Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a unique site inscribed on the World Heritage List as ‘a site that bears a unique testimony to a cultural tradition which has disappeared’.

The Hypogeum is an enormous subterranean structure excavated c. 2500 B.C., using cyclopean rigging to lift huge blocks of coralline limestone. Perhaps originally a sanctuary, it became a necropolis in prehistoric times and was discovered in 1902 on a hill overlooking the innermost part of the Grand Harbour of Valletta, in the town of Paola. It is a unique prehistoric monument, which seems to have been conceived as an underground cemetery, originally containing the remains of about 7,000 individuals. It is the only prehistoric burial site which is accessible to the general public.

Paintings in red ochre, which decorate some of the walls within the site, are the oldest and only prehistoric paintings recorded on the Maltese Islands.

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Marsaxlokk is a colourful fishing village; where the Maltese traditional luzzu can be seen in large numbers on the sea. This south-eastern village dates back to the 9th Century B.C where the Phoenicians set up trade and later on in the years the Turkish fleet anchored during the Great Siege in 1565.

On an entertainment level, Marsaxlokk is rather diverse for a small fishing village. With an array of restaurants along the promenade serving fresh fish and traditional Maltese food, there’s always a reason to sit and eat while looking out at the picturesque bay.

A visit to Marsaxlokk on a Sunday reveals the area’s true vibrancy, with a fish market open to the public in the morning while freeing up your afternoon for a relaxing swim at St Peter’s Pool.

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The history of Mdina traces back more than 4000 years. According to tradition it was here that the Apostle St Paul is said to have lived in 60 A.D. after being shipwrecked on the Islands. Furthermore, it is said that St. Paul resided inside the grotto known as Fuori le Mura (Outside the City Walls) now known as St. Paul’s Grotto in Rabat. Lamp lit by night and referred to as the Silent City. Mdina is fascinating to visit for its timeless atmosphere as well as its cultural and religious treasures.

Mdina has had different names and titles depending on its rulers and its role but its medieval name describes it best: Citta` Notabile or The Noble City. It was home then, as now, to Malta’s noble families; some are descendants of the Norman, Sicilian and Spanish overlords who made Mdina their home from the 12th century onwards.

Mdina is one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city and extraordinary in its mix of medieval and baroque architecture. Impressive palaces line its narrow, shady streets.

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Apart from its place among the most magnificent Baroque churches in the world, St John’s Co-Cathedral is also an architectural metaphor for the Order of the Knights of St John, who built it between 1573 and 1578. The simple post-siege facade reflects the Knights’ military pragmatism, whilst the gilded vaults, painted ceilings, polychrome marble floors and general Baroque exuberance of the lavish interior reveal the sophistication, power and wealth of the Order. Angels, skeletons and other ethereal icons are inlaid with breath-taking precision and artistry into the marble quadrangles of the Co-Cathedral floor, a distinct theme or message in each section. The 405 tombs represented constitute a vibrant and festive procession that expounds upon both the inevitability of death and the rapture of the life beyond.

Attached to the church are the Oratory, which houses two magnificent paintings by Caravaggio; and the Museum, with valuable collections of vestments and books and Flemish Tapestries based on drawings by Rubens.

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The Three Cities is a collective description of the three fortified cities of Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua in Malta. 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 St John in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Three Cities are enclosed by the Cottonera Lines, along with several other fortifications. The term Cottonera is synonymous with the Three Cities, although it is sometimes taken to also include the nearby town of Kalkara. Together, the Three Cities have a total population of over 12,000 people.

In Birgu, the Knights of St. John established their first capital, and held the legendary siege of 1565, during which fewer than 8,000 men opposed a Turkish armada of more than 30,000 invaders for more than 4 months. The final victory inspired the renaming of Birgu in Vittoriosa and earned the Knights an honoured place in military history. Though the Order subsequently moved their base to Valletta, much of the architecture they established remains on view in the narrow and winding streets and thoroughfares. Birgu also boasts a resplendent and newly renovated marina waterfront with many cafes and restaurants.

The city of Senglea (Isla) commands inspiring views over the harbour towards Valletta, from Safe Haven Gardens at Senglea Point. The ample panorama also takes in Fort St. Angelo, a vigilant and imposing presence over nearby Birgu.The adjacent town of Cospicua, also known as Bormla, is restoring and developing its dockyard into a marina. Dock No1 will in fact host the campus of the American University of Malta.

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On the 13th of October 2012, Valletta was announced as The European City of Culture for 2018. This prestigious title reflects the incredibly rich cultural heritage of this Baroque masterpiece.

The fortified city, built by Jean Parisot de la Valette, a Grand Master of the Knights of St John, is dense with architectural and artistic examples of a storied past. But the honour bestowed on Valletta is more than an acknowledgement of its well-preserved past – Valletta is a living city with a vibrancy of its own. A brimming café culture, art installations and exhibits, open squares and a thriving market, all contribute to making Valletta much more than a living museum. Additionally, its myriad of museums – everything from Fine Art and culture to the popular Palace Armoury – provide plenty of scope for exploration, uncovering the secrets of this unique city.

The city is changing constantly, and nowhere is this clearer than the upgrading of Valletta’s entrance. This monumental project combines a redesigning of the city’s entrance gate with the building of a new, modern parliament. The work also includes the transformation of a historic theatre that has been abandoned since its devastation in World War Two, and the creation of a new square: Pjazza de Valette.

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