Best of Malta & Gozo! Tour Package (7 Nights / 8 Days)

Pick up from your accommodation in the afternoon heading to San Anton Palace in Attard, which is the official residence of the President of Malta. It was originally built in the early 17th century as a country villa for Antoine de Paule, a knight of the Order of St. John. It was expanded into a palace following de Paule’s election as Grand Master in 1623. The palace was used as a residence by subsequent Grand Masters, being enlarged a number of times in the process. It was the headquarters of the rebel National Assembly during the uprising of 1798–1800, and it later became a residence for the Civil Commissioners, Governors and Governors-General of Malta. It has been the official residence of the President since the office was created in 1974. The palace is surrounded by the extensive San Anton Gardens, parts of which have been open to the public since 1882. During this tour we will first visit this Garden and then continue to the next stop which is Rabat. Rabat is a town in the Northern Region of Malta. The name of the town is derived from the Arabic word for ‘suburb’ as it was the suburb of the old capital Mdina. Rabat is home to the famous Catacombs of St. Paul. These catacombs were used in Roman times to bury the dead as, according to Roman culture, it was unhygienic to bury the dead in the city Mdina and parts of Rabat were built on top of an ancient Roman city. The Maltese Catacombs were never meant to be hiding places during persecutions or as living quarters. The Catacombs of St. Paul are now looked after by Heritage Malta. Part of St. Paul’s Catacombs, the part accessible from the Parish church which is dedicated to the same Saint, was where, according to tradition and as recorded in the Bible, St. Paul stayed for three months when he was shipwrecked on the island in 60 A.D. Our next and final stop is Mdina. Mdina also known by its titles Citta Vecchia or Citta Notabile, is a fortified city in the Northern Region of Malta, which served as the island’s capital from antiquity to the medieval period. The city is still confined within its walls, and has a population of just under 300. The city was founded as Maleth in around the 8th century BC by Phoenician settlers, and was later renamed Melite by the Romans. Ancient Melite was larger than present-day Mdina, and it was reduced to its present size during the Byzantine or Arab occupation of Malta. During the latter period, the city adopted its present name, which derives from the Arabic word medina. The city remained the capital of Malta throughout the Middle Ages, until the arrival of the Order of St. John in 1530, when Birgu became the administrative centre of the island. Mdina experienced a period of decline over the following centuries, although it saw a revival in the early 18th century. At this point, it acquired several Baroque features, although it did not lose its medieval character. Mdina remained the centre of the Maltese nobility and religious authorities, but it never regained its pre- 1530 importance, giving rise to the popular nickname the “Silent City” by both locals and visitors. Mdina is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and it is now one of the main tourist attractions in Malta. Transfer back to the accommodation by your choice.

After pick up from your accommodation in the morning you will first drive to The Blue Grotto. The Blue Grotto is actually a number of sea caverns on the southern coast of Malta, west of the Wied iz-Zurrieq harbour and across the small uninhabited islet of Filfla. Everyday from sunrise until about 13:00 hrs, a unique sight can be observed here. The cave’s location combined with the sunlight lead to the water mirroring shows numerous shades of blue. Several caverns mirror the brilliant phosphorescent colours of the underwater flora; other caverns show a deep dark shade of blue. If weather permits, you can do a 25 minute boat trip around the caves for an extra cost. You will then drive to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk. Marsaxlokk is a very popular attraction for tourists and locals because fresh fish and seafood caught during the same morning can be bought. The market is very interesting and attractive as many different items are sold. Although the market was originally a fish market, it has developed and now it also sells locally produced honey, fruit jams, wine as well as vegetables, souvenirs and clothes. Free time will be given in this picturesque village. Transfer back to the accommodation by your choice.

Pick up from your accommodation in the morning, transfer to the ferry terminal on the North of Malta. After a twenty minute crossing, on setting foot in Gozo you will note that although both islands are similar in history and development, Gozo has a character entirely of its own. Gozo, is greener and more picturesque than Malta. During this tour you will visit The National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu which is a Roman Catholic basilica and national shrine. The basilica is located in the edge of a cliff in open countryside which allows visitors to enjoy beautiful views of the area. You will then visit Dwejra Bay where once stood the Azure Window. Here, you will also see The Inland Sea & il-Gebla tal-General. If weather permits, you can also purchase a short boat ride. A visit to a Crafts Shop is a must. At this shop you will see stone works, marble, traditional food, local lace and many other items. This is the perfect place where you can buy a souvenir which will remind you of Gozo. You will then visit Victoria which is the capital of Gozo. Gozitans still often refer to it by its old name, Rabat. The area around Victoria, situated on a hill near the centre of the island has been settled since Neolithic times. In the centre of Victoria lies The Cittadella, a historic fortified city. The Cittadella, is on Malta’s tentative list of future World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. An old prison is located within the city, as are the Courts of Justice. After this visit you will stop for lunch in a restaurant in Rabat. Finally, you will drive to Mgarr Port via Qala Belvedere where breath-taking scenes can be enjoyed. You will then have a short ferry crossing back to Malta and will be dropped-off at your hotel.

Pick up from the accommodation in the morning. The Three Cities is a collective description of the three fortified cities of Cospicua, Vittoriosa and Senglea. During the tour you will drive past Cospicua, a double-fortified harbour city and the largest of the three. It was also given a title as Citta’ Cottonera, but erroneously the title is now used to define the whole region. You will then arrive in Vittoriosa. Vittoriosa is ideally situated for safe anchorage and over time it has developed a very long history with maritime, mercantile and military activities. Prior to the establishment of Valletta as capital and main city of Malta, military powers that wanted to rule the Maltese islands would need to obtain control of Vittoriosa due to its significant position in the Grand Harbour. The third city Senglea is also called Civitas Invicta because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great Siege of 1565. The name Senglea was given by the grandmaster who built it, Claude De La Sengle. The island on which Senglea lies was joined by a land bridge to Cospicua during the time of the Knights of St. John and as a result, it became peninsular in shape. During this tour, you will walk through the various narrow streets shaded by many historic churches and buildings. You will then drive to the Marsovin Cellars in Marsa. The wine tasting tour commences with a historical introduction amongst original artefacts, followed by an explanation about the process of how the locally grown grapes are pressed, fermented and eventually transformed into wine. A walk through the 400-year-old ‘Ageing Cellars’ is an authentic and true piece of Maltese heritage. The wine sampling is held in the Marsovin wine bar, where trained staff guide guests through a wine tasting session to sample different Marsovin wines accompanied by a selection of local savouries like Maltese bread and cheese. Transfer back to the accommodation by your choice.

Free day, enjoy the Maltese sun, the beaches or go shopping in St Julians.

Pick up from the accommodation in the morning. Valletta, Malta’s Capital City and a World Heritage site, is nothing short of an open-air museum. Valletta known as Il-Belt, contains buildings from the 16th century onwards, built during the ruleof the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as Knights Hospitaller. The city is essentially Baroque in character with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture in selected area, though World War II left major scars on the city. The City of Valletta was officially recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. The city is named for Jean Parisot de la Valette, who succeeded in defending the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565. The official name given by the Order of Saint John was ‘Humilissima Civitas Valletta’ – The Most Humble City of Valletta or Citta’ Umilissima in Italian. The bastions, curtains and ravelins along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches, led the ruling houses of Europe to give the city its nickname Superbissima – Most Proud. During the tour you will walk through the bustling streets and to Barracca Gardens for a breathtaking panorama of the Grand Harbour. You will then visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral where you will see the painting ‘The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist’ by Caravaggio, considered one of Caravaggio’s masterpieces and the only painting signed by the painter. You will then watch the Malta Experience Show which will help you discover the Island and Malta’s amazing history. Transfer back to the accommodation by your choice.

Departure day, shuttle transfer from your accommodation to the Airport.