Malta boasts a rich history within the film industry and is home to numerous notable filming locations. Game of Thrones, Gladiator, and The Count of Monte Cristo have all been filmed in the small Mediterranean country. But there's one, more obscure film, which has preserved its legacy for good on the island - Popeye.

The 1980 film starringRobin Williams and Shelly Duvall has been immortalised through the famous Popeye Village, a purpose-built film set which now serves as an open-air museum and theme park. I visited the attraction during low season to see how one of Malta'sbiggest tourist attractions continues to wow visitors.

Nestled in a stunningly wild and remote cove on the North-Western tip of the island, the attraction consists of a collection of around 20 rustic and ramshackle wooden buildings, featuring interactive exhibitions, actors and plenty of free activities to keep adults and children entertained.

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The film, released in the UK in April 1981, received mixed reviews on its release and has fallen into relative obscurity in the grand scheme of Disney releases. It now has a 5.4 IMDb rating and a 60% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

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The construction of the film set was a mammoth undertaking. It began in June 1979, with a crew of 165 working four months to build the village, which consists of 19 wooden buildings. Hundreds of logs and several thousand wooden planks were imported from the Netherlands.

While it looks amazing, the remote location of the set caused havoc for the filmmakers. Everything had to be shipped in, while the situation of the village meant it was regularly battered bt storms. In total, the budget ballooned to beyond $20 million, forcing the studio to eventually order an end to filming and a return to California with the footage they had.

I was initially skeptical about whether I would enjoy the excursion, having never seen the film and being unfamiliar with Popeye. However, once I saw the stunning cliffside view of the museum looming on my approach, it was clear that this was a special attraction.

For just 15 euros per person (around 13 pounds), the day out came in at staggeringly good value. Visitors could roam the set for as long as they like, with guided tours, puppet shows, and even a bag of fresh popcorn all thrown in for free.

There were mini-golf courses, play areas, and a cinema, all included. At a time when so many attractions can feel disappointingly overpriced and extortionate, it was refreshing to see an entry-free attraction go such a long way.

There were also actors dotted around the museum, interacting with people of all ages and providing atmosphere, entertainment, and of course, those all-important photo opportunities for visitors.

My visit was at the height of Malta’s low season, at the end of November, and I was blessed to have the weather on my side, aside from some fairly gusty sea winds. The views alone were worth the entry fee, with jaw-dropping vistas of waves rumbling in from the open Mediterranean and crashing against huge limestone cliffs.

Each house and ramshackle hut was expertly preserved and surprisingly explorable. Guests were encouraged to sit in the furniture, use props where they found them, and immerse themselves in the world that Disney created in 1980. Bars and cafes were aplenty, and I was hard pressed to find a single queue, thanks to the joys of the low season.

Time seemed to fly by as I explored the nooks and crannies and the abundance of exhibitions, and I ended up spending well over three hours at the village, with the day out becoming the highlight of the trip.

Now all that’s left for me to do is to watch the film.