Lonely Planet Malta & Gozo

195 Pages·2016·14.41 MB·English

by  Lonely Planet

P
D
F
Malta
& Gozo
PDF ebook
Edition 6th Edition
Release Date Feb 2016
Pages 192
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4 easy-to-use How to Use This Book
sections
Look for these symbols to quickly identify listings:
1 4
Sights Sleeping
1
r 5
Beaches Eating
2 6
PLAN YOUR TRIP Activities Drinking
C 3
Courses Entertainment
Your planning tool kit
T 7
Photos & suggestions to help Tours Shopping
you create the perfect trip.
z Festivals 8 Information
& Events & Transport
All reviews are ordered in our authors’ preference,
starting with their most preferred option. Additionally:
2 Sights are arranged in the geographic order that we
suggest you visit them and, within this order, by author
preference.
ON THE ROAD Eating and Sleeping reviews are ordered by price
range (budget, midrange, top end) and, within these
Your complete guide
ranges, by author preference.
Expert reviews, easy-to-use
maps & insider tips.
These symbols and abbreviations give vital
information for each listing:
Must-visit recommendation
Sustainable or green recommendation
3
No payment required
% Telephone number f Ferry
UNDERSTAND h Opening hours j Tram
p Parking d Train
Get more from your trip n Nonsmoking a pt apartments
Learn about the big picture, to a Air-conditioning d double rooms
make sense of what you see. i Internet access d m dorm beds
W Wi-fi access q quad rooms
s Swimming pool r rooms
v Vegetarian selection s single rooms
E English-language menu ste suites
4
c Family-friendly tr triple rooms
# Pet-friendly tw twin rooms
g Bus
SURVIVAL GUIDE
Your at-a-glance reference For symbols used on maps, see the Map Legend.
Vital practical information
for a smooth trip.
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Malta

& Gozo
Gozo &
Comino
p113
Northwest
Malta
p75 Sliema, St Julian's
& Paceville
p65
Central
Malta
Valletta
p90
p42
Southeast
Malta
p104
THIS EDITION WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED BY
Abigail Blasi
P LAN
ON THE ROAD
YOUR TRIP
Welcome to Malta VALLETTA . . . . . . . . . 42 NORTHWEST MALTA . .75
& Gozo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Around Valletta . . . . . . . . 58 Golden Bay &
Malta & Gozo Map . . . . . . .6 Floriana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Għajn Tuffieħa . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Malta & Gozo’s Top 10 . . . . 8 Vittoriosa, Senglea & Mġarr & Around . . . . . . . . . 79
Cospicua Mellieħa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Need to Know . . . . . . . . . .14 (the Three Cities) . . . . . . . . 59 Xemxija . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
If You Like… . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Hal Saflieni Hypogeum Buġibba, Qawra &
& Tarxien Temples . . . . . . . 64 St Paul’s Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Month by Month . . . . . . . . 18
Fort Rinella & Smart City . . 64 Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq . . . . . . . . 88
Itineraries . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Diving & Outdoor SLIEMA, ST JULIAN’S CENTRAL MALTA . . . 90
Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 & PACEVILLE . . . . . . . 65 Mdina & Rabat . . . . . . . . . . 91
Eat & Drink Sliema & Around . . . . . .67 Dingli Cliffs . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Like a Local . . . . . . . . . . . 32 St Julian’s & Paceville . . 70 Mosta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Travel with Children . . . . 36 Naxxar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Birkirkara & the Three
Regions at a Glance . . . . 39
Villages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
LES STOCKER/GETTY IM
AGES ©
CARNIVAL PROCESSION,
VALLETTA P18
CHRISTIAN KOBER/JOHN WARBURTON-LEE PHOTOGRAPHY LTD/GETTY IM CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF FALOMBINI/GETTY IMAGES ©
AGES © LOURDES, MĠARR P121
Contents
UNDERSTAND
SOUTHEAST Xewkija . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Malta & Gozo
MALTA . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Ta’Ċenċ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Marsaxlokk . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Xlendi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Birżebbuġa . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Northern Gozo . . . . . . .124 The Maltese Way
Marsaskala . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Għarb & Around . . . . . . . . 124 of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Żurrieq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 San Lawrenz . . . . . . . . . . . 125 5000 Years of
Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra . . . 110 Dwejra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Architecture . . . . . . . . . .165
Għar Lapsi . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Marsalforn . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Xagħra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
SSUURRVVIIVVAALL
GOZO & COMINO . . . 113 Nadur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 GGUUIIDDEE
Ramla Bay, San Blas
Gozo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Bay & Daħlet Qorrot . . . . 132
Victoria (Rabat) . . . . . . . . 116
Qala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Directory A–Z . . . . . . . . .170
Southern Gozo . . . . . . .120
Comino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Mġarr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Mġarr ix-Xini . . . . . . . . . . . 122 ACCOMMODATION . . 134 Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Map Legend . . . . . . . . . . . 191
SPECIAL FEATURES
Diving & Outdoor
Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Eat & Drink Like
a Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
The Maltese Way
of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161
5000 Years of
Architecture . . . . . . . . . 165
AZURE WINDOW, DWEJRA
P126
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
4
Welcome to
Malta & Gozo
Malta packs glorious variety into its
small archipelago. You’ll find prehistoric
temples, fossil-studded cliffs, hidden
coves, thrilling scuba diving and a
history of remarkable intensity.
A Legendary History A Mediterranean Cocktail
Malta’s geographical location in the centre Malta is staunchly Roman Catholic but is
of the Mediterranean made it an alluring also home to a beguiling mix of cultures
and much-fought-over prize in times when that has stewed together over generations.
it was impossible for sea vessels to attempt Traditional Maltese food mixes Sicilian
long, continuous trips, and the islands are and Middle Eastern flavours, while mak-
full of majestic above- and below-ground ing use of local ingredients such as rabbit
defences. The capital, Valletta, built by and honey. The Maltese people are warm
the Knights of St John, is a harmonious and welcoming: if you ask for directions,
grid, Mdina and Victoria are fortress-like it’s likely a local will walk with you to help
hilltop towns, and watchtowers dot the you find the way. Plenty of 21st-century
coast. Even Malta’s fishing boats resonate sophistication can be found, but there are
with the past, their prows painted with also pockets where you feel you’ve gone back
eyes, just like the boats of their Phoenician in time, especially on Gozo, where mam-
predecessors. moth churches tower over quiet villages.
Secret Coves & Glittering Sea Mysterious Ancients
Malta’s landscape contrasts rocky stretch- Malta and Gozo’s astounding prehis-
es of coast that end in dizzying limestone toric sites were seemingly constructed by
cliffs with sheltered bays that hide gin- sophisticated temple builders, who also
clear water and red-gold beaches. The left miniature figurines and mammoth
islands’ many marinas jostle with boats, sculptures of ‘fat ladies’, which have sur-
and you can take to the water in sky-blue vived millennia and are housed in Malta’s
traditional craft, stately yachts or speed- fascinating museums. Out in the open,
boats. Snorkellers and divers have much to gigantic temples and towers from many
explore underwater as well, in a world of different eras stand proud, continuing their
caves, crags and wrecks. endless watch over the sea. But the most
extraordinary site of all lies underground:
Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, a 5000-year-old
necropolis carved from the living rock.
5
IN GREEN/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Why I Love Malta & Gozo
by Abigail Blasi, Author
Malta is packed with interest, yet is laid-back and easy. There are boat trips, beautiful towns,
periwinkle seas, friendly people and soul-feeding views, and you can go from swimming in
glinting sea to a clifftop prehistoric site, to a harbourside restaurant, all in the space of a few
hours. Combine sightseeing and beaches on Malta with a relaxing stay on Gozo, with its hill-
ocks, small villages and carved-out coast, and you have the perfect holiday.
For more about Abigail Blasi, see page 192
Above: Vittoriosa, Malta (p59)
Malta & Gozo
14º08'E 14º10'E 14º12'E 14º14'E 14º16'E 14º18'E 14º20'E
36º04'N DPiSomaininttri Ta'GħamŻembbaurġ#\ #\Qb#\ajMjaarrsalfoRrGnamOlZaO
Għarb #\ Bay San
#\ Blas Bay
DwPoejirnat Xagħra#\ QDoarhrloett
DwBaejyra Victoria^#
36º02'N WaProdiinjat Xlendi BayXle#\n(dRiMaubnaxta)r#\ #\Xewkija M#\ġaNrardur#\Qala PQoailnat
Stunning cDoawsteljirnae carved byTCSa'alĊinfeTfnsnaa'ċĊt#\en#\ċ GħiMxa-jXnasirnierileCmh#\aFmV#or#\btraf#yNortCh hCaonmneilnf#oComino
36°00'N wind, sea and time (p125) Marfa SoutChh Caonmneilno APħorinatx
Pointf#
swPiimcWt uairneedds q siuln-eoG rbħkeeaalsc (rhpi 1to31) ParĊairdkieswe wBaay#\ MMaarr#\ffaa Peninsula
Mellieħa
35º58'N MelliBeħaay#\ MBealyl#]ieħa
33
Often-Bcrluowe dLeadg oboutn lovely AncBhaoyr Mellieħa Ridge
swimming spot (p133) 3Ras il- M3aPjtajairls-ktral#\BMajadnaik Raitdage
35º56'N WGaoħlxden Bay #\Għajn Wardij a
Tuffieħa
Ras il- Mġarr
Pellegrin #\ #\
Żebbiegħ
Fomm ir-
35º54'N RRasi ħir B-ay Victori a
Raħeb
Għemieri
#\ #\
Baħrija
L-Andrijet#\
Mtaħleb#\
35º52'N
Dingli
MEDITESREARANEAN Cliffs
ELEVATION
35º50'N 500m
400m
300m
200m
100m
0
35º48'N
e# 0 10km
0 5miles
14º24'E 14º26'E 14º28'E 14º30'E 14º32'E 14º34'E 14º36'E
MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
Mdina & Rabat
Full of architectural and
historic splendour (p91)
MALTA
Valletta
St John's Co-Cathedral and
St Paul's other historical gems (p42)
Islands
Salina
#\XemSxti jBPaaayul's#]BugibbBaay MQaarlketu To Italy
RidBgue#\rWmaarrdriajad#\Victoria BĊLaaMħginaħaerdaċsqli-e#\na#\ĊBaagħħaarċq- Bay atmStousnpVnhiientrtgioc vr aiieollwseayss a (npd59)
San Pawl#\Tat-#\Għargħur #\StJulian's
#\Tarġa
Lines Mo#\sta #\Naxxar ĠSw#\aannn wwSLIEMf#A HMayls tSneearciforliouepsn ouil niHsd y(eppr6go4rgo)euunmd
#\Lija Birkirkara
Balzan#\ #\ f##_ VALLETTA
TA'XBIEX
Ghain FLORIANA
Qaj#\jied #\Mdina #\Attard MSwwIDA f#VSIETNTGOLREIOASA IdyllicS stw Piemtmeri'ns gP sopoolt with
#\Rabat ĦAMRUN KORDIN COSPICUA flat rocks to laze on (p105)
#\HBaajljada #\Żebbuġ Qo#\rmi MAPAROSALA BTOARLG #\Żabbar Żo#\nqor Żonqor
Point
#\Dingli Malta InternAaitriopnoartl Lu#\qa #\Tarxien Marsaskala#\ MIalr-Ġsazsirkaala Bay
Tas #–
T(2a'5Ż3Rumta) PBroaSvjjiiaġdTdġeaainelTzw#\aali#\#\ QSraelnv#\adtiu#\r#\MqŻaubrbriaeq ww GħaĦxaalq#\- Ma#\rsaxlokkZSgothf TriIrahla- oIMzm-uansx Baray
GLaħpasri ä# #\ Birżebbuġa#\ Marsaxlokk St Peter's Pool
Bay
Delimara
Point
Ħaġar Qim &
Għar Lapsi Mnajdra Temples
Natural swimming pool Ancient megalithic marvels Bengħisa
Point
sheltered among rocks (p112) (p110)
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
8
Malta & Gozo’s
Top 10
Valletta Dwejra
1 Malta’s capital (p42), named the Euro- 2 The thrilling coastline of Dwejra (p125),
pean Capital of Culture for 2018, is a remark- in Gozo, features astoundingly beautiful
able city. Only 1km by 600m, with every street rock formations that have been sculpted by
leading to the sea, the walled city is a harmoni- the wind and sea (they’re so dramatic it’s been
ous ensemble of 16th- and 17th-century town- used as a location for Game of Thrones). Take
houses fronted by traditional Maltese balconies. a boat trip through the Azure Window, an arch
The last few years have seen Valletta bloom, with of rock that forms a doorway to the ocean, and
new restaurants and an emerging nightlife area visit the Inland Sea, a wonderful place to swim
in Strait St, its former red-light district. You’ll feel and snorkel when the weather is calm. Close
the excitement the moment you walk through to the coast, the great chunk of Fungus Rock
the striking City Gate, and see the cutting-edge rears from the piercing blue Mediterranean.
Parliament Building and Opera House – all three
monuments designed by Renzo Piano.
1
NEALE CLARK/GETTY IM
AGES ©