Magical Malta

Transfer to the hotel and check-in, followed by an evening walk around the area. Overnight.

After breakfast we head to the Three Cities, a unique ensemble of castles, houses and important buildings in a stunning setting on the Grand Harbour. We walk through glorious Birgu (Città Vittoriosa), the Knights' first capital and the scene of their victory over the Ottomans. After wandering its cobbled lanes, which take us back in time, we reach the waterfront with its wonderful view! We then head to the south of the island to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, with its famous market, Malta's fishing fleet and the colourful traditional luzzu boats. Next we visit Valletta, the famous capital of the Order of the Knights of St John, which we explore on foot, as cars are not allowed in the old town. It is a unique fortified city of great historical importance and boundless beauty. Passing through the Floriana Gate takes us back to the time of the Knights: stunning buildings, beautiful brightly painted wooden balconies, chapels and the impressive church of St Publius set the scene. We see the Triton Fountain and pass one of the grandest hotels in the Mediterranean, the Phoenicia, an excellent choice for a drink in its elegant setting. The entrance to the city has been redesigned by the great architect Renzo Piano. Valletta rises 70 metres above the sea, its walls and bastions, moats and battlements forming the picture of a medieval fortress city, European Capital of Culture in 2018, like nothing else in the world! Today we try to get as complete a picture as possible: the auberges (residences) of the Knights, the Opera House destroyed by bombing in the Second World War, Our Lady of Victories, the new Parliament and the Prime Minister's office are just some of the sights before we visit the Barrakka Gardens, one of the most beautiful spots in the capital with a stunning view of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. St John's Co-Cathedral, with its paintings by Caravaggio, will leave you speechless with its interior if you choose to go inside. The main square with the Grandmaster's Palace (the old Parliament and residence of the Grand Masters at the height of the Order's power, 1530-1798) and the newly restored covered market (Is-Suq tal-Belt) with Maltese produce are just some of the places we will see. In your free time we suggest wandering the lanes off the main pedestrian street (Republic Street), visiting Strait Street with its atmospheric little cafés, the Hastings Gardens, the St Barbara Bastions with their wonderful harbour view and Fort St Elmo at the tip of Valletta (the former prison where Midnight Express was filmed). Return to the hotel. Overnight.

After breakfast we tour the centre of the island, starting with the Rotunda of Mosta. We then go up the hill of Rabat to visit Mdina, the silent city, fortified within an impregnable castle and the island's capital in the Middle Ages. We walk its cobbled medieval lanes to see the main sights. Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Transfer to the airport for the return flight.