Hotel Santana

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MONDAYS

VALLETTA and the Malta Experience (Afternoon: from October to June Morning: from July to September)

Our guided tour through the vibrant streets of Valletta will allow you to discover the beauty and charm of the fortified city built by the Knights in 1566. The Order of St. John ruled over the islands for 268 years and left a unique cultural legacy of which Valletta is the prime example. We first enjoy a breath-taking view of the Grand Harbour from the Upper Barracca Gardens. Then we visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral, including the Caravaggio masterpieces in the Oratory. The Co-Cathedral houses one of the most beautiful marble inlaid floors in the world. Going down Republic Street you will walk past the Grand Masters’ Palace and the recently restored St. George’s Square before watching the Malta Experience, an audio-visual show where Malta’s history throughout the centuries is brought back to life.

with Cathedral entrance € 49 pp without Cathedral entrance € 34 pp

TUESDAYS + FRIDAYS

MDINA (full day)

Today’s excursion takes us to the central part of Malta, dominated by the medieval fortified city of Mdina, Malta’s former capital city. The narrow, winding streets, dating back to medieval times, lead to the imposing bastions, commanding a magnificent panorama of the island. On the way there, you will discover different styles of architecture, including Siculo-Norman palaces and other baroque buildings of great historical importance.

Time stands still in this ‘Silent City’ which is a film-maker’s paradise. Leaving Mdina through Greeks’ Gate, we stop at the early Christian catacombs in Rabat before proceeding to the cliffs at Dingli. After lunch we will visit the San Anton botanical gardens situated near the Presidential Palace, which you will be able to admire from outside. We shall also spend time at the crafts centre at Ta’ Qali. At the end of the tour, allow us to astound you with Mosta’s majestic dome, one of Europe’s largest.

€59.00 pp (Lunch is included in the price of the tour).

WEDNESDAYS + SATURDAYS

THREE CITIES TOUR (morning – half day)

Discover the Grand Harbour area opposite Valletta known as the Three Cities – Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea, where the Knights of St. John first settled in 1530. Driving past Cospicua we reach Vittoriosa for a walking tour through the narrow streets in the shade of historic buildings, including the first auberges of the various langues of the Order. At the Vittoriosa waterfront we take a typical harbour boat (dghajsa) for a tour of the colourful harbour creeks.

From the Senglea Garden, situated at the tip of the peninsula, enjoy a stunning 360° view of the Grand Harbour, including the impressive Fort Sant Angelo from where Grand Master La Valette led the defence of the island during the Great Siege of 1565.

€35.00 pp

THURSDAYS + SATURDAYS

GOZO (full day)

After a short twenty-minute ferry crossing you will reach Mgarr harbour, which immediately sets the pace to Gozo’s unique atmosphere. Your guide will lead you around the Megalithic temples of Ggantija, the oldest free-standing monuments in the world, pre-dating the Pyramids of Egypt. This will be followed by visits to the medieval citadel in Victoria, the fjord-like bay at Xlendi and Dwejra. Gozo is well known for its crafts, particularly handmade lace and knitted garments. Visitors cannot fail to be impressed by the island’s lush countryside, its serene atmosphere and how different it is from the larger island of Malta.

€68.00 pp (Lunch is included in the price of the tour).

FRIDAYS

HAGAR QIM TEMPLE, LIMESTONE HERITAGE AND MARKET (full day)

The tour starts with a visit to one of Malta’s oldest quarries which has been transformed into an attraction for tourists and locals alike and which provides a vivid account of one of Malta’s leading skills – the use of limestone for building purposes, a skill that goes back thousands of years. The magic of Malta’s antiquity will be explained at Hagar Qim, Malta’s main pre-historic site, overlooking the wide expanse of the blue Mediterranean and the islet of Filfla. From Hagar Qim you will proceed to Wied iz-Zurrieq where (weather permitting - boat price not included) you can take a boat trip to the Blue Grotto, renowned for its crystal clear waters. After lunch, we drive through local vineyards right up to the idyllic fishing village of Marsaxlokk. You will have time to stroll through the local market set out on its waterfront. Later we proceed to the cave at Ghar Dalam where archaeologists have unearthed ample proof that Malta once formed part of the European landmass.

€63.00 pp (Lunch is included in the price of the tour).

SUNDAYS

MARSAXLOKK MARKET AND BLUE GROTTO (extended half day)

The idyllic fishing village of Marsaxlokk with its colourful luzzus and unique character make the unrivalled setting for the local market. This is the perfect place to spend a Sunday morning, where you can rub your shoulders with the locals as you browse through the various stalls. We continue our tour with a visit to the Blue Grotto (weather permitting - boat price not included) and the nearby caves. Admire the whole expanse of the blue Mediterranean and the islet of Filfla.

Later our guide will help you explore one of Malta’s unspoilt villages. From the main square, the hub of the village with its parish church and band club, you will be led through a maze of winding narrow streets that all have a story to be told.

€33.00 pp