If you have booked your vacation to Malta this year you should know that in addition to the crystal clear sea on the island you can find many treasures that can fill your days with unforgettable emotions. So that you don’t risk missing out on any hidden places here are our tips on the 5 attractions you should not miss during your visit to Malta.
Valletta
If you’ve booked your hotel in Malta’s capital city, all the better, you’re already on the spot, but if you’ve chosen to stay overnight in other locations, you can’t help but treat yourself to a trip to Valletta. In fact, the city, which you can reach by visiting the eastern part of the island, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can only imagine the amount of architectural monuments and artistic works that are jealously enclosed within its borders.
Malta has in fact been dominated over the centuries by so many peoples and by absorbing their cultures it has become a unique place in the world for the multiculturalism of its artistic expressions. Can’t believe it? We assure you that during your visit you will be amazed by the variety of styles of buildings that mix Baroque features with neoclassical, modern and Renaissance elements.
Enjoying a walk through its streets you can visit the imposing Cathedral of St. John the best known and most important building in the city. But don’t stop there, as you continue your tour you will also see the Palace of the Grand Master, the structure where the employees of the parliament work. If you still have time on your hands, also drop in to visit Museum of Fine Arts.
Medina
Medina is not only the title of a Pino Daniele album, also called by its older name Medina, it is also the old capital of the island of Malta. This locality is also known as the Silent City or Old Town because of its low population and its history, which you might think is 4,000 years old. Medina is not far from Valletta to get there in fact you have to travel only 13 kilometers, also for this reason it becomes a must-see destination for your itinerary. As you enter the city you will encounter the Medina Gate, that is the only access point you can pass through to reach the city center. Here you will admire St. Paul’s Cathedral, the ancient forum of Medina and some very elegant buildings. You have to know in fact that the city had been home to the nobles of the island and so walking through its streets, you will therefore have the opportunity to see the old palaces that belonged to the ancient lineages. Also here as in the present capital you will be able to notice that the various architectural styles are encountered in the structures of the buildings that mix Baroque and Medieval taste.
Rabat
We reveal another curiosity, Medina in the past, before the Arabs decided to separate them, was united with what has now become another city: Rabat. Therefore, during your visit to the island of Malta, you cannot fail to visit this small town as well; to give it up would mean missing out on a great piece of history. Legend has it that this town was the place where St. Paul back in 60 AD gave birth to the first Christian community on the island. The strong Catholic imprint is also visible by the presence of a cave and catacombs that are typical constructions of the Christian religion. Rabat is not only a point of interest for its religious history, you can also find two museums in the city: the Wignacourt Museum dedicated to art and antiques and the Domus Romana the museum witnessing Roman and Arab history.
The Temples of Mnajdra and Hagae Qim
If you are a lover of ancient history, indeed prehistory almost, head across the island to the west coast to visit the Temples of Mnajdra and that of Hagae Qim studded with megalithic stones that immediately bring back an evocative imagery of the past and mystery. The two megalithic sites are even less recent than the more famous Stonehenge, despite their little celebrity they have nevertheless been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their incredible historical significance. The temple at Hagae QUinn is littered with huge boulders that, it has been estimated, can weigh as much as twenty tons. How, then, is it possible for these stones to have been moved and shaped? It remains a mystery that remains to be discovered. To reach the temple of Mnajdra you have to take a short walk of five hundred meters, don’t lose heart though, the path to walk is another marvel that will take your breath away with its panorama overlooking the sea. The archaeological site of Mnajdra is different from that of Hagae, here the questions you will ask will no longer be about the mechanisms of moving the stones but rather you will wonder: what was the purpose of these constructions? It is speculated that this complex was used as an astronomical observatory. In fact, the position of the temples was designed so that the sun could illuminate the interior of the structures only during certain days those of equinox and solstice. That the two sites were connected for the performance of special religious ceremonies and rites? Who can say.
Gozo
To visit this small island 5 km away from Malta you will have to take the ferry, but you will not regret it. Gozo’s beauty lies in its unspoiled purity. In fact, walking along its rural paths will fill your heart with peace and tranquility. As in neighboring Malta you can also find evidence of very ancient history here, we are talking about the Temples of Ggantija. Legend has it that the limestone constructions were even built by giants. The magic of the island does not stop here, Gozo’s nature also welcomes the Cave of Calypso, which according to tradition was home to Odysseus.
The island of Malta is full of history, tradition and folklore. Between a dip in its crystal-clear sea and an aperitif on the beach, don’t forget to discover its culture, you’ll get your fill of emotions and suggestions. Follow our advice, you will not regret it.
