The History &
Heritage of Malta

Day 1 – Sliema

Scheduled flight to Malta from your preferred airport – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 4* Preluna Hotel at Sliema.

Day 2 – Guided tour of Valletta & Grand Harbour cruise

Guided tour of Valletta, the capital city of Malta built by the Knights of St John, taking in the Upper Barrakka Gardens for a panoramic view of the Grand Harbour, the beautiful St John’s Cathedral to see the famous Caravaggio painting ‘The Beheading of St John’ and the Grandmaster’s Palace, home to the parliament and the offices of the President of Malta – in the afternoon enjoy a Grand Harbour cruise, taking in the two natural harbours on either side of Valetta.

Day 3 – Guided tour of Mdina, Catacombs of St Paul & Church of St Mary in Mosta

Guided tour of Mdina, the ancient capital city of Malta, takes in the defence bastions dating back to the 9th century and St Peter and St Paul’s Cathedral – continue to Rabat to see the famous Catacombs of St Paul, used in Roman times to bury the dead and as a secret meeting place by early Christians – the Church of St Mary in Mosta, built in 1860, is renowned for its dome which is the third largest in Europe.

Day 4 – Temples of Tarxien, Ghar Dalam & Hagar Qim

The three Megalithic Temples of Tarxien, first discovered in 1915 and dating back to 3000 BC, are notable for their fine workmanship and decorative carvings – Ghar Dalam, ‘the Cave of Darkness’, contains the earliest evidence of human settlement on Malta, some 7,400 years ago – Hagar Qim is a prehistoric temple overlooking the islet of Filfia, the most southerly point of the Maltese Archipelago.

Day 5 – Island of Gozo, The Citadel & the Ggantija Temples

Ferry from Cirkewwa to the island of Gozo, the legendary abode of the beautiful nymph Calypso, daughter of Atlas – Calypso’s Cave, commanding breathtaking views of the red sands of Ramla Bay, is thought to be that referred to by Homer in ‘The Odyssey’ where Calypso kept Odysseus as a ‘prisoner of love’ for seven years – at the fortified Citadel in Gozo’s capital, Victoria, we visit St Mary’s Cathedral, erected shortly after the earthquake of 1693 – the Ggantija Temples is one of the most important archaeological sites in Malta and older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids.

Day 6 – Sliema

Morning free at leisure before we transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.

Five nights on half board basis at the 4* Preluna Hotel at Sliema, just to the north of Valetta and only 10km from the Airport. Located along the promenade, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, and swimming pool. All allocated sea view rooms are en suite.

Single room supplement £99

Insurance

Entrance fees to places of interest

Audio headphones

Gratuities

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