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The
Three Cities
Across the harbour
from Valletta lie the misleadingly named "three cities"
of Bormla, L'isla and Birgu, where the Knights of St John made their
first home in Malta. Amongst many other remains of their legacy
you can see the first 'auberges' where they lived, the impressive
forts and fortifications they built,the site of the island's first
parish church, the Maritime Museum - housed in the old bakery, and
also the 'Palazzo del Sant' Ufficio' - the old headquarters of the
notorious Inquistion.
An excellent full-day tour can be made by combining
this tour with a trip to the nearby capital city, Valletta!
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South-East
Malta
Explore
the Hypogeum*, a fantastic labyrinthine complex of underground burial
and temple chambers accidentally discovered by drain diggers, and
the nearby temple ruins of Tarxien, whose monoliths were uncovered
by a farmer ploughing his field! Discover the delights of Zejtun,
a town of considerable history with punic remains, Roman structures
and famous churches, before taking in the sights of the SE coast,including
the quaint fishing village of Marsaxlokk, probably the most photographic
(and photographed!) place in Malta, and Ghar Dalam - 'Cave of Darkness'.
* The Hypogeum has recently
re-opened after extensive restoration. To prevent further damage
to the
site, there is a restriction
on the number of daily
visitors, so booking
well in advance is essential.
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Rabat
& Mosta
Visit Mosta Church, famous for having one
of the largest unsupported domes in Europe, before travelling through
the countryside to the often neglected town of Rabat. This suburb
of Mdina is brimming with interesting features, such as a Roman
villa containing the remains of Greek, Carthagian and Roman Tombs
and some wonderful mosaics, several sets of catacombs, and the grotto
where St. Paul is said to have sheltered and which is said to have
'miraculous' powers. Close by you can see Verdala Palace, once the
summer residence of a Grand Master and now the President's summer
residence, it stands overlooking Buskett Gardens - the place where
the Knights raised their falcons and a green oasis in the dry summer
months.
An excellent
full-day tour can be made by combining this tour with a trip to
the old capital - Mdina - also known as the Silent City!
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South-West
Malta
Dingli
Cliffs, apart from being the highest point on the islands, can also
boast of having some of the best views, looking out to the tiny
islet of Filfla. Passing the Inquisitor's Summer Palace, through
the citrus groves of the beautiful Girgenti valley, you come to
the area known as 'Clapham Junction'. Named after a busy train station
in England, the prehistoric ruts that criss-cross this rocky plateau
have puzzled archeologists for years - the favourite theory that
they formed some kind of transport system doesn't explain why they
lead off the edge of the cliffs! Close by see the sleepy village
of Siggiewi, with it's maze of old winding streets and it's baroque
church - the prototype design for Mdina Cathedral - before
visiting The Limestone Heritage. A living museum, here you will
discover how Malta's most important resource has played such a large
part in shaping the islands from prehistoric times to modern day.
This enables you to fully appreciate the grandeur and wonder of
Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, two megalithic temple complexes which date
back to before the Great Pyramids of Egypt or Stonehenge in England.
Not far below is Wied iz-Zurrieq where one can catch a boat out
to see the aquamarine waters of the Blue Grotto.
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North
& North West Malta
Though not as rich in cultural sites as the
rest of the island, the North more than makes up for it scenically,
and is definitely worth visiting if only for the photo opportunities.
Following along the coast, you pass many of the forts that made
up a chain across Malta and her sister islands to warn of impending
attack, Salina - where there are vast salt-pans, roman
baths sitting high up on a hill, St
Paul's island and Ghajn Rasul - the Apostle's Fountain. The former
is where St. Paul is said to have been washed up after being shipwrecked,
the latter where he is said to have brought forth a gushing stream
after striking a rock. Nearly all the sandy beaches that are to
be found on Malta are in the north. Ghadira, the largest, creates
a breathtaking vista when seen from Mellieha village above.
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Gozo Highlights (Full-Day)
Just
6km off the Maltese coast, Gozo is the smaller, greener, quieter
version of it's sister island, claimed to be the island of Calypso.
Famed for it's marble, knitwear, lacemaking and the locally made
delicacy 'gbejna' - goat's cheese - Gozo has much to offer the visitor.
Rising from sheer rocky cliffs overlooking the capital Victoria,
lies the Citadella, whose fortifications once sheltered the entire
population from attacks by Turks and pirates. Here you will also
find Gozo cathedral, which features an amazing trompe-l'oeil dome
- due to lack of funds for a real one when the cathedral was built.
Not far away in a converted farmhouse, the Gozo Heritage offers
a glimpse into 7,000 years of history with a sound and vision show.
See the Blue Window - a naturally - formed monumental stone archway,
and the Inland Sea - a pool surrounded by Sheer Cliffs, connected
to the open sea by only a narrow rock tunnel. Visit the sanctuary
of Ta' Pinu, the scene of many 'miraculous' cures, Ta' Kola windmill
- one of only three complete mills surviving in the islands and
the Ggantija temples - which legend says was built by a female giant.
Xewkija rotunda, built to rival the dome of Mosta, is taller in
height, but smaller in diameter and the source of much dispute between
the two islands as to which is the larger.
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Exploring
Hidden Malta
Tired
of the tourist traps? Discover the Malta you always hoped to find.
With this unique tour we take you to places off the beaten track,
to eat traditional food where the locals eat and to see breathtaking
monuments that lie almost forgotten. Learn more about the different
aspects of traditional Maltese life - both modern day and from times
gone by, and explore places of beauty and wonder where few ever
go and only the locals usually find.
While
we'd love to be able to provide more specific details, in order
to preserve the very essence of this tour and keep a 'Hidden
Malta' we are unable to do so. What we can say, is that we've
honestly never yet had a client who has been disappointed.
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