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About 500m (0.3mi) south of the unremarkable village of Dingli, the land falls away to reveal the spectacular Dingli Cliffs towering at around 220m (720ft). Named after the famous 17th-century Maltese architect, Tommaso Dingli, the cliffs afford wonderful coastal views.
(Malta (island))
bus 81 from Valletta or Rabat
The island of Comino was once reportedly the hideout of pirates and smugglers, but now hosts boatloads of bikini-clad invaders. It's only 2.5km (1.6mi) by 1.5km (0.95mi) in size, so you can hike around the whole island in an hour or two. The biggest attraction here is the Blue Lagoon - a sheltered, photogenic cove with a white-sand sea bed and clear turquoise waters.
(lies btwn Malta & Gozo)
ferry from Ċirkewwa, Malta; from Mġarr, Gozo
Dating from as early as 3600 BC, Ħaġar Qim and the other Neolithic temples on the archipelago are the oldest known human structures in the world. This megalithic temple complex was adorned with carved animals and idols, sacrificial altars and oracular chambers, all executed with nothing more than flint and obsidian tools.
Giant limestone slabs form a series of ovals laid out in a pattern that some archaeologists have compared to Mother Goddess figurines found on the site. The view of the Mediterranean and the nearby island of Filfla is one of the best in Malta. Ħaġar Qim and its neighbour, the Mnajdra temple, are near the village of Qrendi.
Statuettes and carvings found in the temple are on display in the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.
tel info 2142 4231
bus 38, 138 from Valletta
| full | Maltese Lira 2.00 |
| child | Maltese Lira 0.50 |
Gozo has a distinct character all its own. The countryside is prettier than that of its larger neighbour, the pace is slower and there are far fewer tourists. The island has its share of medieval architecture and prehistoric temples, making it a great place to escape the tourism mill.
The commercial centre of the island, Victoria, has a sleepy 17th-century feel. Head to the top of the Citadel, or 'Gran Costello', for a view of the entire island. The Norman House, on the Citadel's grounds, houses an interesting folk museum.
You can retrace the footsteps of Ulysses at Calypso's Cave, in the cliffs overlooking Ramla Bay on the northeastern coast. Other spelunking opportunities include the underground Xerri's Grotto and Ninu's Cave in the tiny town of Xaghra, a couple of kilometres southwest of Ramla Bay. The Ggantija temple complex, also near Xaghra, is the most spectacular in Malta.
On his tour through the Mediterranean, Sir Walter Scott called Valletta 'the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen'. Today it's a beautifully preserved walled city, small enough to cover in a few hours without breaking out into too much of a Mediterranean sweat.
Valletta is a rough rectangle at the tip of a peninsula on Malta's northeast coast. From the City Gate at the southwest edge of Valletta, you can walk to the centre of town through a series of squares surrounded by palaces and cathedrals.
Among Valletta's many fine gardens are the Upper Barrakka Gardens where you can get a magnificent view of Grand Harbour and the Cottonera. St John's Co-Cathedral and Museum presents an austere facade, but the interior is a baroque masterpiece, with a patchwork of marble tombstones set in the floor commemorating the knights of old. The museum houses a collection of outstanding Flemish tapestries and two paintings by the Italian master Caravaggio.
