A road less travelled: Valletta, Malta

On my travels around Europe, and in this instance a Mediterranean and Croatia cruise, I am always on the look-out for unusual modes of transport, writes Honorary Assistant David Barrett. On our outbound journey we called in at Valetta, the capital city of the island of Malta.

The Karozzin is a Maltese traditional mode of transport consisting of a carriage pulled by a horse. It was once popular for general transit and is still used in ceremonies such as funerals, and as a tourist attraction. It is mostly found in Malta’s second city Mdina and Valletta, and dates back to the mid-19th century.

These horse drawn cabs (Karozzini) have a canopy roof and seat four passengers face-to-face, with a driver’s seat up front. The carriage body is mounted high on four elliptical springs. It is pulled by a single horse or large pony. I was struck by the general healthy condition of the ponies used, obviously well cared for. The cab stands where the ponies patiently wait for their next fare, protected by canopies, for it can be unbearably hot during summer, when temperatures regularly breach 30 – 35ºC. The excessive heat and pony welfare is a source of controversy locally. I saw a large dog wearing leather bootees on his feet to shield his paws from the burning heat of the polished limestone pavers.

The sheer elegance of these small carriages is impressive. The Karozzini are just about the only way to penetrate the incredibly narrow medieval lanes in the old city.

Fancy supporting a campaign to adopt these fascinating modes of transport in Oxford Street to replace the garish and noisy rickshaw bikes? Not a bad idea – a return to regency elegance perhaps.