At the heart of Vittoriosa, Malta, the Inquisitor’s Palace still stands magnificently; a notorious reminder of a thankfully bygone era. As with other historical locations, the Inquisitor’s Palace with its imposing, albeit distinctly aloof façade is undoubtedly the stuff of legends; the kind our forefathers intricately woven in their storytelling and where the boundary between fact and fiction was constantly blurred. Shrouded in mystery – whoever passed though its door was sworn to secrecy – it fuelled the imagination of the masses, at a time when the Church still ruled supreme and ignorance was rife.

The Roman Inquisition, also known as the Holy Office, originated in 1542, at a time when the Catholic Church all over Europe was in crisis due to the increasingly popular Protestant doctrines. Established by Pope Paul III, its sole purpose was to quell the dissidents of these ‘modern heretical’ teachings. The Inquisition guarded the Catholics against any kind of heretical practice, defection to the Islamic faith, perusal of prohibited literature and any suggestion of witchcraft or sorcery. When established in Malta in 1562, the Holy Office vested the then Bishop Domenico Cubelles (1540- 1566) with the powers of Inquisitor, endowing him with the dual role of both Bishop and Inquisitor.

Officially established in 1574, the Inquisition failed drastically to reconcile the strained relations between the Knights and the Bishop of Malta, which at the time were far from cordial. Instead, it ignited even more conflict by creating the third power, vying ruthlessly for ultimate control over the islands. The Inquisition reigned over the islands for more than two centuries (1574 – 1798) with 62 Inquisitors, all Italian, leaving their indelible mark upon the country and its natives. Apparently, the Holy Office in Malta served a good number of its Inquisitors as a means of advancement in their ecclesiastical career, Twenty-seven became cardinals, and two of them were even elected Popes: Fabio Chigi , Inquisitor from 1634-1639 became Pope Alexander VII (1655-67), while Antonio Pignatelli, Inquisitor from 1646-1649 was elected as Pope Innocent XII in 1691 until his death in 1700.

The Inquisitor’s official residence in Vittoriosa was originally built in the 1530’s to serve as the civil law court of the Order of St John soon after their arrival on the islands in 1530. It served this purpose until 1571 when the Order transferred its headquarters to the new city of Valletta. When the Apostolic Delegate and first Roman Inquisitor in Malta Mgr Pietro Dusina arrived on the islands in 1574, he initially resided in Valletta, but soon deemed it more appropriate to have a palace with a prison attached to it at his complete disposal. The building, also known as Magna Curia Castellania was soon earmarked as the most suitable building for the new Inquisitor’s requirements and was renamed Palazzo Del Sant’ Officio.

Throughout the centuries the building itself was greatly modified and extended to accommodate successive occupants, namely the 62 Inquisitors themselves, who sought to upgrade the palace according to their exigencies, whether real or imaginary. Subsequently, this even led to demolishing or altering sections of the building erected by their immediate predecessors. Their legacy is still apparent today, when in spite of careful restoration and recovering works, the structure still strikes as having been constructed quite haphazardly.

Speculation peppered with an abundant dose of scaremongering as to the horrors inflicted behind its majestic palace doors has consistently thrived throughout the years. Even today, the mere mention of the Inquisitor’s Palace conjures in one’s mind all manner of sadistic and terrifying images. This mostly exaggerated perception was perhaps further fuelled by the secrecy surrounding the procedures and functions of the Holy Office, where not only the accused were bound by very strict oaths of secrecy as to the occurrences inside the palace, but also the Inquisitors and their Ministers. Failing to honor this oath would incur the wrath of Rome in the form of excommunication which only the Cardinal Inquisitors of the Holy Congregation of Rome could remove.

Rumours of atrocious and unspeakable happenings within the Palace’s walls served to ignite the populace’s imagination and instil fear of the Holy Office. Whether these tales were instigated intentionally or not remains unclear, but to a certain extent they served as a sober deterrent for the people to ensure faithful adherence to the Church’s teachings. Undoubtedly, the greatest myth surrounding the Inquisitor’s Palace is the infamous ‘knife-pit’ (bir tas-skieken). It was believed that a pit with blades protruding from its circular wall was used for the execution of inmates; thrown alive, the prisoner would be mercilessly slashed to pieces to die an agonising death on the pit floor. This myth has been perpetuated to such an extent that very few people, locals included, perceive this legend for what it is – a gory myth fabricated throughout the ages by our ancestors.

Quite surprisingly, according to numerous records in the Archives of the Inquisition of Malta, the Holy Office’s methods, with its strictly observed procedures, were quite moderate when compared to torture administered by contemporary secular governments in most European prisons. Those who denounced themselves for any wrongdoing were never subjected to torture and were generally given penance of a spiritual nature. Frail, weak, elderly and disabled convicts were immediately exonerated from torture as were pregnant women. While the administration of torture varied from one Inquisitor to another, it was never used in the case of petty offences and contrary to what popular history might have us believe, it was applied in the most cautious and methodical manner.

Torture was always carried out in the presence of a doctor who certified or not the inmate’s state of health beforehand. The accused could not be tortured for more than 30 minutes a ta time and only as a last resort, as the Inquisition itself was quite sceptic of confessions obtained in this manner. The most common form used (and practically the only one) was the ordinarily referred to ‘ii tormento della corda’ otherwise known as the ‘strappado’. The hands of the accused would be tied with a rope behind his back which would be attached to a hook in the ceiling. He would then be pulled up in the air with his whole body weight supported only by his arms, suspended in mid-air for a short span of time where he would be lowered and raised again for not more than thirty minutes. Quite an unpalatable picture, but quite tame compared to contemporary methods used.

Today, the Inquisitor’s Palace, with its rich and opulent history remains the only one of its kind in the world to have resisted the ravages of time. Today, it serves as a National Museum of Ethnography under the auspicious patronage of Heritage Malta, who have undertaken the gargantuan task of restoring and cataloguing each and every artefact donated or recovered in connection with customs and traditions indigenous to our islands. It is an endless endeavour, but is somehow proving fruitful as can be seen in the various permanent exhibitions at the Inquisitor’s Palace. The immeasurable bounty of historical treasures, where each and every nook and cranny tells a story is undoubtedly incomparable to both locals and foreigners alike.

The Tarxien Temples come as a pleasant surprise to the unwary visitor. Situated at the heart of Tarxien (a village in the central part of Malta), the temples have been encroached by dense urban development and, unlike the other extensive prehistoric sites on the island, do not have a monumental bearing on their surrounding landscape.

Nonetheless, the Tarxien Temples offer a stimulating experience for visitors, holding he largest number of exceptional examples of prehistoric art and attesting an extraordinary society who produced astounding advances in art, technology and architecture some 5,000 years ago.

The Tarxien Temples consist of four principal megalithic structures. A small Temple at the eastern end of the site was the first to be built sometime between 3600 and 3200BC. The South and East Temples were then built in the Tarxien Phase (ca. 3000-2500BC), while the six-apsed Central Temple was the last to be constructed. The South Temple is renowned for its highly finished carvings, which include domestic animals carved in relief and various spiral designs. A striking feature within this building is the remains of a colossal statue. Within the thickness of the wall between the South and Central Temples are the famous reliefs of two bulls and a sow with piglets.

The site seems to have been used extensively for sacrificial rituals. Animal bones and a flint blade were found within a decorated altar in the South Temple suggesting that animal sacrifice formed part of the activities that took place within the building during the Temple Period. After the end of the Temple Culture the site was put to a different use, becoming the site of a cremation cemetery during the Bronze Age.

The Tarxien Temples have recently been the focus of extensive conservation studies and preparations for improved visitor facilities through an agreement between the Bank of Valletta (a local bank) and Heritage Malta, the national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage that manages Tarxien Temples.

With the help of the Bank of Valletta, Heritage Malta is slowly turning this archaeological site into an exciting discovery for all its visitors, whilst ensuring that this experience will be shared with future generations. Some of the latest environmental monitoring equipment has been installed within a number of chambers that will allow Heritage Malta’s conservation specialists to better understand the site’s deterioration and the measures necessary for its preservation.

Amongst conservation works carried out is the preservation of two unique megaliths which bear witness to the vessels that transported the very first people to the Maltese Islands, and may well be the oldest representations of ships or boats ever discovered.

For centuries the coastline of Malta has been dotted with lookout posts or watch towers that were built by the Knights of Malta during the 17th century. These towers were manned nightly to watch the seaward approaches and to raise the alarm in the event of imminent threat. The positioning of these towers was planned as such so that one could see both neighbouring towers, which acted as an early warning system against invaders. As soon as one tower spotted a suspicious event, a fire signal was started which was picked up by the neighbouring towers, in so doing carrying on the message.

A number of coastal towers were built during the reigns of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt (1601 – 1622), Grand Master Paul Lascaris Castellar (1636 – 1657) and Grand Master Martin de Redin (1657 – 1660). The aim was to strengthen Malta’s coastal guarding system.

Wignacourt Towers

A total of seven towers were built under order of Grand Master Fra Alof de Wignacourt, of which five remain today. The Wignacourt towers were not just watch towers, but formed important strongpoints in the Kinghts’ tactical defence system for the Maltese islands, of which parts were vulnerable to attack from the coast. The Wignacourt towers were the first to be built, and the Maltese watch tower grid was to be expanded by the Grand Master’s two successors.

The Wignacourt Towers:

• St Lucian Tower – Marsaxlokk
• St Thomas Tower – Marsascala
• St. Paul’s Bay Tower – St. Paul’s Bay
• St Mary’s Tower – Comino (island)
• Marsalforn Tower – Gozo (demolished)
• Santa Maria delle Grazie Tower – Xhajra (demolished)

Lascaris Towers

Under the reign of Grand Master Juan de Lascaris-Castellar, seven towers were built in the period 1637 – 1640. As well as Wignacourt, Grand Master Lascaris paid for the building of these towers out of his own pocket, such was his dedication to fortifying Malta’s coastal defences. With the exception of St. Agatha’s Tower in Mellieha (built in Wignacourt’s style), the Lascaris towers are smaller than Wignacourt’s and consisted of two storeys, a flat roof and a parapet. On some of the Lascaris towers a cannon was positioned.

The Lascaris Towers:

• Ta’ Lippija Tower – Gnejna Bay
• Ghajn Tuffieha Tower – Ghajn Tuffieha Bay
• Nadur Tower – Bingemma (Malta)
• Qawra Tower – Qawra (also known as Ta’ Fra Ben tower)
• St. George’s Bay Tower – St. Julian’s
• Wied iz-Zurrieq Tower – Zurrieq
• St. Agatha’s Tower – Mellieha (built in Wignacourt style)

De Redin’s Towers

When Grand Master Lascaris died aged 97, having ruled for 21 years, he was succeeded by Grand Master Marino de Redin, a Frenchman. He was a seasoned soldier and diplomat who was deeply concerned about the Island’s security and vulnerability to seaward attack.

Aware of the deficiencies of the existing system, de Redin devised a coast-guarding plan whose main features wee:

• Each tower would be inter-visible and able to communicate with its neighbours by day or night
• Each tower would be manned by 4 man on a daily 24 hour guard basis. The guardsmen would be equipped with a musket and paid a regular monthly salary
• Each tower would be mounted with a small gun.

Grand Master de Redin built thirteen such towers at his own expense at key tactical sites in Malta, starting from Mellieha in the North, eastwards to Zonqor, round to Benghajsa and ending near Zurrieq. The rugged Western coast was considered naturally inaccessible and needing no towers.

The cost of the thirteen towers amounted to 6,428 scudi or about €1,246 today, making the average cost of each tower about €96.

De Redin Towers:

• Ghajn Hadid Tower – Ghajn Hadid cliffs near Mellieha
• Għallis Tower – Salina Bay
• St. Mark’s Tower or Qalet Marku Tower – Bahar ic-Caghaq
• Madliena Tower – Madliena
• St.Julians Tower – St. Julian’s
• Ahrax (White) Tower – near Armier Bay at the Northern most tip of Malta
• Benghisa Tower – Benghisa
• Triq Il-Wisgha Tower – towards the East of Valletta
• Xrob l-Ghagin Tower – near Marsaxlokk
• Delimara Tower – Delimara point, near Pretty Bay, Birzebbuga
• Zonqor Tower
• Hamrija Tower – close to Siggiewi
• Wardija Tower – between Zurrieq and Hal Far

Unfortunately the successor Grand Masters after de Redin did not share the enthusiasm for building new towers and by the late 17th century the watch towers had fallen into disrepair, but eventually did receive attention and were maintained for future generations (and rulers of the Maltese islands).

It is interesting to note that in many locations of the towers built in the 17th century, Medieval watch posts or towers existed previously. This could suggest that the towers built under Grand Masters Wignacourt, Lascaris and de Redin were intended to augment and fortify pre-existing coastal defences.

Visiting the towers

Although most towers are not accessible to the public, a few are opened on specific times by volunteers of the caretaking organisation called Din l-Art Helwa. When the towers are open to visitors, a flag is lifted on top of the tower, to signal this event. These are the regular opening hours of the towers that are under the protection of this organisation:

• St. Paul’s Bay Tower (Wignacourt) – Open Monday ,  Wednesday to Friday and the first Sunday of the month from 10.00-13.00h
• Santa Marija Tower, Comino  (Wignacourt) – Open from April to October on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10.30am to 3.00pm
• St. Mark’s Tower, Bahar ic-Caghaq (de Redin) – Open by appointment only
• Ghallis Tower, Salina (de Redin) – Open by appointment only
• Dwejra Tower, Gozo (Lascaris) – Open all year from Monday to Friday from 09.00-15.00h and on Sundays from 12.00-17.00h
• St. Agatha’s Tower, Mellieha (Lascaris) – Open from Monday to Sunday from 10.00-13.00h.  Tuesdays open from 10.00 -16.00h

Wied Iz-Zurrieq

Wied iz-Zurrieq is a picturesque inlet at the end of a spectacular rugged valley leading down to the sea. From the inlet, you can take a short boat trip to a local beauty spot, the Blue Grotto, an arched hollow denting the sheer cliffs.

Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples

Hagar Qim, discovered under rubble in 1839. dates from around 2400 2000 B.C. The largest megalith at Hagar Qim is some seven metres high and weighs around 20 tons. Mnajdra is made up of two sizeable temples and is thought to date from around 3400 B.C. The third temple at Mnajdra is perhaps the finest surviving temple in Malta, The masonry shows intricate knowledge of building techniques and excellent workmanship.

The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum

The Hypogeum has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Hypogeum is a labyrinthine complex of man-made chambers hewn out of the limestone extending some 11 metres below ground. It appears to have been used both as a burial site and as a temple.

Traditional fishing village and fish market

Marsaxlokk Bay is Malta’s second largest natural harbour. It IS the best place to see the colourful. traditional Maltese fishing boats, the iuzzus. with the mythical eye of Osiris painted on their prows, The Sunday fish and general market gives a fascinating insight into local life and a traditional industry.

Fort Rinella

Fort Rinella was builtby British Royal Engineers between 1878 and 1886 and equipped with a massive 100-ton gun as a coastal battery. Thegun, still on show at Fort Rinella, has a barrel elmost 10 metres long. Victorian period re-enactments takeplace regularly on weekends at the Fort.

Tarxien Temples

The Tarxien Temples are a unique group of temples, dating from 3150 to 2500 BC, and are the most complex of all the temples in Malta. They comprise four temple units linked by a square court. They were the last to be built on the islands.

The Xarolla Windmill

This windmill known as Tax-Xarolla was built in 1724 under the patronage of Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena. In 1992, it was restored to its original working order and is now the only functioning windmill on the islands.

Old St. Gregory’s Church

The Old Parish Church of St. Gregory, dating back to 1436, is one of the most fascinating on the islands. In 1969, a network of secret passages was discovered in the church walls.

Ghar Dalam Cave and Museum

The cave of Ghar Dalam is an important site as it is here that the earliest evidence of human settlement on Malta, some 7,400 years ago, was discovered. The display area consists of the cave, some 144 metres deep, and the museum, exhibiting a wealth of finds from animal bones to human artefacts.

Dingli Cliffs

The cliffs are the most spectacular natural monuments in Malta and Gozo and rank among the more impressive landmarks in the Mediterranean. They rise up a staggering 250 metres above the sea. Besides their natural beauty, the cliffs are home to a variety of wildlife and birds.

Palazzo Parisio

Palazzo Parisio is a stately home with a history, architecture and interior unique in Malta. Described as a miniature Versailles, this opulent house is a showcase of Maltese craftsmanship at the turn of the 19th century. Its gardens are still an impressive example of classic, baroque formality.

Buskett Gardens

Buskett Gardens, Malta’s only large area of woodland was planted by the Knights as a hunting ground. It lies next to Verdala Palace, in a valley, just inland from Dingli Cliffs. Buskett has vineyards, orangeries, olive and lemon groves, and is heavily wooded with native, hardy species such as Mediterranean pines.

San Anton Gardens

Probably the best known of the Islands’ gardens, It was laid out by Grand Master Antoine de Paule as grounds to his summer residence, San Anton Palace. The garden is a botanical delight. You can wander among mature trees, past old stone urns, and formal flower beds. At the centre of the garden is a duck pond, with fountains and water lilies.

Cart Ruts

These curious parallel grooves hewn in the rock in many parts of the Islands have continued to defy any clear explanation. Cart ruts are usually found near sites of Bronze-age villages. They are therefore thought to date from around 2000 -1000 B.C. The largest concentrations of these cart ruts are on scrubland south of Buskett Gardens, an area known as Clapham Junction: and at San Pawl tat-Targa, or the Targa Gap, near Naxxar.

Train Station Gardens

These public gardens used to be a railway station, inaugurated in 1883 as a result ot increased demands for transport from the villages to Valletta. From the gardens, one can get a good view of the architecture of the old parish church.

Verdala Palace

Perched on a hilltop overlooking Busketl Gardens, Verdala Palace was built by Grand Master Hugues de Verdalle in 1588 as a summer residence. It is now used as a summer residence by the President of the Republic.

Ta` Qali and the Crafts Village

The ‘Crafts Village’ brings together small outlets and workshops where Maltese craftsmen produce their handiwork. Ta’ Qali is also a popular recreation and sport area and includes the National Soccer Stadium. a Greek theatre and covered pavilions for indoor sports.

The Mosta Rotunda

At the centre of Mosta is a magnificent domed church, known as the Rotunda and built between the1830s and 1860s. Designed by Maltese architect Giorgio de Vasse, it is said to be the third largest unsupported church dome in Europe – superseded only by St Peter’s in Rome and St Sophia in Istanbul.

Malta Aviation Museum

Housed at a former Royal Airforce Station -Ta’ Qali, this museums’ pride of place are a rebuilt Spitfire Mk IX and a Hawker Hurricane Ila. At the museum one can also see a fine collection of aircraft engines, models, uniforms, memorabilia and airfield equipment.

Mdina is one of the few great architectural treats in Malta that did not result from the activities of the Knights of Malta. The oldest city on the island, going back to pre-historic times, the word Mdina derives from the Arabic word ‘medina’ which means ‘city’. Mdina was fortified in medieval times, but its protection in early times must have been its high location on a rocky crag. It is certain that either during the Byzantine or during the Arab occupation of Malta, the fortifications were retracted to the present proportions, perhaps for better defensibility. It is during this time, when the city was referred to as the ‘medina’, that Mdina got its name. The Arab legacy continued even though the Arabs were officially expelled from Malta in 1250 when the Islands were under Christian rule. Thus the name ‘Mdina’ survived even though the City was referred to as ‘Civitas’ (city in Latin) or ‘Citta Notabile’.

It may be on most postcards and is a must in all the painters’ portfolio, yet the sight of Mdina as you are driving up to Rabat is a view that does not fail to amaze every time. Standing proudly on one of Malta’s highest promontories, the old capital looks like a medieval walled city straight out of a fairy tale. It is an inspiring view; a city that hundreds of years after it was built still commands respect, awe, and curiosity about its tales. And what tales, innumerable and long-winding given the city’s long history. The fortress city, which acted as Malta’s capital city before Valletta was built, once extended to the adjoining town of Rabat. Yet the fortified city was subsequently downsized in order to defend it more effectively.

Once past the deep moat, nowadays a public garden, and inside the city’s walls, cobbled streets are lined with immaculately preserved noble houses, private chapels, palazzi, and cathedrals. The streets are narrow and winding, and walking along them feels like trying to find your way out of a warren; a feeling which adds to the element of surprise at finding large squares. Silence pervades, and is the perfect accompaniment to a walk on the bastions, and a pause to take in the view of most of Malta stretching out to the sea.

Today Mdina is a major tourist attraction recognised internationally as an important UNESCO heritage site.

Places to See in Mdina

The Norman House

Palazzo Faison, generally known as the Norman House, is the best-preserved medieval building in Mdina. Built in 1495, it was occupied by the first Grand Master in Malta, L’lsle Adam. when the Knights arrived here in 1530.

Archbishop’s Palace

Mdina has always been the seat of the Bishop of Malta. The Archbishop’s Palace, which was built in 1722, serves as the residence of the Archbishop of Malta.

Banca Giuratale

After Grandmaster Vilhena confiscated the original Ministerial Palace for his own use, the Universita (local government) found its new seat in this building. During the revolt against the French, a national assembly came together here.

Vilhena Palace

Vilhena Palace has a fine baroque facade and an impressive entrance courtyard, both of which one notices on the right, when entering Mdina through Notabile Gate.

Palazzo Santa Sophia

The basement of this house is assumed to be the oldest in “Siculo-Norman” style and dates back to 1233.

Mdina Cathedral Museum

Originally a seminary, the museum today is one of the most outstanding religious museums in Europe. A small chapel is found on the second floor exhibiting church vestments. It also exhrbits an impressive cross-section of sacred art, famous paintings, a coin collection, Roman antiquities, and original documents from the time of the Inquisition.

Cathedral of St. Paul

The skyline of Mdina, with its baroque cathedral, bastions and palaces, is an imposing landmark visible throughout central Malta, The Cathedral is the architectural heart of this elegant, walled city, and ties on the site of a much earlier Norman church destroyed by a violent earthquake in 1693.

Places to See in Rabat

Howard Gardens

Howard Gardens are one of the biggest public gardens in Malta. These gardens form a natural border between Rabat and neighbouring Mdina.

Casa Testaferrata

This house was the seat of the old noble family Testaferrata. Historians believe that in Roman times, on the site of this building there was a temple dedicated to Apollo.

Palazzo Gatto Murina

Palazza Gatto Murina, one of the earliest ‘Siculo-Norman’ structures (i.e. built between 1100 and 1530), was erected during the latter part of the 14th century. An audiovisual show “Tales of the Silent City” is housed inside the Palazzo.

Xara Palace

The Xara Palace is a small Relais & Chateaux hotel. The history of the late 27th Century Xara Palace is inextricably part of the city walls that make up its impressive bastions.

Casa Inguanez

This is the palace of the oldest noble family of Malta, and was originally built in 1370. The house contains numerous paintings and valuable documents.

St. Paul’s Catacombs

The Maltese islands are rich in late Roman and Byzantine burial sites. St. Paul’s Catacombs are a typical complex of interconnected, underground Roman cemeteries that were in use up to the 4th century AD. St Paul’s Catacombs represent the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity in Malta.

The Roman Domus

The mosaic pavements in the ‘Roman house’ at Rabat rank among the finest and oldest mosaic compositions from the western Mediterranean, alongside those of Pompeii and Sicily. They were discovered in 1881 just outside Mdina in the remains of a rich and sumptuously decorated town house of the Roman period.

On the Eastern side of the Grand Harbour from Valletta, are the historic fortified towns referred to as the three cities. Vittoriosa (aka Birgu), Cospicua (aka Kalkara) and Senglea (aka Isla), built by the Grandmasters Cottonera, have a unique charm and character that distinguish them from all other towns in Malta, including Mdina and Valletta. Older than Valletta, the Three Cities were home to the first Knights of Malta. Fort St.Angelo, which was built around 12th century AD, was the headquarters of the Knights of Malta until Valletta was built.

Bishop’s Palace

The Palace was built by Bishop Cubelles in 1542, and enlarged in 1615 by Bishop Cagliares. The Palace also served as the Bishop’s Curia, and more recently as a school.

Safe Haven Gardens

Safe Haven Gardens are at the tip of the peninsula of Senglea. From here one can enjoy wonderful views of Valletta and the Grand Harbour. The watchtower in the gardens is known as the Gardjola.

Maritime Museum

The museum is housed in the former British naval bakery at the Birgu/Vittoriosa waterfront, built in 1842 over the site of a slipway where the Order of St John repaired their war galleys. On show are exhibits of expertly-made model ships, paintings, nautical instruments, weapons and traditional Maltese boats.

Fort St. Angelo

Fort St Angelo is the jewel in the crown of Malta’s military heritage and is located in Birgu/Vittoriosa. According to tradition, it stands on the site of a fortified Roman settlement. In medieval times, the fort was occupied by the Aragonese and the Angevins. In 1530, when the Knights arrived on the Islands, the fort became the seat of the Grand Master of the Order, It was to play a heroic role in the Great Siege of 1565, when, against all odds, it managed to repel a formidable Ottoman army.

Although earmarked for restoriation works, the Fort has sadly been left at the mercy of the elements for too long and is currently closed to the public.

Palace of the Universita

The Universita Palace was erected in 1538 to house the institution which took care of the needs of the town including the regular importation of wheat.

Church of Our Lady of Victories

Senglea’s parish church attracts pilgrims from all over Malta who come to pray in front of the statue of Christ The Redeemer.

Church of St.Lawrence

This church is built in Baroque style and is in the shape of a Latin cross. The columns are of very beautiful ocrecolored marble and on each column one can see the eight-pointed cross.

Church of the Immaculate Conception

The church dates to the 1600s. Standing before it, with steps either side leaning up to the Church, is a memorial to the victims of WWII.

The Inquisitor’s Palace

The Inquisitor’s Palace, situated in the heart of Vittoriosa, is an architectural gem and one of the very few surviving palaces of its kind.

With a coastline of 43 km, Gozo is the second largest island of the Maltese archipelago. Forever immortalised as The Island of Calypso, this name originated from the Greek mythological location of Ogygia referred to in Homer’s Odyssey. In this epic poem, the fabled island was controlled by the nymph Calypso, who had detained the Greek hero Odysseus for seven long years as prisoner of love. Gozo’s history is twined up in the general story of its sister island of Malta. As a result, Gozo shared the same influences of cultures bestowed on by the number of dominators and events that touched Malta during the last seven thousand years.

Comino, Malta’s smallest inhabited island, can be visited on day trips or if peace and quiet is your top priority you could consider staying at the island’s only hotel. The island’s main attraction is its largest bay called the Blue Lagoon.

These are a few places of interest in Gozo and Comino you should consider visiting.

Ggantija Temples – Xaghra

The Ggantija Temples (‘place of giants’) are thought to be the oldest free-standing structures In the world. They are among the best-preserved temples on the Maltese Islands and certainly the most visited historical site on the Maltese Islands. The complex comprises two Neolithic temples dating from the third millennium B.C (3600 to 3000 B.C.).

Dwejra and the Azure Window

Dwejra is perhaps the archipelago’s most spectacular natural landmark. Here, geology, time and sea have worked together to produce some of the most remarkable scenery on the Islands The Azure Window, the Inland Sea, Fungus Rock, sheer cliffs and a rocky coastline yielding fossilised remains of sea creatures dating from the Miocene period.

Gozo Cathedral Museum – Victoria

This museum has more than 2,000 items on display including the Cathedral’s archives, some magnificent paintings, clerical vestments and a silver vault. Among the paintings are several by well-known local artists George Hyzler, Michele Busetti and Tommaso Median.

Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary – Gharb

The origins of the Basilica of Ta’ Pinu go back to a day in June 1883 when a peasant woman heard the voice of the Virgin Mary in an old chapel. In 1931. today’s church was consecrated and a year later Pope Pius XI raised it to the status of Basilica. The original 16th century chapel was fully integrated into the new church.

Gozo Cathedral – Victoria

The Cathedral, built in the early 17th century. is small but graceful. Its floor is made up of a mosaic of marble tombstones and ecclesiastical emblems, while its ceiling has a remarkable trompe l’oeil painting depicting the interior of a dome that was never built.

Folklore Museum – Victoria

The Museum. housed within the Citadel, contains a wide range of exhibits depicting the domestic, rural and traditional ways of life in the agrarian economy of the Maltese and Gozitans.

The Citadel – Victoria

Gozo’s Citadel rises steeply above the surrounding countryside, its impressive bastions commanding a superb view of the island. The Citadel owes its roots to the late medieval era, but the hill has been settled since Neolithic times.

Museum of Archaeology – Victoria

Housed in Palazzo Bondi`, this museum showcases archaeological finds from the 11 phases of prehistoric Gozo, as well as the Classical World to the Middle Ages. A section of the Museum includes items discovered at sea, off the Gozitan coastline.

Gharb Folklore Museum – Gharb

This privately-owned museum in the village’s main square depicts daily life in Gozo of the past. This museum is a showcase of traditional life and includes the printing press used for Gozo’s first newspaper plus a collection of old tools and clothes.

The Xewkija Rotunda – Xewkija

Xewkija village is dominated by a huge rotunda church built in 1971. It is Gozo’s answer to Malta’s Mosta Rotunda. The dome is larger than that of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The church has a capacity for a congregation of 3,000, the entire population of Xewkija.

The Blue Lagoon – Comino

The Blue Lagoon, a sheltered inlet of shimmering aquamarine water, is the main attraction of the tiny island of Comino, and popular for day trips. The Lagoon and the Isle’s other bays with their crystal clear waters make Comino the ideal choice for most kinds of water sports, especially diving and snorkelling.