There's a lot to see in Malta, considering its 7000 years of verifiable occupation.
In Malta, you must start by visiting the Neolithic Temples. Built a millennium before the pyramids, they are an achievement unparalleled in their time, especially considering the necessity of moving 20 ton blocks around the rocky landscape.
The Hypogeum - The Jewel of Maltese Prehistory
Dating to around 3600 BC, the Hypogeum is an extraordinary underground structure carved completely out of rock.
It was primarily a burial chamber, at one time housing over 7000 bodies between 3600 and 2500 BC, the same time as a wave of megalithic structures were being built across the islands.
What happened to turn the peaceful, agrarian settlers from Sicily who occupied the island from 5000 BC onward into skilled stonemasons? We simply don't know.
Visiting the Hypogeum
The Hypogeum has recently been reopened to visitors. However, to reduce the impact of visitors on the structure, only ten visitors at a time will be admitted, so plan ahead. [ Info on planning your visit ]
Major Malta Temples to Visit
Tarxien - The most extensive site in Malta, you'll want to visit if you're interested in Malta's archaeology. The first Temple dates to 3100 BC. [ overview and floor plan ]
Hagar Qim - Spectacular location overlooking the sea. Four buildings, some of them partially reconstructed. The site has evidence of use between 3600 and 2500 BC. [ overview and floor plan ]
Mnajdra - lying at the foot of the hill that Hagar Qim inhabits, the site site dates from 3,600-2,500. [ Overview and floor plan ]
Ggantija (the Giantess Tower) on the Island of Gozo - Impressive complex with two temples. [ Overview and floor plan ]
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