The unique megalithic temples of the Maltese Islands are justly claimed to be the most impressive monuments of European prehistory. They are remarkable not only because of their originality, complexity and striking massive proportions, but even more so because of the considerable technical skill required in their construction. These temples are complex structures extended and embellished over a long period of time.

These structures have been declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco and are the earliest free-standing stone monuments in the world, much earlier than the pyramids of Egypt and already under construction around the mid-4th millennium B.C.E.

Monday 13th March

Hagar Qim

Since its first exploration in 1839, Hagar Qim has come to represent Malta’s Temple period. This temple is one of the most amazing monuments that have managed to survive in the world. its perfect limestone façade, is an architectural masterpiece. This majestic façade opens up into an intriguing maze of courts, corridors and chambers housing wonderfully carved altars, stones and doorways. The huge limestone blocks that were used to construct these temples are astounding, considering that these temples were built without the availability of modern tools and equipment. Some of the slabs used are over twenty feet high and weigh several tons. The site was in use during the whole of the Temple Period, with many additions and modifications between 3,600 - 2,500 BCE. Thus it is no surprise that such a spectacular structure, with its elaborate and complex architecture, has earned so much fame and regard

Mnajdra

The three temples of Mnajdra are located 1 km west of Hagar Qim with a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean and the island of Filfla. Although this temple does not boast of a spectacular façade like Hagar Qim, there are still considerable wonders to be viewed here. The first and oldest temple is a simple trefoil of the Ggantija phase (3600-3100 BCE). The most impressive of the Mnajdra temples is the third, with its largely intact façade and bench constructed in the early Tarxien phase. The houses a magnificent and elaborately designed shrine. Also of special interest is the beautifully executed oracular hole. The great number of altars, pedestals and megalithic shelves further emphasize the sacred nature of this temple. The middle temple was the last one to be built and dates after 3100 BCE. Walking through the Mnajdra temples one can only be amazed at the elaborate design and exquisite details present throughout the temple. It is this architectural mastery and aesthetic perfection that defines Mnajdra as a genuine megalithic wonder.

Tuesday 14th March

Tarxien

Tarxien is the most elaborate site of the Maltese temples. This site is overflowing with elaborate carvings and decorative features. This complex consists of four interconnected temple units dating from around 3200 to 2500 BCE. Being the last to be built on the Islands, these temples are unique because they represent the skillful workmanship and expertise, which the temple people had achieved since the first phase of megalithic construction. These temples are mostly associated with the massive statue of the Neolithic Goddess dominating the site. Of particular note is the chamber set into a thick wall, which is famous for its reliefs of two bulls and a sow. Other astounding remains include the remarkable altars, the stepped niches, the huge stone bowl and a number of stone rollers left outside the south temple which were probably used for transporting the megaliths. Many of the decorated remains are presently found at the Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. Replicas are now located where the originals were discovered.

Hal Saflieni

The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is the most astounding achievement of the ancient temple people of Malta. This underground three-storey structure, the likes of which are not found anywhere else, was skillfully carved out of the living rock to imitate the temple architecture above ground. The workmanship is all the more impressive when you consider that this monument was meticulously carved using only flint and stone tools.

The Hypogeum, located a few metres away from the Tarxien Temple, was first in use around 3600 BCE. As the chambers filled up, more chambers were dug deeper underground. The lower level and most recent (3000-2400 BCE) reaches down as far as 10 metres below ground level. The middle level is the most intricately constructed with smoothly finished walls and intriguing chambers; the most amazing being a small kidney-shaped chamber called the 'Holy of Holies'. The carved façade as you enter the ‘Holy of Holies’ is simply magnificent. The Oracle Chamber, also found at this level, actually consists of three adjacent oval chambers, one of which has the amazing characteristic of echoing deep sounds throughout the entire hypogeum. Some of the walls of the Hypogeum are almost completely covered with sculptures. Others are covered with designs of curves, spirals and circles forming beautiful designs. The delicate perfection found in this temple translates into a powerful spiritual experience for the visitor.

Thursday 16th March

Skorba

Although nowadays what remains of this site are several extremely large menhirs, Skorba is of huge archaeological importance for the Maltese temple period. It was practically left untouched until1961, when it was systematically excavated by Dr. H. Trump. One of the most important features of this prehistoric site is that the evidence shows that the site was occupied from the Ghar Dalam phase (5000-4500 BCE) in the Neolithic up to the later phases of the Bronze Age. This provided archaeologists with a complete chronology, starting with an early settlement pre-dating the Temple Age up to the later Tarxien Temple phase and further into the Bronze Age.

The site comprises two temple remains, side by side. The first temple dates from around 3500 BCE whilst the east temple dates from the Tarxien Phase. In a field east of the eastern temple, one finds the remains of two rooms dating around 4100 BCE. The irregularity of the floors and the unleveled surface of bedrock seem to preclude the site’s domestic use. However, the group of figurines found in the northern room, now on display at the National Museum of Archaeology, also suggest that this building had a religious function. It may be considered then a true predecessor of the temples which first appeared.

Ta’ Hagrat

Ta’ Hagrat, lying just a kilometre away from Skorba is an important temple site. This site comprises a double temple consisting of two adjacent trefoils, both of which are less formally planned than is usual in temple construction. The larger temple dating from around 3,600-3,000 BCE. is the earliest temple building in Malta. The smaller temple dates from 3,300-3,000 BCE Ta’ Hagrat is smaller than many of the Islands’ temples, but it is better preserved. The temple, with its characteristic, imposing façade, yielded huge amounts of artefacts and pottery. The plentiful pottery of earlier date suggested that these two temples replaced an earlier village dating from 4,100-3,800 BCE. One unique artefact found on site was a small limestone model of a temple.

Friday 17th March

Capital City – Valletta

 Valletta is the Islands' fortress city and also Malta's capital city. Founded by the Knights of St John in 1566, this 16 th century architectural masterpiece is known as the 'city built by gentlemen for gentlemen'. Although its many titles recall its rich historical past, Valletta is very much a working, capital city, a bustling cultural centre and the administrative and commercial heart of the Islands. The bastions of this fortress city rank among the world's greatest examples of military engineering. Valletta is also regarded as a unique example of baroque architecture. The grid of narrow streets house some of Europe's finest churches, palaces and cultural treasures. Walking around Valletta, you'll come across an intriguing historical site around every corner: votive statues, niches, fountains and coats of arms high up on parapets. Nowhere in Malta is the life of the Islands reflected more than in this inspiring city.

The National Museum Archaeology

The National Museum of Archaeology displays an exceptional array of artefacts from Malta’s unique prehistoric periods starting with the first arrival of man in the Ghar Dalam phase (5200 BCE) and running up to the Tarxien phase (2500 BCE).

The collection is housed in the Auberge de Provence, one of the first and most important buildings to be erected in Malta’s baroque capital city, Valletta.

The first rooms trace man’s early settlement of the Islands up to the temple-building periods using a reconstruction of a rock-cut tomb. The collection includes obsidian cores and the Red Skorba figurines, which are predecessors of the temple period objects and statuary. The main hall is devoted to temple carvings, in particular the giant statue and altar blocks of Tarxien Temples. The collection continues with representations of animals, temple models, and remarkable human figures. Of particular note are the exquisite figures of the ‘Sleeping Lady’ from the Hypogeum, and the ‘Venus’ of Hagar Qim.

The last room exhibits some pottery from the temple period, together with tools of flint and obsidian, beads and other ornaments, all of which illustrate the remarkable artistic skill and sophistication of the prehistoric dwellers of the Islands.

Wednesday 15th March – Optional Tour

Ggantija

Ggantija Temples in Xaghra, Gozo, are one of the most important archaeological sites in the Maltese Islands. The origins of Ggantija date back to around 3600 BCE The Ggantija megalithic complex consists of two temples surrounded by a massive common boundary wall. Both temples have separate trilithon entrances. The first temple is larger and contains a variety of important features such as altars, relief carvings and libation holes. The massive boundary wall is one of the most striking features of the entire temple complex. Some of the huge slabs of coralline limestone are the largest ever used in the construction of the Maltese megalithic temples. It is constructed using the alternating header and stretcher technique and most of the megaliths exceed five metres in length and weigh over fifty tons.

The gigantic dimensions of the megaliths have always fascinated the local imagination. In centuries past, the locals believed that the Islands’ temples were built by giants. This particular temple site in Gozo bears witness to this ancient legend: its name, 'Ggantija', is Maltese for giant.