The tour starts with the visit of Mdina, after a 20-minute trip by car from your place. Mdina, located on top of a hill in the center of Malta, was the ancient capital before the arrival of the Knights of St. John’s from Rodos. The old capital of Malta, that has now been turned into the silent city with 400 residents living inside its wall, the guide will describe the tiny little streets leading to the Belvedere one of the best viewpoints of the island, from where you can enjoy a stunning panorama of all of Malta. The tour includes a visit to the St. Paul’s Basilica in Mdina.
After that, you will enjoy a short walking tour of the nearby town of Rabat, before reaching the famous St. Paul’s Catacombs. You will have a visit to the latter and then free time for lunch. On the way back to Valletta, you stop in Mosta to visit the famous church with one of the biggest domes in Europe built according to the example of the Pantheon in Rome.
Return back to Valletta and go on a walking tour of the tiny Maltese capital, the historical center is a Unesco Heritage Site. The tour starts with the visit of the Barrakka Gardens, an ideal point from which to enjoy breathtaking views of the Grand Harbor. You stop to admire the ‘Auberge de Castille”, the old building that housed the knights coming from Spain which is now the residence of the prime minister. The guide will lead you to the front of St. John’s Cathedral, the “home” of the Knights of St. John’s where there are situated masterpieces of Caravaggio. Enjoy some free time to shop afterwards before returning to your hotel or cruise ship.
Any location in Malta
10 minutes before start time
Spend an afternoon visiting Dingli Cliffs, the area’s most popular attraction. These beautiful cliffs, which span more than 2 kilometres from Bahrija to Mungar, give jagged edges to trails down to the sea, where you can also glimpse Filfla, a small abandoned islet.
Visit St Mary Magdalene Chapel, which is located atop the Dingli Cliffs, Malta’s highest point. Make sure to visit nearby locations such as Rabat and Mdina. You may take the bus to Mdina, which is only a short distance away, and if you want to do more walking, follow the orange signs along a more rural approach back to Dingli
Mdina, also referred to as the Silent City. Why do you think it is named the Silent City?
This city has a long and fascinating history.
Mdina is encircled by defensive fortress walls and is located on one of Malta’s tallest hills. This small city of Malta, which was discovered in the eighth century BC by Phoenician Settlers, served as the foundation for the medieval city of Mdina that stands today. Many buildings constructed over a century ago have been maintained, and the city’s winding lanes recount centuries of history and the numerous monarchs who ruled Malta. Malta’s great outer fortifications were completed in the 11th century.
Rabat, Malta is a town in Malta’s Northern Region. The name “Rabat” is derived from the Arabic word for “suburb”:, since it was a suburb of Mdina’s former capital.
Rabat is a historic suburb of Mdina, Malta’s former capital city. Narrow lanes branch from the main square’s majestic parish church of St Paul. Rabat’s history may be examined from several perspectives. Look for local stores and bakeries, and sample a fresh-from-the-oven loaf of Hobza. The Roman Villa, Wignacourt Museum, and Casa Bernard are all within walking distance for people who appreciate museums, while the Catacombs of St Paul and St Agatha have Roman graves painted with exquisite murals.
This is a Roman Catholic church and basilica called the Mosta Dome that is devoted to Mary’s Assumption. On the site of an earlier Renaissance church that had been constructed in or about 1614 to designs by Tommaso Dingli, this structure was constructed between 1833 and the 1860s to neoclassical designs of Giorgio Grognet de Vassé. The current church, which is Malta’s largest and most well-known building, is modeled after the Pantheon in Rome and features the third-largest dome in the entire globe. When a German aerial bomb crashed into the church on April 9, 1942, when Mass was being held, it narrowly missed being destroyed during World War II. The Maltese perceived this incident as a miracle.
In Valletta, there are a ton of palazzos, museums, cathedrals, piazzas, and gardens to meander around and explore. The Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens are two places you should visit if city sightseeing has worn you out and you’re seeking for a short break or a more tranquil way to spend a beautiful afternoon in the usually busy capital. These gardens are the perfect places for you to relax while enjoying a cup of coffee and a snack while taking a little break from touring Valletta’s numerous attractions.
Valletta (or Il-Belt) is the tiny capital of the Mediterranean island nation of Malta. The walled city was established in the 1500s on a peninsula by the Knights of St. John, a Roman Catholic order. It’s known for museums, palaces and grand churches. Baroque landmarks include St. John’s Co-Cathedral, whose opulent interior is home to the Caravaggio masterpiece “The Beheading of Saint John.”
