This tour covers three different periods of Malta’s golden history in one day. Our first visit during our tour is the capital, Valletta which was built by the Knights of St. John in 1565. Here we include the Barrakka Gardens which offer stunning views of the Grand Harbour and magnificent fortifications, a walk down Triq Republikka where you can admire numerous historical buildings built by the Knights of St. John, the Grand Masters Palace and the St. John’s Co. Cathedral, the church of the order and also home to Caravaggio’s masterpiece “Beheading of St. John” amongst other treasures. After our tour of the capital we will then visit the south west of the island where the ancient Hagar Qim Temple site stands.
Set in a rural area this ancient temple is particularly interesting as it has the largest and heaviest megaliths out of all the temple sites around the Maltese Islands, some slabs weighing a staggering 20 tons. This temple which dates back 3300BC, an era dominated by Neolithic man. We then continue to our next stop and an opportunity to experience a little local culture, the pretty traditional fishing village of Marsaxlokk. Marsaxlokk, is a quaint fishing village and is characterised by low lying buildings and colourful traditional fishing boats known as the ‘luzzu’. A small market lines the seafront and if you would like to sample fresh Mediterranean fish there are numerous local restaurants to choose from (other cuisine is available). Our final stop during this tour will be to Mdina. Mdina is built on a plateau in the centre of the island, the cities old Baroque buildings, cathedral and magnificent bastion walls dominate the rural skyline. Mdina, once the capital of Malta until the modern city of Valletta was built had many names including Melita (Roman occupation), Medina (Arabic occupation), Citta Notabile (Knights of St. John) and Citta Vecchia (after Valletta was built). Today it is also referred as the Silent City since it inspires tranquility at any time of the day or night. The only way to really experience and enjoy this city is on foot, explore the quaint alleys, narrow streets, ancient buildings and magnificent far reaching views form the high bastion walls. Our tour at this point comes to an end and we head back for a sunset photo back to your hotel.
As soon as we set foot in the pretty Gozitan port of Mgarr we will notice that although both islands are similar in history and development, Gozo has a character entirely of its own. In this excursion we visit all the popular landmarks of Gozo such as the Citadel in Victoria, the famous Azur Window in Dwejra and the rocky cliffs in Xlendi Bay. Also included is a delicious three course lunch together with a spectacular cultural experience with a visit to Ggantijja Temples (except on Monday) which are known to be the oldest freestanding temples in the world. Since Gozo is well known for its woollen goods and handmade lace, honey and cheese we will also visit the market where we will have free time for shopping and to sample all these at first hand.
Malta & Sicily
Malta to Malta
Malta is a perfect place for an out-of-season trekking holiday. With warm weather during Spring and Autumn, when the island’s countryside is in full bloom, there is no better way to see the hidden gems of the Maltese islands than on foot. This trip will take you on a walking tour of the best land and seascapes of Malta and Gozo.
New Website Launched.
English
简体中文