The Heritage & History of Malta & Gozo

Malta and Gozo are small islands but there is a great deal of fascinating history on each, which will satisfy even the most demanding of travellers. They have beautiful coastlines, attractive fishing ports, pretty villages often dwarfed by immense churches and much fine Baroque architecture. On this tour we will see some of the fascinating treasures of these islands including prehistoric temples which are thought to be the earliest accessible free-standing buildings in the world, mediaeval settlements and the walled city of Mdina. This is the rich legacy of the Knights of Malta who constructed military fortifications and magnificent buildings, especially in Valletta where the era of British rule, including Malta’s vital role in World War II, will also be explored.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 - ARRIVING DAY

We stay for the duration of the tour at the recently reopened, 4 star deluxe Phoenicia. This famous hotel stands at the gateway to Valletta and has a majestic setting overlooking Marsamxetto Harbour.

DAY 2 - EXPLORING VALLETTA

Today will be spent exploring Valletta which has recently undergone a series of major restorations including the impressive ramparts and Renzo Piano’s new Parliament building. We visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral with Caravaggio’s masterpiece ‘The Beheading of St. John’ and the beautiful jewel-like Teatru Manoel, one of the best surviving baroque theatres in Europe. During the afternoon we will visit Casa Rocca Piccola, the home of the Marquis de Piro and his family and see the audio-visual presentation ‘The Malta Experience’ which reveals the island’s dramatic history. Our day ends with a visit to Fort St. Elmo. The fort was built by the Knights in 1552 to guard the harbours on either side of the Sceberras Peninsula. After restoration, it reopened in 2015, and now contains the National War Museum, which covers Malta's wartime history including the Great Siege and the country's ordeal during WWII. NB. The Grand Master’s Palace is closed for restoration until further notice.

DAY 3 - THE TEMPLES

Today is devoted to prehistory. We will visit the second oldest stone structures in the world including the recently reopened Hypogeum, a subterranean burial site, and the temples of Tarxien, Hagar Qim and Mnajdra which enable us to trace the development of temple building on Malta. Lunch is included in a picturesque fishing village.

DAY 4 - GOZO

We sail across the narrow strait to Gozo, a verdant island of fertile farmland, picturesque villages and monumental Baroque churches. We visit the prehistoric temples at Ggantija and continue to the capital, Victoria, where we walk around the fortifications. After an included lunch, we follow a scenic route to the charming fishing village of Xlendi.

DAY 5 - A HARBOUR CRUISE & MDINA

Today we take a Harbour Cruise on board a traditional Maltese ‘Luzzu’ and, from the Grand Harbour, we can fully appreciate the remarkable fortifications of Valletta. We enjoy a walking tour of Malta's first capital Mdina, known as ‘The Silent City,’ with its aristocratic town palaces, Baroque Cathedral and its special atmosphere within narrow mediaeval streets, and enjoy lunch at the Xara Palace Hotel.

DAY 6 - RETURN TO THE UK

The morning is free for you to relax before we drive to the airport for the flight back to the UK.