Malta
4 days, 25 – 28 October, from 379€/person + taxes.
Unique departure for the feast of October 28th to enjoy the Island of the Knights, the island that almost always has sun, Malta! Direct flights, centrally located hotels and an itinerary that combines tours with our experienced guide to get to know the places, and free time to enjoy the chivalrous Mediterranean island!
Schedule:
Day 1: Direct flight to Malta – City tour – Baraka Gardens – Check-in at the hotel
Gathering at “MAKEDONIA” airport, check-in and direct flight to the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta, European Capital of Culture 2018. Malta is truly an island that is a feast of colours and aromas. On arrival, we meet our escort, who has made this trip repeatedly, and we get to know the places, local traditions and the mentality of the inhabitants. We start the tour in the famous capital of the Order of the Knights of Saint John, Valletta. Valletta is fortified, built on a narrow promontory, flanked by two natural harbours and boasts a proud fortress, Saint Elmo. The town was built by the Knights of the Order of Saint John after the Great Ottoman Siege of 1565. The tour is done on foot, as car traffic is prohibited in the Old Town section. It is a unique castle town of great historical importance and unlimited beauty. We will walk through the narrow, picturesque streets and enjoy the elements of another era. We will see the Palace of the Grand Master and Saint John’s Cathedral, Malta’s most impressive church and an excellent example of Maltese Baroque. The church was erected between 1573 and 1578 as the Monastic Church of the Knights of Saint John. On our visit to the Museum we will admire two of Caravaggio’s most famous works, the “Beheading of John the Baptist” and the “Saint Jerome”. We will then head to the famous Baraka Gardens. We will admire the Gardens, from where we will have a panoramic view of Malta’s two natural harbours and the Three historic towns, associated with the two great sieges of 1565 and 1942. Although time travel is something unattainable, this walk through the island’s castle towns is a true immersion in the past. We’ll even walk along its main pedestrian street, Triq Ir-Repubblika, with its old buildings with “closed” balconies and shops with vintage signs, and see the vertical alleys with their golden-coloured, battered buildings and worn palazzi, bathed in the sea breeze. Free time, and in the afternoon, transfer to our hotel. Settling in the rooms. In the evening, we suggest you walk along the lively promenade of Saint Julian’s, which is bustling with life.
Day 2: Excursion to Mosta – Medina – Tour
Breakfast, and this day includes an excellent excursion. We will visit the impressive Mosta Cathedral, with the third largest dome in Europe, and then transfer to Rabat Hill to visit what is called Medina, indicating the mysterious atmosphere surrounding it, which is fortified in an impregnable castle. It had served in the Middle Ages as the capital of the island, before the Hospitaller Knights built their fortress near the sea. It was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1693. When the Knights occupied the island, the old Maltese aristocracy settled here. Today, with careful conservation and controlled restoration, it is trying, with the help of Unesco, to preserve its magnificent baroque architecture, which in many cases is combined with typical Arabic elements. It is the most elegant, but also the most expensive area of Malta. The heavy, all-wooden doors of its houses are rarely opened. The town lacks commercial life, bright signs and generally seems to live more in the glorious past than in the present. Its magical atmosphere has not been altered by the crowds of tourists that flock there. On our walk, we will admire impressive tower houses with their characteristic ornate lanterns, stone-built monasteries and Norman palaces. Immediately afterwards, return to our hotel. In the evening, we suggest you enjoy a carriage ride, take pictures of the magic buses that date back to the 1950s, and try the cuisine, famous for its fresh fish and vegetable soups.
Day 3: Optional excursion to Gozo
Today we recommend a full day excursion to the enchanting island of Gozo. To reach the second largest island of the Maltese Archipelago, we transfer to the ferry and board the ferry boat. The extraordinary beauty of the landscape, the magnificent houses and farmhouses, and the changing scenery you will encounter will quickly convince you how worthwhile your visit to the island of Gozo was. We will visit Rabat, with its famous Castle, the Old Town, the area where the nymph Calypso lived and the Rambla beach, where the movie “Troy” was filmed. Furthermore, we will also visit the picturesque fishing village of Sletti, where we will have time for lunch and souvenir shopping.
Day 4: Excursion to the three cities (Senglea – Vitoriossa – Cospicoua) – Return flight
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to explore the areas of the Three cities – Cospicoua, Vitoriossa and Seglea, the location of the Knights of Saint John, during the Great Siege of 1565 (The three cities). Those cities are a unique cluster of architectural structures of castles, houses and important buildings, built in a magnificent location in the Grand Harbour and strongly influenced by the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Hospitallers, Knights Hospitallers and the British. From their ramparts, we will enjoy the magical view of Valletta, and wander through the Medieval streets, with the buildings of the Holy Inquisition, the monasteries, the Execution Square and the Executioner’s House. Finally, transfer to the airport for the return flight. Arrival in our city with the best impressions.
* Holiday program (without tour program) -50€ per person.
** Cost of Optional Gozo Excursion: price per adult 45€, price per child 35€.
What is included:
- One personal item – hand luggage (with dimensions of 40x20x25 cm) and one 10kg hand luggage (with dimensions of 55x40x20 cm) per person, with secured access.
- 3 nights’ accomodation in the hotel of your choice.
- Breakfast daily.
- Transfers/tours by luxury bus, according to the programme.
- Tour escort.
- Travel insurance.
Not included:
- Total taxes 165€ per person.
- Anything optional or suggested.
PRICE PER PERSON:
