TTG
24th- 27thOctober
Itinerary
Monday24thOctober
Departure from London Gatwick Airport 06:25 TBC
Arrival at the Malta International Airport 10:35 TBC
Meet guide at arrivals lounge
Proceed to Le Meridien Hotel in St. Julian’s for check-in
Showaround at Popeye’s Village in Mellieha (21524782)
Meet Mr. Joseph Borg for a showaround of Popeye’s Village.
Proceed for a drive through and stop at Golden Sands Beach in Ghajn Tuffieha
Golden Sands is the most frequented beach next to Mellieha Bay. Its a large stretch of tawny sands and is also an ideal location for a beach wedding.
Meeting with MC Adventures to explain the activities they offer
Proceed for a drive through and stop at Dingli Cliffs
The cliffs are an impressive sight, especially if viewed from sea level on an island cruise. They are the Island’s natural fortress, one bastion the Knights did not have to build to protect themselves. From the cliff tops, one of the most striking views and sheerest drops is just west of Dingli village. Another impressive view is over to the uninhabited isle of Filfla. The tiny chapel of St. Mary Magdalene perched on the edge, marks the highest point on the Maltese Islands, some 250 metres above sea level.
Segway Tour
Lunch
Visit Mdina Glass in Ta Qali (21415786)
Proceed to Mdina Tour
Mdina was Malta’s first capital city during the time of the Knights of Malta, and also a colonial settlement of Imperial Rome. It has been nicknamed The Silent City and its mix of medieval and baroque architecture, fortification walls and location on high grounds make it one of the most enchanting places on the island.
Wine tasting session
Return to Hotel
Dinner
Tuesday25thOctober
Meet guide at hotel lobby
Proceed to Valletta – Capital City Tour
Valletta, Malta’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage City, is nothing short of an open-air museum. It is a living experience of baroque architecture, a monument donated by the Knights of St. John nearly five centuries ago. Throughout the years, Valletta has welcomed Emperors, Heads of States, artists and poets and is now the permanent seat of the Maltese government. Dotted with quaint cafes and wine bars, the city is today one of Malta’s main tourist attractions, hosting among others, the majestic St. John’s Co-Cathedral, imposing bastions and a treasure of priceless paintings. It also provides a stunning snapshot of Malta’s Grand Harbour, often described as the most beautiful in the Mediterranean.
The city’s unique setting nowadays plays host to a series of cultural events, from theatre in English, to concerts by leading opera singers. A hive of business activity during the day, the city switches to a slower gear for the night. For more information regarding events browse on
Visit Fort St. Elmo and National War Museum
The National War Museum, hosted by Forst St. Elmo, houses a superb collection of items which takes us back to prehistoric times. The items are displayed in chronological order and start with the early phases of the Bronze Age around 2,500 B.C.
Show around of Casa Rocca Piccola
This is Valletta’s lived in house museum. The house belongs to the noble De Piro family. The small palazzo, built in 1850 is a window to Maltese domestic culture of yesteryear. Two Second War bomb shelters are situated below the Palazzo. The public bomb shelter, inside a large medieval well, was used to celebrate mass on Sundays. The private bomb shelter was excavated for the exclusive use of the residents of Casa Rocca Piccola.
Walk through St. George’s Square (Misrah San George) or Palace Square. The Square has been freshly turned from a car park into an open space for the satisfaction of the Maltese people and tourists who visit Valletta.
The main attraction in this Square is a modern fountain, built as a tribute to the original fountain which formerly transported water to the city via Alof de Wignacourts’ Aqueduct. Contrary to its original form however, the fountain has now been positioned underground thus providing the necessary space for any activities being organized in the Square.
The fountain highlights the use of modern technology in the antique perspective of the Palace Square. The fountain, built under the custody of Conrad Casha is a tour de force of contemporary artistic engineering. At certain times one can witness a magnificent display of synchronised fountain lightning, dancing water and live music.
Visit the Palace State Rooms and the Palace Armoury
The site of the Grandmaster's Palace was originally an Auberge d'Italie. The Auberge was built in 1570 on the design of Girolamo Cassar. This was also the house of Eustachio del Monte, a nephew of Grandmaster Jean Parisot de Valette, founder of the city. Over the years, the Palace was enlarged and developed by successive Grandmasters to serve as their official residence.
Lunch
Visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral
This splendid church was built between 1573 and 1577 during the reign of Gran Master Jean de la Cassiere. A baroque work of art in its architecture and sculptures, this Church boasts some of the most beautiful works of art by Mattia Preti and Caravaggio himself.
Visit Manoel Theatre and Museum (21246389)
Manoel Theatre is a historical monument of global importance and a living temple to the performing arts. Built in 1731 by order of Grandmaster Anton Manoel de Vilhena, whose name it still bears, it remains today one of the finest examples of theatre architecture in Europe.
Visit Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery
These gardens occupy the elevated space on the ramparts of St. Peter and St. Paul Bastion. The garden was laid down in the mid 17th century to provide a peaceful retreat for the pastime and relaxation of the Knights.
Take lift from Upper Barrakka Gardens down to Customs House and walk to visit the Valletta Waterfront
The Valletta Waterfront is also the gateway to Malta’s capital city, Valletta – a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen. In fact, as one of the most successful Mediterranean ports, the Port of Valletta welcomes more than half-a-million cruise passengers into this open air museum.
All this comes with an added bonus: the majestic setting within the Grand Harbour, a natural deep water port, and for many thousands of years the epicentre of Malta’s maritime activity; a truly exceptional and outstanding backdrop.
Return to Hotel
Free evening to visit St. Julian’s area which is just five to ten minutes walk.
Wednesday 26thOctober
Meet guide xxxx at hotel lobby
Proceed to Cirkewwa for GozoTour
The name Gozo means ‘Joy.’ This was given by the Aragonese when the Island fell under their possession in 1282. It was derived from the Phoenicians (700BC) who called the Island Gaulos and from the Romans who retained the name until the subsequent Arab rule, when it was changed into the local pronunciation ‘Ghawdex’ – pronounced ‘audesh.’
The charm of Gozo is apparent the moment you arrive there. It’s greener, more rural and smaller than Malta. Life on Gozo moves at a leisurely pace. The rhythms dictated by the seasons, fishing and agriculture. Gozo is steeped in myth and to the legendary Calypso’s isle of Homer’s Odyssey, it’s a peaceful, mystical backwater. Gozo also comes complete with historical sites, forts and amazing panoramas.
Ferry to Gozo (approx 25 minutes)
Proceed to Dwejra
The Azure Window is an impressive natural arch standing some twenty meters high.
The Inland Sea is a secluded bathing pool with crystal clear waters and surrounded by sheer cliffs. A small tunnel connects it to the open sea.
The Fungus Rock atop this 60 metre monolith, also known as the General’s Rock, grows a rare tubular plant that was believed to cure dysentery and many other illnesses.
Lunch
Proceed for a walk through the streets of Victoria and the Citadel
Victoria - also known asRabator by its titleCittà Victoria - is the capital city ofGozo. The area around the town, situated on a hill near the centre of the island, has been settled sinceNeolithictimes. Victoria is the name given by theBritishgovernment on the occasion ofQueen Victoria'sGolden Jubilee, at the request of the Bishop of Malta, Mons. Sir Pietro Pace.
The Citadel has been at the centre of activity on the island since possibly Neolithic times, and was certainly fortified during the Bronze Age around 1500 BC. It was later developed by the Phoenicians and in Roman times, it was a complex Acropolis. Gozo was a privileged Roman Municipality, independent ofMaltaand the Citadel was the centre of its administrative as well as its military and religious life, an important temple to the goddess Juno stood where the Cathedral now stands.
Visit Ggantija Temples in Xaghra
These are the oldest freestanding structures in the world and potentially Gozo’s most marketable landmark. Excavated from 1816-1820, the complex comprises of 2 Neolithic temples dating from the third millennium BC (c.3500BC) – 7,000 years ago.
Visit Nadur Belvedere Point and Kenuna Tower
The new Gozitan Garden at Kenuna makes this area a must-see for all visitors. From here one can enjoy one of the most magnificent views in the Maltese islands.
Proceed to Mgarr ix-Xini
Located on Gozo’s south coast is one of the island’s quietest and most picturesque bays. Reputed to be one of the harbours used by the Knights galleys, the bay is the natural seaward estuary of a deep and beautiful valley. The small pebbly beach is extremely peaceful and sheltered from the prevailing north western winds. The bay is also a popular diving site, and featured as the backdrop of Brad Pitt and Angelina’s movie – By the Sea.
Ferry to Malta (approx 25 minutes)
Return to Hotel
Thursday27thOctober
Check-out from Le Meridien Hotel in St. Julian’s
Meet guide at hotel lobby
Proceed to the Three Cities
These small cities go by the names of Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua. They are popularly known as the Three Cities, a term which was first used during the French occupation, when Napoleon decreed that Malta was to be divided into a number of administrative units.
Vittoriosa is Malta’s Maritime city; when the Order of the Knights of St. John settled in Malta in 1530, they chose Vittoriosa as their city, and the Grandmaster settled in Fort St. Angelo which lies on the tip of the Vittoriosa promontory. The Fort later became HMS St. Angelo, when Malta was to become the naval base of the British Mediterranean Fleet between 1814 and 1964.
Birgu
Vittoriosa, one of the Three Cities of the Cottonera District, is still rich in history despite the damage suffered in the bombing of World War Two. Originally known as Birgu – (derived from ‘Borgo’ the Mediterranean term for a coastal village under the shelter of a fort or castle) - its honorific name of Vittoriosa was granted as a result of its victorious stand in the Great Siege of 1565.
Couvre Porte
The Couvre Porte was a complex system of gateways through which one could gain access into Vittoriosa.
Collachio area
The Collachio area in the old quarter, where the Knights had their inns or auberges, is the most quaint part of Vittoriosa.
Visit the Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu
The Inquisitor’s Palace is one of the very few surviving palaces of its kind,though in the early modern period could be found all over Europe and South America. Many of these palaces simply succumbed to the ravages of time or were victims of the anti-reactionary power unleashed by the French Revolution. Fortunately, the Maltese Inquisitor’s Palace always hosted high-ranking officials representing the main powers on the islandthroughout its five centuries of history, who therefore ensured its survival.
Rolling Geeks
Proceed to Marsaxlokk - the fishing village
The foremost fishing village and perhaps the most picturesque seaside locality in Malta. Here one can admire the small fishing craft - Luzzu and Kajjik - painted in vivid colours of red, yellow, green and blue floating lightly on the calm waters of the bay.
Visit Mnajdra & Hagar Qim Temples in Qrendi
This temple, tucked in a hollow in the cliffs on Malta’s southern coast, is probably the most atmospheric of all Malta’s temples. It lies in an isolated position on a rugged stretch of coast over-looking the isle of Fifla and just 500m from another principle temple site, Hagar Qim. The surrounding area is designated a Heritage Park.
Proceed to the Malta International Airport
Departure of flight 16:30. Land at LGW 18:45 TBC
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