Your first visit during this tour is Mdina. Mdina is built on a plateau in the centre of the island, the city’s old Baroque buildings, cathedral and magnificent bastion walls dominate the rural skyline. Mdina, once the capital of Malta until the modern city of Valletta was built in 1565, has had many names including Melita (Roman occupation), Medina (Arabic occupation), Citta Nobile (Knights of St. John) and Citta Vecchia (after Valletta was built). Today is also referred as the Silent City since it inspires tranquility at any time of the day or night. The only way to really experience and enjoy this city is on foot, explore the quaint alleys, narrow streets, ancient buildings and magnificent far reaching views from the high bastion walls. While you are in Mdina you visit the St. Paul’s Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Cathedral built on the site where governor Publius was reported to have met Saint Paul following his shipwreck off the Maltese Coast.

After a lunch stop in Rabat, you then drive to the town of Ta’Qali, located nearby was once a British WWII outpost, but has been converted to a village for local handicrafts. You will be able to watch local artisans at work blowing elaborate glass art pieces, intricately assembling original silver filigree jewellery, carving the local limestone and many more. This is the perfect place to pick up treasures that will remind you of your Malta visit.

Finally you will visit Valletta, Malta’s Capital City and a World Heritage site. Valletta known as Il-Belt, contains buildings from the 16th century onwards, built during the rule of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as Knights Hospitaller. 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.

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