Comino Island - Malta

Comino is the Malta archipelago's third largest island, situated between Malta and Gozo islands

Photographed to the east from onboard the Malta to Gozo Ferry as it passes the coast of Comino - The tower on the right of the photo is St Mary's Tower

Comino Island - Malta A short ferry crossing from Cirkewwa on the island of Malta or Mgarr, Gozo, Comino Island is home to the world famous Blue Lagoon with its iridescent turquoise and very clear waters, a haven for scuba divers and snorkellers alike.

Comino / Kemmuna is between the islands of Malta and Gozo - closer to Gozo.

The island measures just 1.35 square miles or 3.5 km2 in area and is mainly farmland.

Named after the cumin seed that once flourished in the Maltese islands, Comino is noted for its tranquility and isolation.

At the last census Comino only had a permanent population of four residents.

The island of Comino is also a great place for walking as a way for visitors to discover the island's history and scenic delights.

A great place for chilling out, relaxing on sandy beaches and just escaping the crowds.

Comino is a bird sanctuary and nature reserve.

Places to go, things to see and do on Comino

Photographed to the south from onboard the Malta to Gozo Ferry as it passes the coast of Comino - St. Mary's Tower in the centre left of the photo (Comino left - Cominotto right).

St. Mary's Tower - The tower is a large, square building with four corner turrets, located about 80 metres above sea level. The Tower itself is about 12 metres tall, with walls that are approximately 6 metres thick, and is raised on a platform and plinth that are approximately 8 metres high. St. Mary's Tower is the most visible structure on the island. Its background dates back to 1416, when the Maltese petitioned their king, Alfonso V of Aragon, to build a tower on Comino to serve as an early warning system in case of invasion, and to deter marauding Turks, pirates, smugglers and corsairs from using Comino as a hiding place and staging ground for devastating sorties onto the sister islands of Malta and Gozo. It-Torri ta' Santa Marija as it is known in Maltese is located roughly in the center of the southern coast of the island. The tower formed part of a chain of defensive towers known as the Wignacourt, Lascaris, and De Redin towers. Comino also served as a place of imprisonment or exile for errant Knights of Malta. Knights who were convicted of minor crimes were occasionally sentenced to the lonely and dangerous task of manning St. Mary's Tower.

During the French Blockade (1798–1800), St. Mary's Tower served as a prison for suspected spies. In 1829 the British Military abandoned the site. For several decades it was deemed to be property of the local civil authorities, and may have been used as an isolation hospital, or even as a wintering pen for farm animals.[6] The tower again saw active service during both World War I and World War II. Since 1982 the tower has been the property of the Armed Forces of Malta. It now serves as a lookout and staging post to guard against contraband and the illegal hunting of migratory birds at sea.

St. Mary's Tower underwent extensive restoration between 2002 and 2004. Today, it remains the most notable structure on Comino, and provides a destination for tourists taking walks around the Island.

St. Mary's Battery - Contiguous with various other batteries around the coastline of mainland Malta, is situated facing the South Comino Channel.

St. Mary's Battery is a semi-circular structure, built in 1716, facing the sea. The Battery still houses two 24-pound iron cannons, and remains in a fair state of preservation mainly due to its remote location. Its armament originally included four 6-pound iron cannons. The Battery underwent restoration in 1996 by the Maltese heritage preservation society, Din l-Art Helwa.

Roman Catholic Chapel - There is a small Roman Catholic chapel dedicated to the Sacred Family Upon its return from Egypt is located above Santa Marija Bay.

The chapel was built in 1618, and enlarged in 1667 and again in 1716, the chapel was originally dedicated to the Annunciation. It has been desecrated and reconsecrated at least once in its history, when Comino was devoid of residents.

The earliest record of a chapel on this site dates back to the 12th century, and can be seen in a navigational map of the period, located in the National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.

Mass is celebrated in the chapel on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings for the residents, hotel staff and tourists.

Comino Beaches - Comino Bays

One of the joys of being on Comino island is that, no matter where you are, you're never far from one of the many magnificent beaches or secluded little coves.

There is a choice of both sandy and rocky beaches on the island, offering practical areas for the family, scenic spots for the romantics, serene areas for those in want of peace and spots for those who are interested in a bit of summer sports fun.

Its rugged coastline is delineated by sheer limestone cliffs, and dotted with deep caves which were popular with pirates and marauders in the Middle Ages.

The following are some of the most popular Comino beaches and bays:

Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon, Comino - Close to the island of Comino in the Maltese archipelago, the clear waters and white sands of the Blue Lagoon make it a great place to go snorkelling or diving. To drive to Blue Lagoon, head to Cirkewwa in the north and catch a ferry to Comino.

Santa Maria Bay / Santa Marija Bay

St. Nicholas Bay

There are some holiday bungalows by Santa Marija Bay owned by the Comino Hotel. They have their own private rocky swimming area, and are only one hundred metres away from the sandy beach inside the bay.

The journey from the Bungalows to the Hotel can be completed in two minutes with a complimentary mini-bus service for guests.

There is also a police station located between the holiday bungalows and the chapel.