5 Days Itinerary #36 - The Maltese Islands Islands - 4 Night Moderate The Maltese Islands Day 1 Arrival in Malta Day 2 Valletta - The Capital Valletta Experiences Museum of Archaeology Manoel Theatre Gilder Artisan Visit St. John's Co-Cathedral Upper Barrakka Gardens Lascaris War Rooms Day 3 The Three Cities and Southern Malta The Three Cities Grand Harbour Water Taxi to the Three Cities Fort St. Angelo Marsaxlokk Village Blue Grotto Private Boat Experience Hagar Qim & Mnajdra Temples Day 4 The Old Captital, Rural Malta and Food Culture Experience Mdina - the Silent and Medieval City Village of Rabat The Dingli Cliffs and Cart Ruts Food Culture with Farm Lunch Experience OR Private Evening Sunset Sail with Dinner 1 Day 5 Departure Day Itinerary Inclusions Itinerary Exclusions Value (NET Total in EURO) based on two people The Maltese Islands The Maltese Islands have a remarkable story to tell - from prehistoric sites to the Knights of St. John. The welcoming nature of its inhabitants lends for a truly authentic experience coupled with amazing food, attractions and gorgeous waters. Although small in size, Malta offers travelers a rare opportunity to see a well preserved history and exciting present day culture. Day 1 Arrival in Malta Arrive in Malta and be privately transferred to your host accommodations. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening or should you arrive early, we will be happy to arrange dinner at one of Malta's finest restaurants. Day 2 Valletta - The Capital 2 Valletta Experiences Valletta was built by the Knights of St. John after the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottomans in 1565. It is the fortified city that was said to be "Built by gentlemen for gentlemen". It boasts over 320 monuments in a .2 square mile radius, is a Baroque capital and has been recognized as the European Capital of Culture in 2018. You'll love what's in store within its main gates - a great mix of history and present day lively culture. Below are some of the included experiences in addition to meandering the main and back streets to discover Valletta`s very interesting history. 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! 3 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? Gilder Artisan Visit You’ll be paying a private visit to one of Malta’s finest artisans to learn about his trade in clock building and gilding. Witness a master artisan whose gilder lineage dates back to the 18th Century - and he has the tools to prove it. 4 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. Upper Barrakka Gardens The Upper Barrakka Gardens overlook the Grand Harbour. From their terrace they afford one of the most beautiful panoramic views in Malta as they command a unique view of the only natural harbour in the Mediterranean with the Three Cities as its backdrop. 5 Lascaris War Rooms 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. Day 3 The Three Cities and Southern Malta The Three Cities The Three Cities lie across the Grand Harbour. It was here where the Knights of St. John settled when they arrived in 1530 and made Birgu Malta's capital city. The formal or original names of the cities are Birgu, Bormla and Isla and their modern names Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea. There is a treasure trove of history found in each of them which will be explored today. 6 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. 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. 7 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. Blue Grotto Private Boat Experience Enjoy a boat ride through the Blue Grotto - a series of sea caverns that will highlight the beautiful waters in the area. It's a very refreshing experience! 8 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 4 The Old Captital, Rural Malta and Food Culture Experience 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. 9 Village of Rabat 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 as well as the St. Paul’s Catacombs. It is here where we learn the story of a shipwrecked St. Paul in Malta. The Christian, Jewish and Pagan Catacombs of St. Paul are not themselves associated with Paul but derive their name from their proximity to St. Paul's Church and Grotto. They are a fascinating labyrinth of 3rd-century AD subterranean tombs and the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity in Malta. 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. 10 Food Culture with Farm Lunch Experience Enjoy a few of Malta's delicacies with a walk around the village of Rabat followed by a visit to a simple family run sheep farm to taste the freshest Maltese cheese followed by a lunch on a private farm to enjoy a rustic uncooked farm lunch with wine and an olive oil tasting. OR Private Evening Sunset Sail with Dinner Enjoy a lovely evening sunset sail coupled with great food and wine. Not only will you see Malta and in particular the Grand Harbour in a different light, you will also get to relax and dine in your preferred company. The historic and breathtaking Grand Harbour is a natural harbour which has been used as a harbour since the Phoenicians. It has played a major strategic role in Malta's history. During the Evening cruise, you will leave Marsamxett Creek to navigate into the Grand Harbour for your own private tour of Valletta and its historical fortifications. You will then proceed to the South side of the harbour to get a closer look at The Three Cities; a collective name given to the ancient fortified cities of Cospicua, Vittoriosa and Senglea. 11 Day 5 Departure Day Depart from your hotel for the airport for your flight home. Itinerary Inclusions • 4 breakfasts (to be priced) and 1 lunch (or 1 dinner for sailboat option) • Airport Transfers • Expert guiding and private car service included on touring days • Entrance to attractions 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) based on two people 3232.22 Euro 12.