Our Top Hits – from the Absolute No
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Not to be missed! Our top hits – from the absolute No. 1 to No. 10 – TOP 10 help you plan your tour of the most important sights. GRAND HARBOUR P50 HYPOGEUM OF Weaving past cruise ships and ĦAL-SAFLIENI P90 freighters on a boat trip through Anyone wishing to learn more the natural harbour overlooked about the Neolithic period should by four fortified towns (photo left) visit this multi-level subterranean is the most stunning holiday structure. There is nothing quite experience. like it anywhere else in the world. MDINA P108 ST JOHN’S CO-CATHEDRAL Enclosed within its high fortress P55 walls, Malta’s “Silent City” The island’s historically most impor- Mdina has preserved its baroque tant church is in Valletta. Beneath character. The most romantic its splendid inlaid marble floor are way to explore it is riding in a the mortal remains of Knights of horse and carriage. St John from three centuries. MARSAXLOKK BAY P88 WEST COAST BEACHES P124 The little fishing town of Marsaxlokk This is where you find the beauti- has picture-postcard appeal: colour- ful sandy beaches. Golden Bay is ful fishing boats, good fish restau- always popular, while adjoining rants and hardly a hotel to be seen. Ghajn Tuffieha Bay offers tran- quillity and pure nature. VICTORIA (RABAT), GOZO P140 RABAT P111 The Citadel is enthroned high This sprawling town actually has above the capital of Malta’s more sights to offer below ground neighbouring island Gozo. It offers than above. It is here that you an almost panoramic view of the will find early Christian cata- island and its beautiful table combs as well as World War II mountains. bunkers. SLIEMA & ST JULIAN’S P53 VITTORIOSA (BIRGU) P60 Malta’s modern heart beats along Although not a match for Valletta’s the long sea promenade of Sliema magnificence, the first capital of the and in the neighbouring town of Knights of St John still exudes a St Julian’s with its buzzing nightlife medieval flair and is a good place and colourful restaurant district. to observe Malta's lifestyle. The Magazine The Magazine Tarxien (P94), Ġgantija (Gozo, P144), Mnajdra and Ħaġar Qim (P99). These TIMELINE temples were erected in honour of the Magna n c 3600BC A Fascinating Mater (Great Mother), and were divided into Ġgantija (oldest temple private inner sanctums and public outer of Malta’s mysterious areas. Priestesses were responsible for the Megalithic culture) burnt offerings and libations. There were n c 2550BC HISTORY oracle chambers, which the priestesses The Great Pyramids of Malta’s temples and ancient sites are the island's most spec could enter from outside. Through a hole Egypt tacular cul tural attractions – they are on Unesco’s list of in the wall they spoke to the people inside n c 2500BC the temple waiting for the divinity’s oracle. Tarxien (youngest temple World Heritage Sites. Although animal sacrifice was practised, of Malta’s mysterious archaeologists have not found any evidence Megalithic culture) The Maltese archipelago includes the main island of Malta, the other in- of weapons or violence, which would seem n c 2250BC habited islands of Gozo and Comino as well as the uninhabited islets of to point to a peaceful civilisation. Around Stonehenge, England Cominotto, Filfla, St Paul’s Islands and Fungus Rock. The first settlers 2500BC the history of this culture came n c 2000BC arrived here from Sicily around 5200BC. They pursued a predominantly to an abrupt end for no apparent Palace of Knossos, nomadic lifestyle, lived in the numerous caves on the islands, and subsisted reason, perhaps owing to a dev- Crete by fishing, hunting in the forests still on the island at the time and from astating epidemic or drought. n c 470BC primitive farming. Proof of their existence is provided by the skeletons and Subsequently, the islands Acropolis, Athens, Greece simple utensils found in the Dalam Cave (Għar Dalam) area. Around 3600BC, remained uninhabited for these early inhabitants appear to have started building massive temples, many centuries. thus founding the Maltese Megalithic culture. The remains of 23 of these temples are still visible today. We will probably never know how many Ħaġar Qim is one of the archipelago’s most others slumber below the surface or were destroyed. The most important temple complexes interesting temples are the Hypogeum from Ħal-Saflieni (P90), Valletta, Sliema & St Julian’s Four Perfect Days Four Perfect Days Day Three Morning/Lunch This itinerary shows you how to take in some of the best places Spend the day in Valletta. You can visit the +Grandmaster’s Palace to see in Valletta, Sliema & St Julian’s in four days. The various (P63) or the 0Manoel Theatre (P71) and have lunch in town. highlights are described in more detail on the following pages (P50–73). Afternoon/Evening Visit 'St John’s Co-Cathedral (P55). If the heat is taking its toll, hail a karrozin for a quick look around the city in style. The main places to hire Day One one are City Gate, St George’s Square and Fort St Elmo. Morning/Lunch !Grand Harbour tours are offered by several boat operators and depart Day Four from the waterside area marked Sliema Ferries. Take coffee or lunch on the front at Café Georgio (P52) or one of the cafés along the harbour. Morning If it’s a Sunday, you could visit ,Fort St Elmo (P68) and watch men Afternoon/Evening in period costume re-enact past battles. (You need to check the pro Walk to Tower Road and sit on the rocks or choose a lido (P54). For gramme in advance, however, as the Fort has been undergoing extensive more history take the Marsamxett ferry from Sliema to Valletta’s multimedia renovation work.) Then hop on a bus to %St Julian’s and get off at show, The Malta Experience (P68). Round off the afternoon at Caffe Spinola Bay. Or you could make an early start and travel down south to Cordina (P76). #Marsaxlokk’s Sunday market. Lunch Caffe Raffael or one of its pretty neighbours overlooking Spinola Bay are Day Two perfect for lunch. Try and get a table outside, so that you can savour the view with your food. Morning/Lunch Catch bus No 2 or 3 from Valletta to *Vittoriosa (Birgu) (P60) and do Afternoon the suggested walk (P157). Have lunch in one of the open-air eateries Continue around the bay to chill out at one of the lidos or on the beach, in Vittoriosa. either sunbathing or taking part in one of the many different water sports. They are a lot of fun. Later on you could take one of the speedboat trips Afternoon/Evening across the bay and watch the sunset from the water. Make your way to Senglea (P51) and walk along the shore looking back to where you have Fort St. Elmo just been. The late 12 afternoon sun Toy on Vittoriosa’s Manoel Museum honey-coloured Theatre 17 St. Julian’s 16 Casa Rocca 5 Sliema buildings is a National National 18 Piccola 5 glorious sight. Museum Museum of of Fine Arts 15 Grandmaster’s At the end of Archaeology 11 Palace Grand 13 Harbour the Senglea 7 Church 20 Argotti 1 peninsula is St. John’s of St. Paul Botanic 14 Freedom Co-Cathedral Shipwreck the famous Square 21 Gardens 10 19 Vittoriosa Vedette. (Birgu) Return to Auberge de Castille, Valletta and Léon e Portugal have dinner at one of its many ex cellent restaurants (P76) 48 49.