Small Group: Valletta and Central Highlights
5.0
1 Rating
Valletta
Explore Valletta, Mosta Basilica, Rabat, and Mdina with a licensed guide. Limited to 12 people. Includes entrance fees and tasting experience.
Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Valletta - Our tour will start with a walk in Valletta, immersing ourselves in the capital city’s wonderful art and architecture. From the splendid Baroque structures of the Auberge de Castille and the Grand Master’s Palace to the contemporary allure of the Triton Fountain and the newly constructed Parliament building, each edifice we encounter serves as a testament to Valletta’s multifaceted charm. Valletta also exists as an ideal enclave for delving into Malta’s history, offering insights into the island nation’s evolution from the time of the Order of St. John in 16th century, to Malta as a fortress colony of the British Empire in the 19th century, to the independent Republic of the present day.
  • St. John’s Co-Cathedral - The co-Cathedral is found in the heart of Valletta. We will be able to explore this sacred building, once the Temple of the Knights of St. John renowned for its exquisite Baroque artistry and rich historical significance. We will make our way through the co-cathedral’s chapels, each a masterpiece in its own right. The church is adorned by priceless masterpieces by renowned artists like Caravaggio and Mattia Preti. From the solemn beauty of the nave to the opulent splendour of the Oratory, every corner of St. John’s Co-Cathedral tells a story of faith, devotion, and artistic brilliance.
  • Republic Square - Free time for a lunch break
  • Republic Street - Continue the final part of our Valletta tour as we make our way along the main thoroughfare to join our transport for the second part of this tour.
  • Mosta Rotunda - Next up we will be making our way to the centre of the island, in the town of Mosta. Here we will make our way to the magnificent Mosta Basilica. This is one of the most iconic buildings in Malta with its magnificent dome, considered to be one of the largest unsupported domes in the world. But Mosta Dome is known to locals as the miracle church. During one of the frequent WWII air raids, a bomb pierced the dome, falling inside the church during a service, but failed to explode. The locals hailed this as a miracle. A replica of the bomb will can also be seen upon visiting the church.

Travel time from Valletta to Mosta: 30 mins
Time at Mosta Rotunda: 30 mins

  • Rabat - Our next stop is the old town of Rabat. The history of Rabat is linked to the period of the Romans (218 BC to 879 BC) and Saint Paul, who stayed for a short period after being shipwrecked, whilst on his way to be tried in Rome. During our visit of Rabat we will walk along the main street, which is adorned by typical village architecture. You will see quaint houses with traditional balconies and doors, small local shops, the band club premises and other important aspects of local village and town life. During our short walk a brief stop at ‘Is-Sirkien’ will be included, which is a well-known pastizzeria, where you will have the opportunity to taste our favourite street food called ‘pastizzi’. These are diamond shaped filo pastry parcels filled with mashed peas or ricotta cheese.

Travel time from Mosta to Rabat: 20 mins
Time at Rabat: 55 mins

  • Mdina - Our final stop will be to an architectural gem, the Medieval Silent City of Mdina. It is built on a plateau in the centre of the island, and the city’s old Baroque buildings, cathedral and magnificent fortifications dominate the rural skyline. Mdina, once the capital of Malta until the modern city of Valletta was built in 1566 has had many names including Melite (Roman occupation), Medina (Arabic occupation), Citta Notabile and Citta Vecchia (after Valletta was built). The only way to really experience and enjoy this city is on foot, explore the quaint alleys, narrow streets, ancient buildings and incredible far reaching views from the high bastion walls.

Time in Mdina: 70 mins
Travel to time from Mdina to Valletta: 30 mins

What's Included
  • Snacks
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Entrance fees to St. John’s co-Cathedral and the Mosta Rotunda
  • Accompanied by English speaking Licensed Tourist Guide
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Discover Malta’s capital city, Valletta. Learn about the Knights of Malta and explore Valletta’s iconic streets. Enjoy some free time in Republic Square before visiting the Mosta Basilica and the historic town of Rabat. End the day in Mdina, the island’s Medieval Fortress, with winding, narrow streets and stunning views from on top of the mighty walls. Tours are accompanied by a professional, English-speaking licensed guide, and are limited to 12 people. Entrance fees and a tasting experience are included.

Location
Statua di Cristo Re
Opposite the Phoenicia Hotel, next to the Christ the King monument.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(1 Rating)
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328nevillev
May 6, 2024
The perfect guided visit to Malta - We spent two days in Malta, both with Malta Tours. We had an excellent visit primarily focusing on the history of the Grand Knights and WW2. We couldn't have asked for a better tour guide and the itinerary served us perfectly. For anyone interested in learning more about Malta and visiting key sites I can thoroughly recommend Malta Tours. If I was to go back I would certainly use them again and would highly recommend them to friends visiting Malta.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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