Historic Sites in Malta

"Walk along the city walls to the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens and enjoy the stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Three Cities and take the time to visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral and marvel at its impressive facades and collection of paintings by Caravaggio. Pop in for lunch at Submarine, where you can get a fresh, made-to-order sandwich for a good price before catching the ferry to the Three Cities."

"Malta is home to a huge number of churches, but perhaps the most important is St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Situated near the center of the city, while the exterior of this cathedral may look fairly plain, it holds a wealth of treasures inside. Built by the Knights of St. John back in the 16th century, the lavish interior reflects the power of the order and the emphasis they placed on their religious beliefs."

"Functional in design but lavishly decorated, the Order of St. John's own church (1578) is Malta's most important treasure. The Knights'…"

"Stay at the home of one of Malta’s most important noble families in a 16th-century Valletta palazzo. Casa Rocca Piccola, a deeply historic home-from-home in the heart of Malta’s Unesco World Heritage capital, has five spacious rooms and suites with all the mod cons, alongside oodles of character and tradition."

"The Auberge de Castille is considered to be one of the most beautiful Baroque-style buildings in Valletta. Originally, the Auberge de Castille was built in the Mannerist style; later in 1740, it was completely redesigned in Baroque style by Domenico Cachia. During the French occupation in 1798, the Auberge de Castille was a headquarter of the French military forces."

"Perched on the crest of the hill to the south of Xagħra, the awe-inspiring megalithic Ġgantija Temples command soaring views over most of southern Gozo. As the name implies (ġgantija – dje-gant-ee-ya – means 'giantess'), these are the largest of the megalithic temples found on the Maltese Islands – the walls stand over 6m high, and the two temples together span over 40m."

"I’m quite into history and I had to visit the neolithic temple of Ġgantija. Built before Stonehenge (3600 and 3200 B.C.), this massive temple of connected rocks was hidden from sight for hundreds of years prior to its discovery in the 1800s."

"St Paul's Catacombs (so-named for their proximity to the church) date from the 3rd century AD and were used for burial for around 500 years. Worship took place here in the Middle Ages, but later the complex was used as an agricultural store. It's an atmospheric labyrinth of rock-cut tombs, narrow stairs and passages. Admission includes a self-guided, 45-minute audio tour, available from the site's recently added visitor centre."

"Doing what it says on the tin, this place combines memorabilia of the King with shows from a homegrown Elvis impersonator and other weekly gigs from equally talented folk turning up the hits of the 1980s, Motown..."

"At the lower end of Republic Street lies Ġugar, a small laid-back hangout and restaurant frequented by a younger cohort of the island’s locals. From time to time it hosts chess matches and the occasional intimate music gig. True to its mission of promoting alternative living, it is furnished with a colorful mix of upcycled materials, serves wholesome food and refreshing smoothies, and offers a good selection of left-of-center book titles to read."

"This café is well known by the locals and also provides vegan options. It is quite cozy though it can be busy at times. Great place to hangout with friends during summer nights."

"Another bar in Valletta that has the best description in the name. Beer Cave is a bar in an old basement that serves mainly beer. In its past the cellars where a kitchen and used to be part of the home to one of the wealthiest families in Valletta."

"Set on the rocky coast of Golden Bay, the Radisson Blu Golden Sands is literally 2 minutes walk away from the sandy beach. This Mellieha hotel also owns a private beach which is especially reserved for its customers. Should you wish to treat yourself, the hotel also features a spa which extends over 1000m² of space."

"Owned by a British couple, it’s hardly surprising that this is a favourite haunt for the many ex-pats that live in the area. However, it does also attract a good smattering of Maltese residents and tourists, too, giving it more of a cosmopolitan feel. The friendly owners and staff will welcome you with open arms to their pub-style venue."

"Triq Il-Hasira Leading From Triq L-Gholjiet, Mellieha, Island of Malta MaltaBar, Pub, BritishLunch, Dinner, DrinksTelevision, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Outdoor Seating, Seating+356 2152 2010http://www.starwebmalta.com"