I have taken this picture for the reflection rather than for the boat itself. The owner of this boat has ruined its aesthetic beauty by adding that ugly square cabin on top.
Like the Maltese cross (the eight-pointed cross inherited from the Knights of St John) this is one of the symbols of Malta and is featured on the reverse of the older series of Maltese lira coins. The Mediterranean sea, which is ever present, has always attracted men to fish. Painted in the traditional colours of red, blue and yellow, the luzzu is a uniquely Maltese boat. - it is a sturdy and reliable sea craft and can be put to sea in almost every kind of weather. Most Luzzus have the eye of Osiris painted or carved on the bow, a symbol said to have been brought to Malta by the Phoenicians. Some people say that this Eye of Osiris is placed there to safeguard the fishermen from evil spirits. To compete with foreign fishermen, Maltese full-time fishermen have today to go further out and stay longer at sea and have therefore discarded the Luzzu for bigger and better equipped boats.
Love this- interesting to check out the traditional boats. It's sad that there are not enough fish in the sea any more and the fisherman have to go out further. Are there many Luzzu boats around still?
Yes, Jenn. Thank God there are still many. Mostly all part-time fishermen in Malta go out in these boats. There are Luzzus of many different sizes and they can go miles out to sea but do not have freezers to keep the fish they catch fresh so that cannot stay out at sea for long.
