The temple of Ħaġar Qim excavated for the first time in
1839, dates from the Tarxien phase (c.3200-2500 BC). It stands on a hilltop on the southern edge of the island of Malta overlooking the sea and the islet of
Filfla and lies some two kilometres south-west of the village of
Qrendi. Adjacent to Ħaġar Qim, further towards the cliff face, lies another remarkable temple site,
Mnajdra. The surrounding area, which is typical of
Mediterraneangarigue and spectacular in its starkness and isolation, is designated a Heritage Park.
The Mnajdra temple grouping lies on the southern coast of
Malta. It is a complex of three
Neolithic temples surrounding an oval courtyard, the oldest having been built during the Ġgantija phase (3600-3200 BCE), while the other two date from the early and mid Tarxien phase (3150-2500 BCE). It has been stated by numerous historians that part of the Mnajdra Temples are the oldest free standing buildings in the world, much older than
Stonehenge.
Gozo is an island of the Maltese archipelago in the
Mediterranean Sea, second in size to the island of
Malta. In Maltese, the island is called Għawdex (pronounced áw-desh). Gozo is part of the country of Malta.
Ġgantija (also Ggantia) is a
megalithic temple complex on the
Mediterranean island of
Gozo (part of
Malta). The two temples of Ġgantija on the island of Gozo are notable for their gigantic
Neolithic structures, which were erected during the Neolithic Age (c. 3600-
2500 BC). At more than 5500 years old, the Ġgantija temples are the world's oldest free-standing structures, and the world's oldest religious structures, pre-dating the
Pyramids of Egypt and
Stonehenge. The temples were possibly the site of an Earth Mother Goddess Fertility Cult, with numerous figurines and statues found on site believed to be connected with that cult.
Clapham Junction is a
prehistoric site on
Malta near the
Dingli Cliffs. It is a complex network of tracks gouged in the rock. Its age and purpose are still a mystery of
Maltese history. In general, most archaeologists presume that the site developed about 2000 BC after new settlers came over from
Sicily to start the
Bronze Age in Malta. Beside the
megalithic temples it is the most mysterious artefact on Malta. It is reported that the name "Clapham Junction" was given by an Englishman, who later reported that it reminded him of the great and busy railway station
Clapham Junction in London.
The Hypogeum in Ħal-Saflieni,
Paola,
Malta, is a subterranean structure excavated c. 2500 B.C. Thought to be originally a sanctuary, it became a necropolis in prehistoric times. It is the only prehistoric underground temple in the world. The Hypogeum was depicted on a 2 cents 5 mils stamp issued in the Maltese Islands in
1980 to commemorate the acceptance by
UNESCO of this unique structure in the
World Heritage Site list.
Mdina (also called L-Imdina or Città Notabile) is the old
capital of
Malta. It is a
medieval town, with narrow quiet streets, situated in the centre of the island. It is also known as the "Silent City". It commands a magnificent view of the Island.
The Lija Belvedere Tower, a beautiful piece of architecture and a landmark in Transfiguration Avenue in
Lija, was built in 1857 as a folly within the garden of Villa Gourgion. Today the Belvedere is in the hands of the Lija Local Council and forms part of the heritage of Lija.
St Paul's Bay (San Pawl il-Baħar in
Maltese) is situated in the north west of the island of
Malta, sixteen kilometres from the capital city
Valletta. Its name refers to the shipwreck of
Saint Paul, as documented in the
Acts of the Apostles, due to the tradition that Saint Paul was
shipwrecked on the isles, named St. Paul's Isles, which are situated in St Paul's Bay. The localities of
Burmarrad,
Qawra,
Buġibba,
Xemxija,
Mselliet, and
San Martin as well as part of
Bidnija and
Mistra, form part of the San Pawl il-Baħar Local Council. The area of the locality is 14.47km².
Photo credit: Philip Serracino Inglott
A typical Maltese farmhouse, called Razzett in Maltese. Typically the razzett was one or two storeys. The flat roofs are typical of Maltese housing. They serve many practical purposes, including: a place to hang and dry clothes; a place to spend a summer evening to catch the evening breeze; a place to watch fireworks displays from distant towns and villages; and for farmers, a place to let pumpkins mature. The roofs are also designed to catch rain water and to direct it to wells dug in the soft limestone.
The
Mdina Cathedral was designed by the well-known
Maltese architect,
Lorenzo Gafa. By this time he had already designed several churches in
Malta and was at the height of his career. The perfectly proportioned
façade and the dynamic
dome make this the most impressive of all his
churches. The work took just five years to complete and a number of houses were demolished at the same time to make way for a pjazza appropriate to the size and splendour of the church.
The old Maltese buses, which were converted ex-
British Armed Forces vehicles, were pressed into
public transport as long ago as the early 1950s. These classic buses have become
tourist attractions among themselves due to their uniqueness, and are depicted on many Maltese advertisements to promote tourism as well as on gifts and merchandise for tourists. However, these old buses are slowly being replaced by a more modern fleet.
The old Maltese buses, which were converted ex-
British Armed Forces vehicles, were pressed into
public transport as long ago as the early 1950s. These classic buses have become
tourist attractions among themselves due to their uniqueness, and are depicted on many Maltese advertisements to promote tourism as well as on gifts and merchandise for tourists. However, these old buses are slowly being replaced by a more modern fleet.
The traditional
Maltese balcony, is a
wooden closed balcony projecting from a wall. In the case of
Valletta,
richly decorated balconies also served another purpose. One of the
building regulations laid down by the
knights for their new city was that blocks had to display some form of sculptural ornamentation at the
corners. These ornamentations took three distinct forms. They were either
niches with religious images, monumental pilaster and cornices that complimented the architectural style of the elevations or
balconies that wrapped themselves around the block. Such balconies can be observed all around Valletta. Examples of these are the side wooden balconies of the
Grand Master's Palace, which were in place by
1741.
A luzzu (pronounced loot-su in Maltese) is a traditional type of
fishing boat from the
Maltese islands. Traditionally, they are brightly painted in shades of yellow, red, green and blue, and the
bow is normally pointed with a pair of eyes. These eyes may be the modern survival of an ancient
Phoenician custom (also practiced by the ancient
Greeks); they are sometimes (and probably inaccurately) referred to as the
Eye of Horus or of
Osiris.
The
Grandmaster's Palace in
Valletta is built around two courtyards, one of which is dominated by a statue of
Neptune. There are two entrances in the front and one entrance from
Piazza Regina just west of the
Bibliotheca. The entrance to the state rooms is in the Neptune Courtyard via a spiral staircase. The ceiling of this entrance was painted by
Nicolau Nasoni da
Siena in
1724.
Republic Street is the heart of the Maltese nation. People meet, shop, discuss and visit this pedestrianized street whenever they are in
Valletta. Brimming with shops, cafes, restaurants and museums, this very busy street is usually packed with people going about their daily chores.
Museums and historical attractions, including churches and palaces add to the uniqueness of Republic Street.
St John's Co-Cathedral contains eight rich chapels, each of which was dedicated to the patron saint of the eightlangues (or sections) of the Knights. The inside of the Cathedral is in sharp contrast to the facade as the extremely ornate interior decorated in the height of the Baroque period. The inside was largely decorated by
Mattia Preti, the
Calabrian artist and
Knight. Preti designed the intricate carved stone walls and painted the vaulted ceiling and side altars with scenes from the life of
St John.
The Sopu Tower is situated at the edge of a cliff between San Blas Bay and Dahlet Qorrot Bay. It was built in
1667 by Grand Master
Nicolas Cotoner to guard this part of
Gozo from the warships of the
Turks who at that time sailed between Gozo and
Sicily. The tower is unique in its kind in Gozo. It resisted the incursions of the
French troops on 10th June 1798, who landed on this part to capture Gozo.
The earliest temple of the Tarxien complex, dates back to around 2,800 BC while the more recent ones date to seven hundred years later. The spiral, as a decorative motif, is found in many places in Europe from the North Atlantic seaboard to the Aegean; the ones at Tarxien, however, might have been invented, or at least developed, independently. Inside these temples has been found what, for that age, was the most colossal stone sculpture then in existence: originally two-and-a-half metres in height, the statue, presumably representing a Mother Goddess, has been broken in half and the top part is missing.
The
Rotunda of St Marija Assunta is in Mosta, Malta and was designed by
George Grongnet. Its dome is among the largest in the world, with a diameter of 37 meters (122ft). Grongnet's plans were closely based on the
Pantheon in Rome. The building started in May 1833 and was not finished until the 1930s. The original church was left in place while the Rotunda was built around it allowing the local people to still have a place of worship while the new church was built. On April 9, 1942, during an afternoon air-raid, a 200kg
Luftwaffe bomb pierced the dome (two others bounced off) and fell among the congregation of more than 300 people, awaiting early evening mass. It did not explode. Its replica is now on display inside the Rotunda.
The
Second Siege of Malta was a significant military event in the
Mediterranean Theatre of World War II that occurred between 1940 and 1943 on the island of
Malta. The siege was conducted by Italian and German (Axis) military aircraft and ships. Malta was one of the most intensively-bombed areas during war – a total of 3,000 raids occurred during the two years of the siege. The Siege Bell Memorial was constructed to commemorate the victory of the Allied forces in this siege.
Ramla Bay is located at the bottom of a rich and fertile valley on the northern side of the island of
Gozo. The village of
Xaghra, located on one of the hills of Gozo, overlooks this valley. The Bay can also be reached from the village of
Nadur. The terraced walls built by the farmers give the valley an appearance of a quilt when viewed from the high ridges surrounding this valley.
March 31, 1979 is remembered in the Maltese calendar as Freedom Day (Maltese: Jum il-Ħelsien). This is the anniversary of the withdrawal of British troops and the
Royal Navy from
Malta. The government of the day alleged that the
military base was closed after the United Kingdom refused to pay the
emphyteusis due to Malta in 1979; however, the contract between
Malta and the United Kingdom was due for termination on April 1, 1979.
The Ghar Dalam Cave, one kilometre north of
Birżebbuġa, housed evidence of the earliest human occupation of the
Maltese Islands which dates back approximately 7,400 years. Remains of earlier
Ice Age animals have also been excavated and presented in the nearby museum. The cave had an important role in
World War II, when it was used first as an air-raid shelter before being used as a fuel depot.
The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist is a painting finished in
1608 by the Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio. It is housed in the
St. John's Co-Cathedral of
Valletta,
Malta. The most important painting that Caravaggio made in Malta, it is one of Caravaggio's most extraordinary creations, and many people consider it is his greatest masterpiece.
The Azure Window, a table-like rock over the sea, is one of the most photographed vistas of the Maltese Islands, and its particularly spectacular during winter when waves crash high inside the arch. The Inland Sea, and Dwejra Bay itself, were created millions of years ago when two limestone caves collapsed.
The Dwejra Tower was built in
1652. Its role was the defence of
Dwejra Bay and the guarding of Fungus Rock (were there is a type of fungus which was thought to cure many diseases). During the course of history there were a small number of alterations in the building itself. In both
World Wars it served as an Observation Post. This tower was recently restored.
The temple of Ħaġar Qim excavated for the first time in
1839, dates from the Tarxien phase (c.3200-2500 BC). It stands on a hilltop on the southern edge of the island of Malta overlooking the sea and the islet of
Filfla and lies some two kilometres south-west of the village of
Qrendi. Adjacent to Ħaġar Qim, further towards the cliff face, lies another remarkable temple site,
Mnajdra. The surrounding area, which is typical of
Mediterraneangarigue and spectacular in its starkness and isolation, is designated a Heritage Park.
The Mnajdra temple grouping lies on the southern coast of
Malta. It is a complex of three
Neolithic temples surrounding an oval courtyard, the oldest having been built during the Ġgantija phase (3600-3200 BCE), while the other two date from the early and mid Tarxien phase (3150-2500 BCE). It has been stated by numerous historians that part of the Mnajdra Temples are the oldest free standing buildings in the world, much older than
Stonehenge.
Gozo is an island of the Maltese archipelago in the
Mediterranean Sea, second in size to the island of
Malta. In Maltese, the island is called Għawdex (pronounced áw-desh). Gozo is part of the country of Malta.
Ġgantija (also Ggantia) is a
megalithic temple complex on the
Mediterranean island of
Gozo (part of
Malta). The two temples of Ġgantija on the island of Gozo are notable for their gigantic
Neolithic structures, which were erected during the Neolithic Age (c. 3600-
2500 BC). At more than 5500 years old, the Ġgantija temples are the world's oldest free-standing structures, and the world's oldest religious structures, pre-dating the
Pyramids of Egypt and
Stonehenge. The temples were possibly the site of an Earth Mother Goddess Fertility Cult, with numerous figurines and statues found on site believed to be connected with that cult.
Clapham Junction is a
prehistoric site on
Malta near the
Dingli Cliffs. It is a complex network of tracks gouged in the rock. Its age and purpose are still a mystery of
Maltese history. In general, most archaeologists presume that the site developed about 2000 BC after new settlers came over from
Sicily to start the
Bronze Age in Malta. Beside the
megalithic temples it is the most mysterious artefact on Malta. It is reported that the name "Clapham Junction" was given by an Englishman, who later reported that it reminded him of the great and busy railway station
Clapham Junction in London.
The Hypogeum in Ħal-Saflieni,
Paola,
Malta, is a subterranean structure excavated c. 2500 B.C. Thought to be originally a sanctuary, it became a necropolis in prehistoric times. It is the only prehistoric underground temple in the world. The Hypogeum was depicted on a 2 cents 5 mils stamp issued in the Maltese Islands in
1980 to commemorate the acceptance by
UNESCO of this unique structure in the
World Heritage Site list.
Mdina (also called L-Imdina or Città Notabile) is the old
capital of
Malta. It is a
medieval town, with narrow quiet streets, situated in the centre of the island. It is also known as the "Silent City". It commands a magnificent view of the Island.
The Lija Belvedere Tower, a beautiful piece of architecture and a landmark in Transfiguration Avenue in
Lija, was built in 1857 as a folly within the garden of Villa Gourgion. Today the Belvedere is in the hands of the Lija Local Council and forms part of the heritage of Lija.
St Paul's Bay (San Pawl il-Baħar in
Maltese) is situated in the north west of the island of
Malta, sixteen kilometres from the capital city
Valletta. Its name refers to the shipwreck of
Saint Paul, as documented in the
Acts of the Apostles, due to the tradition that Saint Paul was
shipwrecked on the isles, named St. Paul's Isles, which are situated in St Paul's Bay. The localities of
Burmarrad,
Qawra,
Buġibba,
Xemxija,
Mselliet, and
San Martin as well as part of
Bidnija and
Mistra, form part of the San Pawl il-Baħar Local Council. The area of the locality is 14.47km².
Photo credit: Philip Serracino Inglott
A typical Maltese farmhouse, called Razzett in Maltese. Typically the razzett was one or two storeys. The flat roofs are typical of Maltese housing. They serve many practical purposes, including: a place to hang and dry clothes; a place to spend a summer evening to catch the evening breeze; a place to watch fireworks displays from distant towns and villages; and for farmers, a place to let pumpkins mature. The roofs are also designed to catch rain water and to direct it to wells dug in the soft limestone.
The
Mdina Cathedral was designed by the well-known
Maltese architect,
Lorenzo Gafa. By this time he had already designed several churches in
Malta and was at the height of his career. The perfectly proportioned
façade and the dynamic
dome make this the most impressive of all his
churches. The work took just five years to complete and a number of houses were demolished at the same time to make way for a pjazza appropriate to the size and splendour of the church.
The old Maltese buses, which were converted ex-
British Armed Forces vehicles, were pressed into
public transport as long ago as the early 1950s. These classic buses have become
tourist attractions among themselves due to their uniqueness, and are depicted on many Maltese advertisements to promote tourism as well as on gifts and merchandise for tourists. However, these old buses are slowly being replaced by a more modern fleet.
The old Maltese buses, which were converted ex-
British Armed Forces vehicles, were pressed into
public transport as long ago as the early 1950s. These classic buses have become
tourist attractions among themselves due to their uniqueness, and are depicted on many Maltese advertisements to promote tourism as well as on gifts and merchandise for tourists. However, these old buses are slowly being replaced by a more modern fleet.
The traditional
Maltese balcony, is a
wooden closed balcony projecting from a wall. In the case of
Valletta,
richly decorated balconies also served another purpose. One of the
building regulations laid down by the
knights for their new city was that blocks had to display some form of sculptural ornamentation at the
corners. These ornamentations took three distinct forms. They were either
niches with religious images, monumental pilaster and cornices that complimented the architectural style of the elevations or
balconies that wrapped themselves around the block. Such balconies can be observed all around Valletta. Examples of these are the side wooden balconies of the
Grand Master's Palace, which were in place by
1741.
A luzzu (pronounced loot-su in Maltese) is a traditional type of
fishing boat from the
Maltese islands. Traditionally, they are brightly painted in shades of yellow, red, green and blue, and the
bow is normally pointed with a pair of eyes. These eyes may be the modern survival of an ancient
Phoenician custom (also practiced by the ancient
Greeks); they are sometimes (and probably inaccurately) referred to as the
Eye of Horus or of
Osiris.
The
Grandmaster's Palace in
Valletta is built around two courtyards, one of which is dominated by a statue of
Neptune. There are two entrances in the front and one entrance from
Piazza Regina just west of the
Bibliotheca. The entrance to the state rooms is in the Neptune Courtyard via a spiral staircase. The ceiling of this entrance was painted by
Nicolau Nasoni da
Siena in
1724.
Republic Street is the heart of the Maltese nation. People meet, shop, discuss and visit this pedestrianized street whenever they are in
Valletta. Brimming with shops, cafes, restaurants and museums, this very busy street is usually packed with people going about their daily chores.
Museums and historical attractions, including churches and palaces add to the uniqueness of Republic Street.
St John's Co-Cathedral contains eight rich chapels, each of which was dedicated to the patron saint of the eightlangues (or sections) of the Knights. The inside of the Cathedral is in sharp contrast to the facade as the extremely ornate interior decorated in the height of the Baroque period. The inside was largely decorated by
Mattia Preti, the
Calabrian artist and
Knight. Preti designed the intricate carved stone walls and painted the vaulted ceiling and side altars with scenes from the life of
St John.
The Sopu Tower is situated at the edge of a cliff between San Blas Bay and Dahlet Qorrot Bay. It was built in
1667 by Grand Master
Nicolas Cotoner to guard this part of
Gozo from the warships of the
Turks who at that time sailed between Gozo and
Sicily. The tower is unique in its kind in Gozo. It resisted the incursions of the
French troops on 10th June 1798, who landed on this part to capture Gozo.
The earliest temple of the Tarxien complex, dates back to around 2,800 BC while the more recent ones date to seven hundred years later. The spiral, as a decorative motif, is found in many places in Europe from the North Atlantic seaboard to the Aegean; the ones at Tarxien, however, might have been invented, or at least developed, independently. Inside these temples has been found what, for that age, was the most colossal stone sculpture then in existence: originally two-and-a-half metres in height, the statue, presumably representing a Mother Goddess, has been broken in half and the top part is missing.
The
Rotunda of St Marija Assunta is in Mosta, Malta and was designed by
George Grongnet. Its dome is among the largest in the world, with a diameter of 37 meters (122ft). Grongnet's plans were closely based on the
Pantheon in Rome. The building started in May 1833 and was not finished until the 1930s. The original church was left in place while the Rotunda was built around it allowing the local people to still have a place of worship while the new church was built. On April 9, 1942, during an afternoon air-raid, a 200kg
Luftwaffe bomb pierced the dome (two others bounced off) and fell among the congregation of more than 300 people, awaiting early evening mass. It did not explode. Its replica is now on display inside the Rotunda.
The
Second Siege of Malta was a significant military event in the
Mediterranean Theatre of World War II that occurred between 1940 and 1943 on the island of
Malta. The siege was conducted by Italian and German (Axis) military aircraft and ships. Malta was one of the most intensively-bombed areas during war – a total of 3,000 raids occurred during the two years of the siege. The Siege Bell Memorial was constructed to commemorate the victory of the Allied forces in this siege.
Ramla Bay is located at the bottom of a rich and fertile valley on the northern side of the island of
Gozo. The village of
Xaghra, located on one of the hills of Gozo, overlooks this valley. The Bay can also be reached from the village of
Nadur. The terraced walls built by the farmers give the valley an appearance of a quilt when viewed from the high ridges surrounding this valley.
March 31, 1979 is remembered in the Maltese calendar as Freedom Day (Maltese: Jum il-Ħelsien). This is the anniversary of the withdrawal of British troops and the
Royal Navy from
Malta. The government of the day alleged that the
military base was closed after the United Kingdom refused to pay the
emphyteusis due to Malta in 1979; however, the contract between
Malta and the United Kingdom was due for termination on April 1, 1979.
The Ghar Dalam Cave, one kilometre north of
Birżebbuġa, housed evidence of the earliest human occupation of the
Maltese Islands which dates back approximately 7,400 years. Remains of earlier
Ice Age animals have also been excavated and presented in the nearby museum. The cave had an important role in
World War II, when it was used first as an air-raid shelter before being used as a fuel depot.
The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist is a painting finished in
1608 by the Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio. It is housed in the
St. John's Co-Cathedral of
Valletta,
Malta. The most important painting that Caravaggio made in Malta, it is one of Caravaggio's most extraordinary creations, and many people consider it is his greatest masterpiece.
The Azure Window, a table-like rock over the sea, is one of the most photographed vistas of the Maltese Islands, and its particularly spectacular during winter when waves crash high inside the arch. The Inland Sea, and Dwejra Bay itself, were created millions of years ago when two limestone caves collapsed.
The Dwejra Tower was built in
1652. Its role was the defence of
Dwejra Bay and the guarding of Fungus Rock (were there is a type of fungus which was thought to cure many diseases). During the course of history there were a small number of alterations in the building itself. In both
World Wars it served as an Observation Post. This tower was recently restored.