in front of the entrance to the central courtyard. An entrance that is a showcase of elegance and great taste having all those traditional features that scream ‘Malta’ to the onlooking passers-by.

THE ANTI-PORTA

Often in the shadow of its more famous ‘cousin’ - the front door - the anti-porta is another piece of Maltese architecture that’s worth highlighting in a bid to preserve this part of Malta’s heritage.

In days gone by, there was a widespread practice to leave the house’s front door open during the day.

Elaborate iron and brass gates played a part indicating that this was a private house; the anti-porta did the rest. Simple and functional - and a perfect way to showcase the house’s interior spaces to passers-by!

AN INTERESTING TITBIT ABOUT IRON GATES

Our friend John N Scerri, an artist, writer and a living encyclopaedia of information, told Kappa Vision how back in the day, before World War II, the iron gate (known as ‘grada’ in Maltese) in front of a house’s front door had a specific purpose: to keep sheep out!

The milk man would milk his goats for you right in front of your house in a tin container. This was done before the last war when a pathogen discovered in milk was causing what was known as ‘deni rqiq’ (Malta Fever).

WHAT WAS DENI RQIQ?

Maltese doctor and archaeologist Sir Temi Zammit identified unpasteurized milk as the major source of the pathogen in 1905, and it has since become known as Malta Fever, or deni rqiq locally.

THE ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS OF TRADITIONAL MALTESE HOUSES
By Lee for house .mt.

As an island, there’s no question about it: architecture in Malta is our bread and butter. Our use of masonry, timber, and iron have put our facades, houses and places in ads, films, postcards, shirts and, merchandise of all kinds.

Fortunately, thanks to people fighting for our heritage, some of our most stunning architectural elements – particularly our traditional wooden balcony – are now protected.

But there’s another architectural piece that’s a little older than the balconies, a little less known, but still equally important, and that’s the anti-porta.

It was the way a private home communicated with neighbours, passers-by, and locals. If temporary entry or a request for a visit is welcome, you’d likely find the front door open, with the anti-porta as the only barrier to the inside. During an afternoon siesta, the door would be closed.

Our more modern equivalent? Logging off Facebook, or putting on earphones when we don’t want to be disturbed.

Photo Copyright © Kappa Vision / Jean-Paul Borg.
Information for this article was gathered from the following sources:
- House .mt;
- Special thanks to John N Scerri.
For all my latest photos, please visit and like Kappa Vision on Facebook and kappavision_gram on Instagram. When sharing, DO NOT repost, but FEEL FREE to share directly from Kappa Vision.

14/08/2021

Love the city whilst it's still awakening!

28/06/2021

Choisissez un tour privé avec nous Ara Malta Tours

02/06/2021

Ça reprend !

30/05/2021

🟩 Another step forward in the right direction for Malta!

30/05/2021

Mais pourquoi les jardins de la résidence de France sont-ils si typiquement maltais ?

Vous le découvrirez bientôt en écoutant les récits de l'Ambassadrice de France à Malte S.E Brigitte Curmi pour l'émission Destination Francophonie diffusée sur TV5MONDE 📽

30/05/2021

24/05/2021

Malta has 'reached herd immunity', Chris Fearne has announced, with 70 per cent of adults to receive one dose by Monday evening. The health minister made the announcement in a news conference with Superintendent of Public Health, Charmaine Gauci. The 70 per cent target was set by the European...

22/05/2021

I did my very best ❤️💪 on the Eurovision Song Contest stage. In a few minutes it’s really in your good hands - it is soon time TO VOTE [Numbers in my Facebook stories]! 🇦🇱🇦🇺🇦🇹🇦🇿🇧🇪🇧🇬🇭🇷🇨🇾🇨🇿🇩🇰🇪🇪🇫🇮🇫🇷🇬🇪🇩🇪🇬🇷🇮🇸🇮🇪🇮🇱🇮🇹🇱🇻🇱🇹🇲🇩🇲🇰🇳🇴🇵🇱🇵🇹🇷🇴🇷🇺🇸🇲🇷🇸🇸🇮🇪🇸🇸🇪🇨🇭🇳🇱🇺🇦🇬🇧 - LET’S DO THIS!

22/05/2021

Tonight I’m rooting for Destiny Chukunyere. Ever since we sang together when you were just 14, my eyes have been on you. I cannot say Eurovision Song Contest is my cup of tea, but is a big thing for , and you, whatever the result tonight, will always be one of Malta's shining stars. Tonight has a complete artist with an awesome voice, stratospheric vocality and a bubbly, strapping personality. I have a feeling that you will bring it home and that this evening will simply be one stepping stone to greatness.