Shore Excursions Group
Exclusive Snapshot Of Malta
Exclusive Snapshot of Malta
Escape the 50+ person mob tours the cruise lines offer with this group tour of never more than 30 guests (and often less). Leaving the port, you will be driven to Mdina. Approximately 30 minutes away and Malta’s first capital, Mdina dates back to before Roman times. Together with the guide, you will stroll through the quaint winding streets, admire the beautiful palazzos still used as homes by Malta’s oldest families, and enjoy the view from the bastions of the ‘Silent City’. The total walking time with stops is approximately 45 minutes.
After leaving Mdina, you will have a short photo stop outside the Mosta Dome Church, the third-largest dome in Europe. In 1942, the church had 300 people inside when a bomb pierced the dome and miraculously failed to explode.
Arriving in Valletta, you will begin your approximate 90-minute walking tour of the capital city of Malta. You will visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens for a panoramic view of Malta’s natural harbors and the historic cities of Senglea, Cospicua, and Vittoriosa in the distance.
Continuing through Valletta’s main streets, you will walk to St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the 16th-century knight’s own church. Revealing a staggering display of Baroque art, it houses some of Malta’s finest art treasures. The two masterpieces by Caravaggio, “The Beheading of St. John the Baptist” and “St. Jerome,” hang in the Oratory.
At the end of the tour, you will walk past various important buildings before reaching your transport, which will be waiting to return you to the port below. Guests wishing to remain in town may do so but are responsible for getting themselves back to the cruise pier at their own expense.
Please Note: The St. John’s Co-Cathedral will not be open to the public on Sundays and public holidays. In such instances, visits to the cathedral will be substituted with a visit to the Grand Master’s Palace. The same would apply in case of any last-minute closures of St. John’s Co-Cathedral. The order in which the sites are visited may change according to the logistical needs of the day.
| Day 1 |
Malta’s ornate and vibrant capital, Valletta, dazzles travelers with its abundance of historical landmarks and striking architecture. This island jewel off the coast of Italy remains a popular destination for Mediterranean cruises. From central St. George’s Square, to sixteenth-century Casa Rocca Piccola, to the Siege Bell War Memorial, Valletta has no shortage of monuments detailing the city’s long history. Unique remnants of Valletta’s military past include the Saluting Battery, which continues to fires cannon salutes from the harbor for tourists, and the wreckage of WWII ship HMS Maori, accessible on scuba diving excursions in St. Elmo Bay. Gilded St. John’s Co-Cathedral, laden with exquisite gold and grand frescoes, is a must-see attraction in Valletta, while opulent Teatru Manoel offers stunning opera performances in a setting decorated with rich reds, golds, and teals. Stroll the Baroque-style Valletta Waterfront to find the city’s best culinary delights or hop aboard a boat from the Laguna Marina. |
| Travel Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
05/03/22 - 04/09/27 |
Starting At $119 |
Get A Quote |
This tour is not wheelchair accessible, and all guests must be able to navigate paved, packed dirt, and cobblestone surfaces, many of which are uneven. There are slight elevations and steps at each stop. Please be prepared to be on your feet for approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
