Holidays to Malta

The Maltese islands are steeped in 7,000 years of history. From the megalithic temples of the Neolithic period to Malta’s important role in the Second World War, the country’s occupation under many different powers has left its imprint on this popular holiday destination. Look out for last minute flights to the historic capital of Valletta and make the most out of your Mediterranean getaway. Five top historic sites to see include:

Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples

Hagar Qim and Mnajdra are two of Malta’s megalithic temple complexes usually visited together as they are only 500 metres apart. The limestone temples date back to the fourth century BC and are among the most ancient religious sites in the world. Hagar Qim was used for animal sacrifice and ritual oracles, and statuettes of deities have also been uncovered. Mnajdra is thought to have been used as a place to observe astronomy, and possibly heal illness and promote fertility.

Mdina Old City

Located 6 miles west of Valletta is the beautiful walled city of Mdina which stands high on a plateau over the island. At the grand age of 3,000 the city is a medley of Roman, Norman and Baroque architecture and the Roman governor liked the town so much he decided to make it the political capital of the country. You can join a guided tour to help navigate the narrow cobbled streets or pick up an audio-tour and explore the area alone, which is mostly residential and still home to some of the old aristocratic families.

St. John’s Co Cathedral

From 1530-1798 Malta was ruled over by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights of Malta. The Knights were keen on elevating the cultural impact of the country, commissioning artists such as Caravaggio and Favray to decorate the churches and palaces. St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta was built by the Knights in the 1570s and despite its deceivingly plain exterior is an obscenely ornate Baroque treasure trove inside. Here Caravaggio’s masterpiece The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist is displayed, the only one of his paintings to have been signed.

The Grandmasters Palace

This Palace in Valletta has been the ruling elites’ office since the sixteenth century. Although it is still a government building parts of the Palace are open to the public, including the State Rooms, Armoury and Tapestry Chamber. As we have seen, the Knights didn’t do things by halves, and the Palace lives up to expectations with its intricately decorated interior and beautiful collection of Gobelin tapestries. They also have some pretty swanky armour you can take a look at.

strong>Casa Rocca Piccola

Still occupied by a noble Maltese family today, the palace of Casa Rocca Piccola is another of the Knights’ excellent attempts at showing off, and has been home to some of Malta’s most famous families ever since. You can tour some of the rooms and the network of underground passages below, including a well used to shelter people from the bombings of the Second World War.

BIO

Katherine Conlon likes to a get a feel for the history of the places she visits, and seeks out the bits which reveal something about the culture in different areas of the globe. She has travelled in four different continents and is looking forward to exploring the rest.