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12-Day Malta
Let us take you on a journey to the land that has been sought after, conquered, and celebrated as the jewel of the Mediterranean for over 5000 years. Malta, and its islands Gozo and Comino, have an illustrious history stretching back to the temple builders, Phoenicians, Arabs, Knights of Malta, French and finally British rule leading to its modern day independence. It is a little known fact that the oldest free standing structures in the world are found in Malta – one thousand years older than the pyramids of Egypt. Adding to its significant history marked by palaces, fortifications, cathedrals and other landmarks, exist a plethora of quaint villages, beaches, countryside walks and a culture that is sure to warm you.
Day 1, Sunday & Day 2, Monday
Our flight will be departing home in the afternoon. We'll have plenty of time to make our way to the gate while in Paris for our departure to Malta at 10:15am. Knowing that we'll likely be a bit tired, I have arranged for us to enjoy their dinner buffet so you can go on your own time during the dinner hour. We will be transported to our host hotel by shuttle.
While on the island of Malta, the Five Star Le Meridien Hotel will be your home for 7 nights. A seamless check in awaits you as you get used to your surroundings. Take the afternoon off with a rest and or leisurely walk around the resort property.
Day 3 – Tuesday
For your first full day in Malta, awaken to the sounds of the sea and the anticipation of what the capital city, Valletta, has to offer. Enjoy breakfast at the resort followed by transportation to Valletta where you will learn about the landmark city that the Knights of Malta built. Most of the touring today will be by foot, so be prepared with comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing. Enter the majestic gates of Malta as you learn about its history, and the Auberges of the Knights. You will visit the Lower Barrakka Gardens en route to the Upper Barrakka Gardens. In order to set the appropriate tone for today’s touring, you will watch the high definition production of the Malta Experience. Just across from the Malta Experience was the Infirmary of the Knights. Built in 1574, it provided about 900 beds for patients who included knights, soldiers, sailors and foreigners. Being Hospitallers, the original functions of the Knights was to care for the poor, sick or injured pilgrims to the Holy Land.
Stroll down Valletta’s main street, Republic Street, en route to the famous Cafe Cordina where you will meet a family member who will tell you about his/her family history and specialties that they offer. Sample from an array of food items as you enjoy lunch in the gorgeous Piazza Regina on own. A short walk from Cafe Cordina will bring us to the unassuming St. John’s Co-Cathedral – the Church of the Knights of Malta. Inside you will discover a treasure trove of magnificent art and the opulence of the vaulted ceilings and tombstone flooring. It is here that perhaps the most famous work of art of famed artist Caravaggio is displayed - “The Beheading of St. John the Baptist” – which is his only signed piece in the world. From here, we gather to venture back to the hotel to relax and freshen up for dinner with wine at a special restaurant on the outskirts of Rabat. Complimentary admission to the Grand Master’s Palace Armoury is also included for you to explore at your leisure.
Day 4 – Wednesday
Our third day will have you traversing some of the less travelled streets in Valletta and visiting the iconic Three Cities of Malta. Your morning begins with an immersion into village life with a stop in Qormi to visit a traditional bakery followed by a taste of a traditional Maltese ftira. Every Mediterranean country has its unique shape and form of bread. They also have their own fillings. The Maltese opt for vegetarian or fish fillings and the bread is a disc-shaped semi flat bread that has a glorious texture. The restaurant that we will be dining in has brought back many of the traditional flavours of Malta right under one roof.
The early afternoon will have you visiting the Three Cities. These towns extending towards Valletta and dividing the Grand Harbour into deep inlets, are known historically with different names but those most commonly used today are Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua. The Three Cities were the centre for the Knights of Malta’s naval operations and it continued to be an important hive of activity as the base of the British fleet in the Mediterranean.
You will discover sites such as the Maritime Museum, significant military forts, and the iconic watchtower. We will return to the hotel by 4pm for you to enjoy the hotel amenities or venture out and explore the area.
Day 5 – Thursday
Step back in time – specifically over 5000 years ago as you visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temple builders have left their significant mark on the island with a multitude of temple sites. The two sites you will be visiting this morning are the Hypogeum and the Tarxien Temples. Consisting of halls, chambers and passages hewn out of the living rock and covering some 500m2, the Hypogeum’s rock-cut chambers are of diverse shapes and sizes and finished to different standards of workmanship. It was only discovered by accident in 1902 with its deepest room in the lower level being 10.6 metres under the road surface. The Tarxien Temples, also a World Heritage Site dating from 3600 to 2500 BC, is the most complex of all temple sites in Malta and consists of four megalithic structures. The temples are renowned for the detail of their carvings, which include domestic animals carved in relief, altars, and screens decorated with spiral designs and other patterns.
We will then venture to the majestic cliffs of Dingli for some amazing view. Make sure your camera is full charged for the magnificent views. The village lies on a plateau some 250 metres above sea level, which is one of the highest points of Malta. The area provides not only open sea views over the tiny, uninhabited isle of Filfla, but is also a good vantage point over Malta. A lunch will follow at a local restaurant.
Our afternoon will have us visiting Rabat and Mdina (the Silent City). 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 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. Next, discover the Domvs Romana (Roman Villa) where the mosaic pavements rank among the finest and oldest compositions from the western Mediterranean, alongside those of Pompeii and Sicily. Other attractions include Muslim tombstones, a draped female statue, a tiny bone baby rattle and decorative architecture.
An authentic treat awaits you as we enter the Old City, Mdina, also known as the Silent City. As a prelude to dinner, enjoy an aperitif on the bastions before being “lead” through the narrow medieval streets to our host restaurant for a delectable evening of food and wine. You will fall in love with Mdina inasmuch as the families who continue to live here throughout their generations.
Day 6
With Mdina fresh in your mind, we will travel to the Silent City for some self exploration. Mdina is an entirely different experience during the day. We investigate Mdina through fun and intriguing challenges. Lunch suggestions include the panoramic Fontanella Tea Garden or the sumptuous Xara Palace Trattoria. Following lunch, we’ll travel to the Ta’Qali Craft Village for some shopping with a specific stop at Valletta Glass to see some fine works of art being made right before your eyes. Shortly before World War II, the area was used to build a military aerodrome and a station for the Royal Air Force. Many of the former military huts and buildings have been converted into workshops where Maltese Craftsmen produce their handiwork.
We’ll make a quaint stop at San Anton Gardens in Attard which is next to the Presidential Palace. Establish by the 54st Grand Master of the Knights of St. John, it serves as a beautiful retreat animals and humans alike.
The city of Mosta is our next stop and it is here where you will discover the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and its significant connection with World War II. It is here that a German bomb dropped through the rotunda unexploded as parishioners prayed. Based on the Pantheon in Rome, the rotunda or dome is the 3rd largest in Europe and the 9th largest in the world.
To cap off your day, we journey to Naxxar to Palazzo Parisio and Gardens, an 18th century palace, a treasure trove of delightful artefacts and a beloved family home. Located in the heart of picturesque Naxxar, this stately home is a place of wonder that begs to be explored. On your visit you will discover the intricate nuances of Malta’s historic nobility and their enchanting way of life. Touring this stately home offers great insight and sparks the imagination – whether you find yourself seeking inspiration from the grand Ballroom, the detailed Family Chapel or the fabulous walled Gardens and Orangery, you’ll find it. After some touring, bask in a High Tea experience before venturing back to the hotel and other selected drop offs.
Day 7 – Saturday
With some touring under your belt, today is yours to explore. Consider the following options:
Relax at Le Meridien and walk the Strand
Lay on one of the many beaches around Malta
Stroll down Republic St. and shop along Market St. in Valletta
Visit museums in Valletta
Take a sightseeing cruise around the island
Consider shopping in Paceville or Tigne Point in Sliema
Visit the nearby Dragonara Casino
We will encourage travellers to visit Valletta this evening as it is Notte Bianca - the fantastic arts festival that takes over the entire city. It's magical! There will be an additional cost for transportation for this.
Day 8 – Sunday
A tradition every Sunday morning is the return of the fisherman to sell their catch. You will travel to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk to observe the fish market but not before having an interesting encounter while overlooking the splendid array of Maltese fishing boats. A traditional fish lunch awaits you with options for those who do not each fish. Following lunch, we will return to the hotel with select drop offs on the way. We will be departing the hotel together for a light dinner at a Maltese Band Club followed by a Maltese Festa Experience.
The Maltese band clubs have their roots in the sixteenth century when drums and flutes accompanied feasts and processions, but the idea of forming philharmonic societies started in the second part of the 19th century, under the influence of the marching bands of the British Empire. Virtually every town and village in Malta has its own parish band club – some even more than one. Today, band clubs are part of the social and cultural history of the Maltese islands, an institution of every town and village, spreading Maltese culture and teaching of music. As you will see this evening, Band Clubs play an integral part in Village Festas or Feasts.
We will travel to the small town of Gudja for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Be in the moment for a spectacular display of faith, and music - staples of all Maltese festas. Be engaged and follow the procession through the streets of Gudja!
Day 9 – Monday
Pack your bags as you head North to St. Paul’s Bay, Buggiba, Mgarr and Mellieha. Mgarr is one of the few remaining rural villages in Malta what still has a pronounced agricultural community. The typical rural landscape with terraced fields hosts a variety of interesting features that make this locality unique. The strong roots of olive cultivation in the Maltese Islands are evident here and it is here that you will travel to an olive grove where you will taste some extra virgin olive oil together with lunch and entertainment. The rural village of Mellieha is located in the Northwest part of Malta. Its name is likely to have been derived from the Greek word “Melleca” meaning honey. Remains of the prehistory, a red painted Tower and the sheltered church courtyard will give a historic dimension to the tour combined with breath taking views overlying the rocky shore.
From Mellieha, we travel to Cirkewwa to board the Gozo Channel Ferry for the island of Gozo where we will spend the next 3 nights. Gozo affords a certain charm and tranquility that sets it apart from the main island. Before checking into our hotel we will visit the Azure Window - a coastal landmark that features a bridge or table-like rock that reaches across the sea to an eroded pillar. Our host hotel is the rustic feeling Cornucopia Hotel. When you look out from the hotel, you will see a land that is very different from the Island of Malta. You will wonder if you are in Tuscany or perhaps Rio – the views are spectacular. A group dinner with wine is included this evening. Take the rest of the evening to only dream of what awaits you tomorrow.
Day 10 – Tuesday
On this day, you will discover Gozo’s splendour. The production of sea salt has a long tradition in Gozo and the saltpans found near Marsalforn are still used today. You will arrive after breakfast to watch the salt being collected as it glistens under the sun. You then travel to a local farm to learn of Gozitan dairy production. You’ll have a hands-on opportunity in the collection of goat milk; you only live once! After our farm visit you will venture to the capital of Gozo for a leisurely walk through the village streets as we witness local people in their daily jobs en route to the Citadel. The Cidadel or Citadella is an area known to have been first fortified during the Bronze Age and later developed by the Phoenicians and continues development until, by Roman times, it had become a complex Acropolis. Up until the 18th Century, it was the only fortified refuge against attack for the inhabitants of the island. From here, you will experience a Gozitan cheese-making demonstration. The most popular cheese on all of Malta is called Gbejna and the very best comes from Gozo. Enjoy a traditional Gozitan platter lunch at a local restaurant. Like the Italians, Maltese enjoy a good game of bocce or lawn bowling. Join in on some fun at a local bocci club – perhaps even have an opportunity to challenge a Gozitan. Gozitan wine, while not widely distributed, is a true testament to the love that the islanders have of their land. Travel back to the Cornucopia hotel to freshen up before enjoying an included dinner in the village of Marsalforn.
Day 11 – Wednesday
Kick back and enjoy your adventure to Comino – the smallest of the inhabited islands of Malta. After breakfast, you will leave for the harbour and board our private boat to Comino. We will sail at 9:30am and arrive back on Gozo at 2:30pm. A picnic lunch is included on this day. Named after the cumin seed that once flourished in the Maltese islands, Comino is noted for its tranquility and isolation. It has a permanent population of only four residents. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the small island, its beach and the boat while docked. The crystal clear waters of Comino’s Blue Lagoon reflect the blue sky with a lovely cyan as well as let you see the pure white sand bottom of this part of the Mediterranean Sea. This long and narrow bay surrounded by rock and a bit of sand is almost like a pool, which makes it the ideal place for swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving or simply relaxing on the beach. Our last stop will be at the Ggantija Temples site - some of the oldest temples in the world. Enjoy your last evening in Gozo wherein we enjoy an especially prepared dinner by the hotels chefs!
Day 12 – Thursday
After breakfast at our hotel in Gozo, we will begin to make our way directly to the airport for our noon flight back to Toronto via Frankfurt. We trust that you will leave with fond memories of unbelievable experiences. Thank you for the opportunity to share our lovely island with you. We truly hope to see you again.