7 Days Itinerary #56 - 6 Nights in Moderate Luxe WWII Focus

The Maltese Islands

Day 1 Arrival in Malta

Day 2 The Three Cities and Southern Malta and Saluting Battery Grand Harbour Water Taxi to the Three Cities Fort St. Angelo Maritime Museum Marsaxlokk Village Hagar Qim & Mnajdra Temples

Day 3 - The Capital Museum of Archaeology St. John's Co-Cathedral Kings Own Band Club Restaurant National Library of Malta - Private Tour Lascaris War Rooms - Private Tour National War Museum

Day 4 Central Malta San Anton Palace and Gardens Ta Qali Airfield and Malta Aviation Museum Mosta Dome Church Palazzo Parisio & Gardens

Day 5 Gozo - Malta's Sister Island Gozo Channel Ferry 1 Gozo Channel Ferry The Citadella & Victoria The Xwejni Salt Pans Ggantija Temples The old Ta' Lambert US Airfields

Day 6 The Old Capital Region The Dingli Cliffs and Cart Ruts Rabat Village with War Shelters and Catacombs Mdina - the Silent and Medieval City Private Visit - WWII Vehicle Collection

Day 7 Departure Day

Itinerary Inclusions Itinerary Exclusions Value (NET Total in Euro)

The Maltese Islands

Malta has been fought over for thousands of years, has temples that pre-date the pyramids at Giza and Stonehenge, has some of the clearest waters in the world, and boasts a capital city that is a baroque masterpiece. Like Croatia of 20 years ago, Malta has just now become a newly discovered travel destination for the cultural enthusiast and not as a second thought. The Maltese Islands, although small in size, offers travelers a rare opportunity to see a well preserved history and exciting present day culture.

Day 1

Arrival in Malta

Arrive in Malta on U26497 at 19:45 and be privately transferred to your host accommodations.

Day 2 The Three Cities and Southern Malta

2 Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery

The Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery, located high along Valletta's eastern historic ramparts, enjoys unrivaled spectacular views of the Grand Harbour and its surrounding fortified towns. The Saluting Batter is perhaps the oldest saluting battery still in operation anywhere in the world. For almost 500 years, its guns protected the harbour against naval assault. Its prominent position also ensured it becoming the island's principal saluting platform. From here, gun salutes were fired on occasions of state, to mark anniversaries and religious feasts, and also to greet visiting dignitaries and vessels. From the 1820's a gun was also fired at mid-day to signal out the exact hour of the day by which Ship Masters would calibrate their chronographs on board. These time pieces were used up to the early part of the 20th century to find the longitude at sea.

Grand Harbour Water Taxi to the Three Cities

Arrive at the old Customs House where a traditional Maltese boat (Dghajsa) and boatman will be waiting for you to transfer you to the city of Vittoriosa - the main harbour city that the Knights settled at when arriving in Malta in 1530.

3 Fort St. Angelo

Fort St. Angelo is steeped in history - it having been known as the Castle by the Sea when the Knights of St. John arrived. The fort had been built up during the knights period and played a crucial part during the Great Siege of 1565 against the Ottoman Empire. It was later used by the Royal Navy in World War II.

Maritime Museum

Housed within the Old Naval bakery, the Malta Maritime Museum charts Malta’s maritime history and lore within a Mediterranean context. It also illustrates the global nature of seafaring and its impact on Malta’s society. The museum houses numerous artefacts highlighting the different epochs of Malta’s history that is inadvertently tied to the sea.

4 Marsaxlokk Village

This village is known for being the main fishing village of Malta as well as the best place to see the brightly painted fishing boats. Enjoy lunch on own at one of the fine restaurants here.

Hagar Qim & Mnajdra Temples

Step back some 5500 years with a visit to the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temple sites. The temples were excavated in 1839 and are thought to have been built to worship a type of fertility goddess. To put their age into perspective - they are around 1000 years older than the pyramids at Giza and Stonehenge. Who knew!?

Day 3 Valletta - The Capital

5 Museum of Archaeology

Not just another museum, the Museum of Archaeology will guide who through our living history dating back to the temple period. Spend a short time here gaining an overview and especially seeing the unbelievable finds from the temple(s) that you will be visiting on your tour. Of special note is the sleeping lady!

St. John's Co-Cathedral

Built shortly after the Great Siege of Malta (1565), St. John's Co-Cathedral's austere exterior is in drastic contrast to its sumptuous high baroque interior. You'll be in awe at the artistic masterpiece - from it's tombstone laid floors to the vaulted ceiling painted in the life of John the Baptist. Around the corner and into the oratory, stand before two wonderful masterpieces by the artist Caravaggio - St. Jerome and his only signed piece - The Beheading of St. John the Baptist.

6 Manoel Theatre

The Manoel Theatre is one of the oldest working theatres in Europe. Constructed in 1731 by the Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena "for the honest entertainment of the Knights"; the theatre is a baroque gem with wonderful acoustics and a full calendar of events populated by local and international performers, with productions in English and Maltese. Maybe there is something on the calendar during your stay?

Kings Own Band Club Restaurant

Casual dining in a historic place. This restaurant resides within the Kings Own Band Club residence. The oldest band club in Valletta had earned its name when the Prince of Wales became king, changing the name of the club to Kings Own from The Prince of Wales band club. Enjoy a fantastic Maltese delicacy lunch and superior wine.

7 National Library of Malta - Private Tour

Situated in the centre of Valletta, the National Library is one of the major treasures of the Maltese Islands. The library preserves the memory of the nation with collections that span the centuries as far back to medieval times. Enjoy this National Treasure accompanied by the National Library Librarian as she walks you through history.

Lascaris War Rooms - Private Tour

The Lascaris War Rooms consist of an underground complex of tunnels and chambers that housed the War Headquarters from where the defence of Malta was conducted during the Second World War.

This secret complex contained operations rooms for each of the fighting services from where not only the air defence of Malta was coordinated, but also some of the greatest battles fought in the Mediterranean during the war.

8 National War Museum

The National War Museum houses a superb collection of items which takes us back to prehistoric times. Artifacts are displayed in chronological order, commencing from the early phases of the Bronze Age around 2,500 B.C.

Two halls are dedicated to Malta’s important role in WW I, the Inter-War Period and Malta’s historical role in the Second World War. Displayed in these halls one can find perhaps the three most important icons of this museum: the Gloster Sea Gladiator N5520 FAITH, Roosevelt’s Jeep ‘Husky’ and Malta award for gallantry, the George Cross.

Concluding the walk through Malta’s military role in history are displays dedicated to Malta’s Independence, becoming a Republic, Freedom Day and Malta joining the European Union.

Day 4 Central Malta

San Anton Palace and Gardens

The San Anton Gardens is located in Attard and is one of the most beautiful gardens in Malta with a large variety of beautiful flowers and plants. This garden has been open to the public since 1882 and it was built by Grand Master Antoine de Paule to complement his summer residence, San Anton Palace, which today is the residence of the Maltese President.

9 Ta Qali Airfield and Malta Aviation Museum

Royal Air Force Ta Kali was a Royal Air Force fighter operations base located in Ta Qali, which now hosts the Malta Aviation Museum.

Mosta Dome Church Image credits: Pixabay

Not just another church; this one has an interesting story on a few fronts. Construction began in 1833 and it was completed by 1860. Modeled after the Pantheon in Rome, it is the 3rd largest unsupported dome in the world behind St. Peter`s in Rome and St. Paul`s in London. However the most interesting part of its existence is something that happened on April 9th, 1942 when a German bomb was dropped on it and pierced the dome with parishioners in attendance. It did not explore. According to the locals, it was a miracle!

10 Palazzo Parisio & Gardens

The Marquis Giuseppe Scicluna bought Palazzo Parisio in 1898 and it is through him that the property received its greatest renovation, which fortunately still survives till today largely in its original form. The Marquis Scicluna, a wealthy Maltese banker and merchant; created a showcase for Maltese art which closes the eclectic style of the 19th century propagated by Italian artists on the island. The property dates further back in history and its legacy of owners add to its prestige.

Enjoy a private tour of the Palazzo and its gardens.

Day 5 Gozo - Malta's Sister Island

Gozo Channel Ferry

With only a 25 minute crossing from North Malta, you'll arrive at the Island of Calypso to discover the neat little gems and differences from its sister island.

11 The Citadella & Victoria

Venture to the capital of Gozo for a leisurely walk through the village streets as we witness local people in their daily life. The Citadel or Citadella is an area known to have been first fortified during the Bronze Age and later developed by the Phoenicians and continues development until, by Roman times, it had become a complex Acropolis. Up until the 18th Century, it was the only fortified refuge against attack for the inhabitants of the island. Enjoy some free time roaming the back streets of the Capital City of Victoria.

The Xwejni Salt Pans

Your first stop will be at the Roman salt pans. The production of sea salt has a long tradition in Gozo and the saltpans found near Marsalforn are still used today.

12 Ggantija Temples

Malta is so small, yet its history is massive. No visit to Gozo is complete without being a part of a remarkable history with a visit to the oldest freestanding structure in the world - the Ggantija Temples. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is 1000 years older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids at Giza.

The old Ta' Lambert US Airfields

Air field Ta Lambert (also known as Xewkija airfield) was built when the Allies needed more runways and parking area in preparation for the invasion of Sicily in 1943. Nobody really knows why up to that time the island of Gozo had not had any airfields, while there were 7 on Malta. The United States military looked into the possibilities, and kindly asked the bishop of Gozo (Mgr Gonzi) for permission to build one. They chose the Ta Lambert site where 21 Engineer Aviation Regiment built the airfield, under the supervision of Captain Robert E. Sexton, clearing the terrain in 6 days. Between the 8th, and 20th June 1943, in one and a half weeks, two runways had been prepared.

Day 6 The Old Capital Region

13 The Dingli Cliffs and Cart Ruts

You will be treated to the spectacular views of Dingli Cliffs which are the highest point of the Maltese Islands at 253 metres above sea level. The Cliffs propose a majestic, overlooking the small terraced fields below, the open sea and Filfla & the small uninhabited island (used as target practice during the WWII). Nearby arrive at Clapham Junction to discover the mysterious cart ruts. These deep ruts, rilles, tracks, grooves, channels left in Malta’s limestone but in such numbers, variety and confusion that they leave more questions than answers.

Rabat Village with War Shelters and Catacombs

The Arabs, during their 200 years of rule, divided the old Roman City of Melita into two: the citadel became known as Mdina and the rest of the area as Rabat. In Rabat we find St. Paul’s Church and Grotto, catacombs and World War II war shelters. We'll be taking a peak into these war shelters that are located in the village square.

14 Mdina - the Silent and Medieval City

You will feel the power as you enter the Old Capital City of Mdina and fall in love with it inasmuch as the families who continue to live here. It's Malta's only medieval city with a range of architecture that includes Norman and Arabic features. If you're a Game of Thrones fan, you will recognize the main gates immediately.

Private Visit - WWII Vehicle Collection

Enjoy the opportunity of visiting a resident in the village of Mtarfa to view his personal collection of WW II Vehicles.

15 Day 7

Departure Day

#### - Depart for the airport for your #### to ____ on #### Today you depart our lovely islands. We trust that the Malta has lived up to your expectations and even exceeded them. We look forward to welcoming you back some day.

Itinerary Inclusions • Airport transfers • 6 breakfasts (with booked hotel) and 1 lunch. • Expert guiding and private car service included on touring days • Entrance to attractions and experiences indicated on the itinerary

Itinerary Exclusions • Attractions and meals not identified in the itinerary • Round-trip airfare and medical/travel insurance • Gratuities for guides and drivers

Value (NET Total in Euro) 4,246.91 Euro

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