UNESCO World Hertitage

MALTA’S TOP NATIONAL MUSEUMS & SITES: - National Museum of Archaeology - Fort St Elmo - The Inquisitor’s Palace - St. Paul’s Catacombs - Fort St Angelo - Tarxien Temples - Malta Maritime Museum

Heritage Malta is the national agency for museums, conservation and cultural heritage. Visit heritagemalta. org to find out more.

There are three UNESCO World Heritage sites found on the Maltese Islands; the Megalithic Temples, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum and the City of Valletta.

MEGALITHIC TEMPLES The Megalithic Temples of Malta (Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Skorba, Ta’ Ħaġrat and Tarxien) rank amongst the earliest free-standing stone buildings in the world, constructed between 3600 BC and 700 BC. The two temples of Ġgantija on the island of Gozo are notable for their gigantic Bronze Age structures. The Ġgantija Temples were created 1,000 years before the famous Egyptian pyramids of Giza.

Each monument is a unique architectural masterpiece and a witness to an exceptional prehistoric culture renowned for its remarkable architectural, artistic and technological achievements.

ĦAL SAFLIENI HYPOGEUM The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, discovered in 1902, is found in the town of Paola located in Valletta. The prehistoric monument, in use from 4000 BC to 2500 BC, was previously a sanctuary as well as an underground cemetery which originally contained the remains of 7,000 individuals. The ‘labyrinth’, as it’s often referred to, is made up of three floors consisting of a series of elliptical chambers.

Access to the historical site is limited to ten people per tour, there are six tours per day and just two of these are bookable on the day. It’s recommended to book tickets at least a month in advance online to ensure you visit this incredible site whilst exploring the Maltese Islands.

CITY OF VALLETTA Valletta, Malta’s capital, is a fortified Renaissance city located on a hilly peninsula between two of the finest natural harbours in the Mediterranean; the Marsamxett Harbour and the Grand Harbour. The Knights of St. John conceived and planned the city using a uniform grid plan within fortified and bastioned walls.

Valletta is home to over 320 historical monuments including St John’s Co-Cathedral, Grandmaster Palace, Manoel Theatre and Fort St Elmo, all within an area of 80 ha; making it the most concentrated historic city in Europe. The city, abundantly rich in stunning architecture, boasts enchanting gardens including the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Hastings Gardens and the Lower Barrakka Gardens.

RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGES St. Paul brought the Christian faith to Malta in 60 AD; the Maltese are among the oldest Christian civilisations in the world. There are over 360 churches, chapels and cathedrals throughout Malta, making the islands ideal for religious pilgrimages.