Malta Car Hire – Top 5 Places to Visit
Renting a car in Malta is definitely the best way to get around the island. It is the cheapest and also the most practical way to visit the best attractions. Malta describes itself as an open-air museum with attractions spread all over the island. Public transport is not exactly efficient (although a public transport reform is underway and the new transport system should start in July 2011), so it is best to have your own car and move freely. Plus, you’ll be able to explore off-the-beaten-path attractions.
Distances in Malta are very short, at most you have to drive 30 minutes to the next attraction. This will leave you plenty of time to relax and enjoy your vacation. You should always plan your route before leaving your hotel so you don’t waste time deciding and finding your way from one attraction to another. Nowadays this job is made easy if you have a GPS.
Here is a list of 5 places you must visit, especially if you are driving a car in Malta;
1. Valletta The capital of Malta, Valletta is mostly pedestrian and therefore you will only use your car to reach the outskirts of Valletta. Valletta is full of attractions and therefore the best way to appreciate them is on foot. Valletta is the capital of Malta built by the Order of Saint John during the siege of Malta in 1565. After the great siege of 1565, the Order of Saint John decided to build a new city on the peninsula known as Ta’ Xiberras with the main objective is to strengthen its position in Malta. The city was designed by Francesco Laparelli, while many of the most important buildings were built by Gerolamo Cassar. Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and if you are visiting Malta, you cannot miss Valletta. Also in Valletta is St. John’s Cathedral, which is located on Republic Street, Valletta. Built between 1573 and 1578 it was designed by Girolamo Cassar. The Cathedral is unique, it was designed by Mattia Preti and the carved stone walls are unique.
2. Mdina – The Silent City – The word Mdina is derived from the Arabic word ‘medina’ which means ‘city’. Mdina was the ancient capital of Malta until the arrival of the Knights of St. John in the mid 1500s. It was built by the Romans. Mdina was part of a larger town which, when it broke up, was called Rabat, meaning Suburb. Mdina is also a UNESCO heritage site and one of Malta’s most popular tourist attractions.
3. Rabat – Catacombs of Saint Paul Location The catacombs of Saint Paul are a fascinating underground labyrinth that was in use until the 4th century AD. The catacombs are the oldest archaeological evidence of Christianity in Malta. The Roman cemetery was located on the outskirts of the ancient Roman capital Mdina, as Roman law prohibited burials within the city. The catacombs begin with an imposing room that acts as the center from which passages open in various directions leading to a bewildering series of tomb galleries. In the catacombs there are some murals that are of considerable interest.
4. Tarxian Hal Hypogeum – Hal Saflieni. The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is an underground structure excavated around 3600 BC. C. The hypogeum consists of corridors, chambers and passages excavated in the living rock and covers about 500 square meters. The rock-cut chambers are of various shapes and sizes. The complex was divided into three levels: the upper level (3600-3300 BC), the middle level (3300-3000 BC) and the lower level (3150-2500 BC). The Hypogeum is the world’s only prehistoric underground temple and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site is under very strict conservation rules and only allows 80 visitors per day, so reservations are necessary.
5. Qrendi – Hagar Qim Temples Location: The Hagar Qim temple (c. 3600 – 3200 BC) stands on top of a hill overlooking the sea and the small island of Filfla. The Hagar Qim temple was first excavated in 1839. These temples are estimated to be a thousand years older than the pyramids at Giza. The temples are built of limestone rock, some rising to six meters (20 feet) in height and weighing around 20 tons. The complex is an impressive maze of corridors, chambers, niches and altars, all carved from stone. Other temple ruins are located a few meters from the main temple.