Exploring the Three Cities

CHECK OUT SENGLEA’S FORTIFICATIONS

The Senglea fortifications, also known as ‘Is-Swar tal-Isla’ in Maltese, are a system of defensive walls and other fortifications that encircle the city of Senglea. After it was built by Grand Master Claude de la Sengle, the other defences were built over the course of the next 10 years, with Fort Saint Michael being the first to be built in 1552. Up to the 18th century, the fortifications were altered, but throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, a significant amount of them was destroyed. Senglea's defences are now reduced to the seaward bastions and a section of the land front. The St. Michael Bastion is our

particular favourite.

THE INQUISITOR’S PALACE IN VITTORIOSA

The Inquisitor's is also known as the Sacred Palace (Maltese: Il-Palazz tal-Inkwiżitur). The structure, back then known as the Castellania, was constructed as a courthouse at the beginning of the 16th century. Due to several repairs and reconstructions carried out over the next decades, just a small portion of the original building is still in place today. After the inquisition was abolished in 1798, the palace performed a number of duties, including those of a military hospital, a mess hall, and a convent. It has been a museum since 1966 and has been known as the National Museum of Ethnography since 1992.

ADMIRE ST HELEN’S GATE IN COSPICUA

The main entrance to the Santa Margherita Lines is called St. Helen's Gate. It was built in the Baroque style in 1736, under the supervision of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, to a design by Charles François de Mondion. St. Helen's Gate Baroque doorway is one of the most outstanding Hospitaller gates from the 18th century. The two half-columns that support the cornice on the portal's façade are supported by two alternate grades of plain and rusticated hardstone masonry. The style of the gate is evocative to Mondion's 1726 Main Gate for Fort Manoel. There are only two gates in Malta with life-size artillery piece representations, the other being Porte des Bombes.

EXPLORE THE COTTONERA LINES

The Cottonera Lines, are a line of fortifications in Cospicua and Birgu, Malta. Due to concerns about an Ottoman invasion, they were built in the 17th and 18th centuries to serve as an extra barrier

to protect the area around the inner harbour. The Cottonera Lines are comprised of nine curtain walls, seven majestic entrances, eight demi-bastions, two bastions, and eight other fortifications. Even if sections of the Lines are not currently in their best condition, they nevertheless provide some of the best views on the island, giving a clear view of the Grand Harbour, the South of Malta, and the hills and valleys that go all the way to Mdina.

THE GEMS OF THE VILLAGE OF XAGĦRA GOZO

One of the charms of the island of Gozo is that each village has its own unique features waiting to be discovered. Beautiful churches, quaint wayside chapels, historic places, squares and alleys imbued with a typically Mediterranean vibe, scenic valleys and photogenic hilltops simply await to be noticed by the visitor who dedicates time to absorb the authentic Gozo experience.

Xagħra is one such place ideal for a hiking village tour. Located on the hilltop plateau on the northern side of Gozo, the village is a real gem. There are various routes that you can follow to hike through it, but make sure you’re checking out these landmarks.

Aerial shot of the Ġgantija Temples

Most of the visitors to the island of Gozo make a stopover at Xagħra and drop by at Ġgantija Temples, which are world-renowned landmarks. This UNESCO World

Heritage site includes a museum and it is famous for its megaliths and the gigantic boulders that were used to erect this temple. Another prehistoric site to explore is the Xagħra Stone Circle or the Brockdorff Circle which is a series of underground burial chambers some 400 metres away from the Ġgantija complex. The lesser known Santa Verna Temple is another prehistoric site, but one over which time has not been so clement and

thus here one can only see the remains of what was once a temple.

A collection of Caves and Grottos

View from Calypso Cave area Xagħra’s geology is one dotted with caves and caverns. Two interesting spots which you want to hunt out in the village of Xagħra are Ninu’s Cave and Xerri’s Grotto. These are two caves that are located within private residences. Both Ninu’s Cave and Xerri’s Grotto were

discovered when the respective owners wanted to dig for water and stumbled upon these caverns with stalactites and stalagmites. Beyond these caverns, there’s the vantage point of Calypso’s Cave. Considered unsafe because of geological movements, this cave is closed to the public but its location brings in an evocative view of Ramla l-Ħamra. With such a magnificent view worthy of the gods, it is easy to believe that this was indeed the abode of the nymph Calypso.