Malta City break
Day One
From the airport we headed straight to Mdina, Malta’s medieval city and backdrop for all you Games of Thrones fan! The history of Mdina and its suburb Rabat is as old and as chequered as the history of Malta itself. The origins can be traced back to more than 4,000 years. It is still home to Malta’s noble families and impressive palaces that line its shady and narrow streets. Mdina is one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city and unusual in its mix of medieval and Baroque architecture. Lamplit by night, it transforms itself into the “Silent City”. A great way to see this city is to take a Segway tour!
After a quick lunch stop at Gululu restaurant in Spinola bay, located right on the water’s edge we head for our hotel The Westin Dragonara Resort in St Julian’s. A fantastic 5-star hotel right on the sea. Rooms were large and spacious, and the balcony was lovely and enclosed. A great hotel for family/friends or business. Easily walkable into town too where there are a selection of bars and restaurants.
Day 2
This morning we headed off to The Three Cities. The Three Cities are a collective description of the three fortified cities of Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua. The oldest of the three cities is Birgu, which has existed since the middle ages. The other two cities, Senglea and Cospicua were both founded by the order of Saint John in the 16th and 17th Centuries. On arrival we had a lovely little trip on a traditional Maltese fishing boat called a Luzzus (pronounced Luttsu). They are usually painted in bright colours and have existed since ancient times. It was great to see the cities from the water as it gave a different perspective. After the boat trip we enjoyed a Rolling Geeks Tour of the three cities. The Rolling Geeks are little electric cars like golf buggies that you self-drive around the narrow lanes, It’s the best way to explore the cities. Not only do you drive yourself, but they talk to you too, giving you a guided tour en route as well as directions! You can even take a selfie too! I highly recommend, they were such fun.
Our next stop was Valletta, a beautiful city which is encased in a fortress of sandstone. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to elegant winding streets, stunning historical monuments and an increasing number of luxury boutique hotels. In 2018 it earned the accolade of being the European Capital of Culture.
Places of interest to visit in Valletta:
St Johns Co-Cathedral – a magnificent Cathedral with a jaw dropping interior and the home of the only signed work and largest painting by Caravaggio.
Casa Rocca Piccola – a 16th century palace that provides a unique insight in to the customs and traditions of the Maltese nobility over the last 400yrs. The house is furnished by a historical collection of furniture, silver and paintings.
Upper Barrakka Gardens – a beautiful public garden that offer a stunning panoramic view of the Grand Harbour. It dates back to 1661 when it was a private garden of the Italian Knights.
Palazzo Parisio – a magnificent Palace with its beautiful surrounding gardens. One of Malta’s most opulent aristocratic home. It was acquired by Marquis Giuseppe Scicluna in the middle of the 19th century from the Arision family. It’s one of the premier heritage attractions in Malta.
Day 3
Today we visited the beautiful Island of Gozo, a 30-minute ferry ride from Malta. It looked gorgeous on arrival, calm seas, stunning bays, cliffs rising from the water, beautiful sandy beaches, untouched countryside dotted with villages, churches, farmsteads and the oldest known human structures in the world - a relaxing contrast from the hustle of the city.
We firstly visited the Ggantija Temples in Xaghra. They are the oldest freestanding monuments in the world, created 1,000 years before the famous Egyptian pyramids of Giza. The temple builders used locally available stone, hard coralline limestone for external walls and the softer globigerina limestone for the sheltered interiors.
Next on the agenda was a visit to Ramla Bay, known in Maltese as Ramla il Hamra (Red Sands), it’s the biggest sandy beach on Gozo, the surrounding area is beautifully undeveloped too, except for a couple of small cafes behind the beach selling food and drinks. So, if you’re looking for a picturesque sandy beach to relax on for the day then you must head here!
Next, we headed to Victoria, known to the Maltese as Rabat, Gozos capital city. It was named in 1887 in honour of Queen Victoria during her jubilee year. In the heart of Victoria is a small fortified city and citadel, it has been inhabited since the bronze age and in the medieval era it was known as the Gran Castello.
Our next stop was a visit to the Ta Mena Estate to experience wine tasting and to meet the owner. He was great, he showed us and talked us through the whole process of wine production from the initial grape stage to the final bottle of wine on the table! The wine was delicious, as have all the Maltese wines we’ve sampled (unfortunately, they do not export their wine) and we got to taste it with a banquet of local produce from the farm too, including a selection of cheese and meats.
Day 4
Making the most of our final morning we stop off at the village of Marsaxlokk on the way to the airport. A lovely fishing village with markets and cafes all along the key side, a great place to people watch. It’s been a fantastic and educational few days for me and I’ve a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Restaurant recommendation:
We visited some fantastic restaurants whilst we were there too. By far my favourite was Il Kartell Restaurant, right on the water’s edge in Marsalforn, Gozo. If you are ever in the area you must visit!
Useful Info: Currency: Euro Language: Maltese and English Adapter: the three-pin rectangular plug system is used as in the UK & Ireland Emergency services: 112
If you’d like help planning your next break, please do get in touch, I’d be happy to help