Popeye Sailor Village in Malta is a must-see attraction

Popeye Sailor Village on the island of Malta is a major attraction for tourists who enjoy beautiful beaches and stunning views.

Do you remember Popeye the Sailor? The man loved spinach, which gave him incredible energy and almost magical powers. The tale of the jovial sailor was one of the first advertisements for healthy eating.

Character of the famous sailor Popeye

The character of Popeye was created back in the 1920s. Initially, he appeared in comics as a sailor with a very friendly disposition. He enjoyed laughing and helping people in need. At the same time, however, he didn’t shy away from fights and scuffles. The comic book character feasted on spinach and wooed the skinny beauty named Olive Oyl.

It was spinach that gave Popeye extraordinary strength and energy. In the early 20th century, spinach was considered a miraculous plant with almost supernatural properties, and the tale of Popeye was somewhat a form of its promotion.

By the 1930s, one of the film studios created short animated films shown before screenings in theatres starring Popeye. With the spread of television, Paramount Pictures produced an animated series. Here, the character of Popeye was somewhat modernized. He was portrayed almost as a superhero who, in times of crisis, ate magical herbs to gain immense powers. However, in the original, Popeye regularly consumed spinach, and that was the source of his strength.

In cartoons about Popeye, they appeared apart from the main character

• Olive Oyl – Popeye’s fiancée
• Bluto – Popeye’s eternal enemy, who also has his eye on Olive
• Wimpy – Popeye’s neighbor
• Sweepy – Known as Swee’Pea in English, adopted son of Popeye
• Poopeye – There were a few of them, nephews of Popeye
• Poopdeck Pappy – Popeye’s father, very similar to him, but lacked a good heart and always sought an opportunity for a fight.
• Jeep – Known as Eugene the Jeep in English, a strange creature appearing in some animations.
• Sea Hag – Popeye’s enemy. She knows black magic and wishes ill upon everyone else. She is friends with the nasty vulture.

Popeye Sailor Village created in Malta

Why do I mention characters from Popeye cartoons, you might ask? Well, because during our trip to Malta, we visited the village of the brave sailor. There are traces of all the characters from the comics and animations.

The village was created as a film set for the adaptation of the comic in 1980, the role of Popeye was played by Robin Williams. Although the film was not a great success, it wasn’t a complete failure either.

More importantly, the island authorities ensured that Popeyes Sailor Village, built in the beautiful and picturesque Anchor Bay, remained as an attraction for tourists visiting Malta. We really liked the settlement by the sea. There are places associated with all the characters appearing in the comics and movies.

Popeye Sailor Village practical information and interesting facts

Entrance to the village costs several euros for an adult and a few euros less for a child, but what do we get in return?

• We can use everything related to water activities here. There are trampolines, obstacle courses, and many other attractions.
• We can use sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach.
• During the day, there are shows featuring comic book characters that we can participate in.
• The price includes a visit to the Popeye sailor museum and a 15-minute boat trip around the lagoon.
• There is a mini golf course on-site that we can use.
• Children receive a free snack at the bar, and adults get a glass of local wine.
• Oh, and we can send one free postcard to a chosen person anywhere in the world.

Not bad, right? Especially since prices on other beaches on the island are quite high. For example, renting a regular sun lounger at Golden Bay costs almost 10 euros per person, and an umbrella isn’t free either.

We highly recommend visiting the Popeye sailor village. Getting there is easy if you have a car, a bit more complicated if you use public transportation; bus number 101 goes to the village.

Of course, you can also sail to the village if you eat a can of spinach beforehand 🙂

Polish version