Malta: Valletta, Rabat and Dingli Cliffs
Sunday, January 4th:
At 10:00 am we are at Fort St. Elmo in Valletta for the Alarme! parade.
Fort St. Elmo in Valletta
The fortress at the tip of the Sciberras Peninsula is strategically perfectly positioned between the two harbour entrances, Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour, of Valletta.
A smaller fortress existed during the time of the Knights of the Order; it was the first target of the Turkish besiegers in 1565. Afterwards, the present fort was rebuilt.
During World War II, all submarine and speedboat attacks by the German and Italian navies on ships in the harbour were successfully repelled from here. A destroyed bridge at the harbour entrance is a reminder of the battles of that era.
Today the fort houses the Maltese volunteer militia.
Several parades take place at the fort throughout the year. The In Guardia parade with around 90 participants runs year-round, and from February to November on every 3rd Sunday of the month the Alarme! parade is held. It re-enacts a battle between Maltese and French troops around 1800 in historical costumes and with historical weapons. Admission: EUR 4. Otherwise, entry is only possible on Saturdays from 1:00-5:00 pm and Sundays from 9:00 am-4:00 pm. Entrance: St. Elmo Place, Valletta
St. Paul's Shipwreck Church
After the well-staged journey into the past, we briefly visit the St. Paul Shipwreck Church. A beautiful Baroque-style church off the beaten tourist path.
It is dedicated to the Apostle's shipwreck in the year 60 AD. Two significant relics are kept here: a bone from one of Saint Paul's arms and a piece of the column on which he was beheaded in Rome.
The entrance is inconspicuous and is located on St. Lucia Street. A visit is highly recommended, as a stunning church awaits inside.
Admission is free, but a donation is welcome.
Visiting hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sat 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
St. Peter and Paul Church - Rabat
We take the bus to Rabat/Mdina and make our way to St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Rabat. Unfortunately, we can only admire it from the outside as it was closed.
Visiting hours: Mon-Sat 9:30 am - 11:45 am and 2:00-5:00 pm, Sun 3:00-4:30 pm
Rabat - Catacombs of St. Paul's - St. Paul's Catacombs
Just a few steps further, we reach the St. Paul's Catacombs in Rabat.
The St. Paul's Catacombs and St. Agatha's Catacombs are mysterious early Christian burial sites with tables and wall paintings. The catacombs on Malta served as burial places for Christians, pagans, and Jews.
After the first Grand Master of the Knights of Malta officially permitted the plundering of the catacombs, the treasures fell into the hands of grave robbers. They had to surrender a third of their loot to the Order.
The St. Paul's Catacombs are the largest catacomb complex on Malta and once housed 1,400 burial sites, of which around 900 have been preserved along approximately 900 metres of underground passages.
A modern staircase leads down into a hall with a chapel, at both ends of which an Agape table is carved into the stone. The hall is surrounded on three sides by corridors and chambers, where the various types of graves can be seen. An audio guide leads us with explanations through the partly narrow passages, but you can also join a guided tour.
Open: Mon-Fri 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:00-5:00 pm, Sat 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
The entrance with a small museum is on St. Agatha Street.
Dingli Cliffs - An Extended Walk Along the Cliffs
We continue by bus to Dingli to admire the famous Dingli Cliffs. At the coastal road, we get off and walk along the Triq Panoramika for about 3 kilometres, enjoying the magnificent view from the over 200-metre-high cliffs until we reach Buskett Gardens. Along the way, we also have a great view of the Verdala Palace, a palace built in 1586 on one of the highest points of the island. A few metres inland near the Buskett Gardens, we meet the road where our bus runs again. Unfortunately, it is already getting dark, otherwise we would have paid the park a visit. It formerly served as a hunting ground and can be visited free of charge today.
