Malta & Gozo: A Tale of Two Islands in the Mediterranean

After transferring by coach to the north of Malta, taking the ferry, crossing the channel to Gozo, and checking in to our program hotel, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Welcome dinner at hotel, including coffee, tea, water and one glass of wine per person. Other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

At the hotel, breakfasts will typically offer breads, cheeses, cold cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea.

We will meet in the lobby and board a motorcoach for a field trip to Xaghra. Here with our expert historian, we will explore Ggantija, the first in the series of Malta’s megalithic temples. This UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of side-by-side temples that were constructed between 5600 and 5200 BCE. The Coralline limestone rocks of which these temples are constructed are more than five meters in length, and weigh more than fifty tons. They are so large that Gozitans — residents of Gozo — used to believe they were built by giants, which is why the name of these temples comes from the Maltese word for giant. From here we will ride to Calypso Cave overlooking Ramla Bay. According to legend, the island of Gozo is actually Homer’s island of Ogygia in his epic poem, “The Odyssey.” This cave, with a beautiful view over the bay, is allegedly where the sea nymph Calypso kept Odysseus as a prisoner of love for seven years. We’ll then ride on to one of the last active salt pans in Gozo. It has been family run for five generations. We will have an opportunity to talk with the owners about how they farm sea salt and the impact climate change has had on this process.

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine and water; other beverages available for purchase.

Next, we will take a short ride to Dwejra on the west coast of Gozo. This spot is known for its small bay surrounded by cliffs and was the location of the so-called Azure Window — a 92-foot high natural limestone arch — that collapsed in 2017. The “Inland Sea” lagoon was created when the open ocean began to seep into a sinkhole through a tunnel in the rocks. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before regrouping for a lecture by a local expert on church history and church-state relations on the islands of Malta and Gozo.

Hotel plated meal.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

For our first outing of the day, we will board a motorcoach and ride to Nadur where we will visit a small, traditional working bakery. We will see how the local ftira (bread) is made and taste some samples. We’ll then ride to the Kenuna Tower. The Kenuna Tower was built on top of Ta’ Kenuna hill by the British in 1848. This semaphore tower was one of three that were built in Malta. It was used as an air traffic control tower during World War II, while the surrounding area was used as an American airfield. Restored in 2005, it is currently being used as a communications tower and a lighthouse. Next, we’ll ride into Gozo’s capital city, Victoria.

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine and water; other beverages available for purchase.

We will walk to the Citadel, an ancient fortified town situated atop a promontory overlooking Victoria. It can be seen from just about anywhere on the island. While evidence shows that the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, fortification of the settlement occurred during the Bronze Age. It is believed that it was the Acropolis for the Punic-Roman city of Gaulos, as Gozo was known in antiquity. During the Middle Ages, the acropolis was turned into a castle and what is now the town of Victoria started to develop outside its wall. We will have some time for self-directed exploration in this UNESCO World Heritage Site before we ride back to the hotel Returning to the hotel, take some time to freshen up and relax before we meet the Group Leader and transfer by bus to Xlendi. We’ll have time on our own to explore this charming village by the sea.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Xendi. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Hotel buffet.

After checking out of the hotel, we will board our motorcoach and ride to Hondoq Bay. We’ll then hop aboard a private boat and ride around the island to view the cliffs and caves as we make our way to the main island of Malta. We will make a brief stop on the island of Comino and visit the medieval chapel. According to records, there has been a chapel on this site since the 12th century. This small Roman Catholic chapel was built in 1618 on top of the previous medieval church. It is dedicated to the Return of the Holy Family from Egypt. Back aboard the boat, we’ll continue towards Malta where we will disembark and board a motorcoach for the ride to Mdina.

At a restaurant in Mdina, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine and water; other beverages available for purchase.

We will set out on a walking field trip in Mdina. This ancient walled city is situated on top of a hill in the center of Malta. It was first inhabited and fortified by the Phoenicians in 700 BCE and was once the capital of Malta due to its vantage point over the island. When the Knights Hospitaller moved the capital from Mdina to Birghu, many people left the city and it became like a ghost town and was called Silent City, a nickname that lives on to this day due to the tiny population of only about 250 people and the limited number of cars allowed within the walls. We will then board our coach for a short drive to the Dingli Cliffs. This spot offers beautiful open sea views, views of the Buskett Gardens and Verdala Palace. We will then ride on to our hotel, check in, and have some time to freshen up before dinner.

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine, coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

We will meet in the lobby with our expert historian to begin a full-day walking field trip in the capital city of Valletta. Our first stop will be the National Library exhibition area, one of the major treasures of the Maltese Islands. This reference and research library contains a collection spanning Medieval times to the digital age, including rare and priceless rare items. The National Library is the custodian of 7,000 volumes of the Archives of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and Malta, as well as a rare early edition of Nostradamus dating back to 1566.

On your own to enjoy what you like.

Our field trip will continue as we walk along the streets of Valletta to the Lascaris War Rooms. These chambers, located 150 feet underground in order to keep it protected from aerial attack, housed Britain’s War Headquarters in Malta during World War II. It was taken over by NATO in 1967 and used until 1977 to track the movements of Soviet submarines. The Malta Heritage Trust began restoring the complex in 2009 and opened it to the public. Next, we will walk to St. John’s Co-Cathedral for a visit with our local expert. It was commissioned by Grand Master Jean de la Casseire and constructed between 1572 and 1577. Dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, it is designated as a co-cathedral because it shares the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Malta with the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Mdina. The magnificent, highly decorated interior of the church is considered one of the finest examples of high Baroque architecture in Europe. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before we gather for a lecture by a local expert on underwater archaeology.

At hotel

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

We will meet our Group Leader, board the motorcoach, and ride to St. Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat. The catacombs are located on the outskirts due to Roman law prohibiting burials within the city. The association with St. Paul comes from the myth that these catacombs were at one time connected to St. Paul’s Grotto. It is believed that this underground cemetery complex was used up until perhaps the 8th century. This particular complex has up to 30 separate hypogea (underground chambers) in the main cluster, and its interconnected passages cover an area of more than 200 square meters. Next, we will walk to Wignacourt Museum that houses St. Paul’s Grotto. According to the biblical Book of Acts, this small cave is where Saint Paul and his missionaries sought refuge after being shipwrecked on the island of Malta. Considered to be the cradle of the Christian religion on Malta, it is from this cave that Saint Paul would preach and spread the gospel. Under the Grotto is a series of air raid shelters that were used during World War II. It took about 8,000 workers to dig 841 shelters by hand to house the residents of Rabat. Fifty of these shelters are now open to the public for viewing.

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine and water; other beverages available for purchase.

We will walk to the Domus Romana where a local expert will lead our exploration. The remains of this small Roman townhouse were first discovered in 1881. Among the ruins were some of the best-preserved examples of Hellenistic style mosaics. Shortly after this discovery, a building was constructed over the site in order to further protect the mosaics and other artifacts found within. Eventually, it would be used to house many of the Roman artifacts discovered on the islands. We will have some independent time to continue exploring Rabat or nearby Mdina before going to Valletta and explore the Manoel Theatre, Malta’s national theatre. It was built in 1731 by Antonio Manoel de Vihena, a Grandmaster of the Knights of St. John, and it is one of the oldest theatres in Europe still being used for performances. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the demand for operas and theatrical productions rose as the Maltese embraced what was until then considered something reserved solely for nobility. Late afternoon we will head to the Notarial Archive of Valletta, located in a historical Maltese Palazzetto where a local expert will lecture on the conservation of Maltese book and paper artifacts.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

This morning we will board a dghaisa — a boat resembling a gondola — and skim through the harbor. We will disembark in Birgu and begin walking through this ancient fortified city on our way to the fort that sits on top of the hill overlooking the Grand Harbor. The island of Malta was given to the Order of St. John in 1530 by Charles the V of Spain after they had been expelled from Rhodes by the Ottomans. The Order settled in Birgu because it was well suited to their military and naval needs. They eventually moved the capital from Mdina, which was located inland, to Birgu because of its prime location on the water and began reinforcing the old castle. This structure would later become Fort St. Angelo, and the seat of the Grand Master. Fort St. Angelo is best known for its role as the Order’s headquarters during the Great Siege of Malta when it withstood Ottoman attacks. During our field trip, we will meet and have a presentation by a resident knight. We will continue on a walking tour through Birgu, also known as “Citta Vittoriosa” — Victorius City — passing by the Inquisitor’s Palace and the Parish Church on our way to lunch.

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine and water; other beverages available for purchase.

We will board the motorcoach and make our way to the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, another UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. The Hypogeum was first discovered by construction workers in 1902. Excavations on this underground prehistoric cemetery began in 1903 and were opened to the public in 1908. It is believed that these burial chambers were used from 4000 B.C.E. to 2500 B.C.E. They contain the remains of some 7,000 individuals. Unfortunately, the number of visitors in the chambers started to take its toll on the microclimate of the caves and the preservation of the ochre paintings and general preservation of the site. The Hypogeum closed to the public between 1990 and 2000 for the installation of a new environmental system. The site is now open to only 10 visitors per hour. Due to this restriction, we will divide into smaller groups to explore. Those who are not exploring the Hypogeum will examine the Tarxien Temples with an expert and then switch so that everyone has an opportunity to see both. The Tarxien Temples are one of seven megalithic temple sites found on the islands of Malta and Gozo. All of these sites were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980. It is believed the temples were constructed between 3600 and 2500 B.C.E. and served different purposes in different eras. The prehistoric era saw the complex used for animal sacrifice, while during the Bronze Age it was a cremation cemetery. The site was found by farmers in 1914 and excavations followed from 1915-1917. Upon our return to the hotel, we’ll have some time to freshen up and then regroup for a lecture on Maltese prehistory.

On your own to enjoy what you like.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

This morning we will visit two more of the seven megalithic temple complexes found on Malta and Gozo. Hagar Qim is on a hilltop just outside the village of Qrendi. It is believed that this temple was never completely buried due to its appearance in paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. This site was first excavated in 1839, and it is believed to have been built sometime between 3600-3200 BCE, or the Ggantija phase in Maltese prehistory. Hagar Qim consists of a central building and the remains of two other structures. The central building is made up of a series of C-shaped rooms, called apses. Some of the items that were excavated from this building have been replaced with replicas, while the originals can be found in the National Museum of Archaeology. Mnajdra is located about 500 meters downhill from Hagar Qim. While there are remains of other structures located in this complex, the best preserved are the series of three buildings surrounding a common oval forecourt. The first structure in the series is the oldest, built sometime during the Ggantija phase. The South Temple was built during the Tarxien phase (3150-2500 BCE). The Central Temple, which lies between the other two, was the last to be built. From here we will travel to the Blue Grotto where, weather permitting, we will take a boat trip into this beautiful cave complex. This popular natural wonder is comprised of a main archway approximately 30 meters high and six different caves that have been formed over time by the waves of the surrounding sea. The water in this area has a different chemical composition making it an amazing bright blue and with a clarity that allows one to see the shells and rocks on the bottom of the sea. (this visit is weather permitting and subject to change or substitution).

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine and water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon at leisure

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a traditional meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine and water; other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

We will board our motorcoach for a field trip to Marsaxlokk. This charming fishing village was once used as a port by Phoenicians and Carthaginians; a Roman harbor has been found here as well. Today we will see traditional luzzijiet — colorful fishing boats distinctive to Malta. We will walk through the fish market that takes place in this village every Sunday with commentary by our expert historian.

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine and water; other beverages available for purchase.

We board the coach to ride back to Valetta where we will visit the National Museum of Archeology. This building, constructed in 1571 as the official residence of the Knights of the Order of St. John, is one of the most elaborately decorated Baroque buildings in Valetta. The exhibits offer a wide range of artifacts dating from the Neolithic Period to the Phoenician Period. Some of the most notable artifacts on display are the 'Sleeping Lady' found at the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, the 'Venus of Malta' found at the Hagar Qim Temples, and Bronze Age daggers from the Tarxien Temples.The rest of the day is on your own to explore at your leisure.

On your own

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure tomorrow.

Hotel buffet if flight times permit. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!