Malta has a rich and varied history spanning thousands of years into the past. From Prehistoric times Malta and its islands of Gozo and Comino have paid hosts to many different groups. Following these links will take you to the relevant information pages on the Heritage Malta website. An excellent website full of detailed information on Matlese Heritage.
The Hypogeum, or underground cavity, is a unique monument and a splendid example of architecture in the negative. It was discovered accidentally in 1902 by a stone mason who was laying the foundations of some houses.
The Ggantija Temples in Xaghra, Gozo, are one of the most important archaeological sites in Malta. The origins of Ggantija date back to the Ggantija phase (3600 3200 B.C.). Extensive archaeological and restoration work was carried out in the early 20th century to ensure their preservation.
The Ghar Dalam Cave is a highly important site as it was here that the earliest evidence of human settlement on Malta, some 7,400 years ago, was discovered. What makes the site even more fascinating is that it was in use during World War II, when it served first as an air raid shelter and later as a fuel storage depot.
The temple of Hagar Qim, excavated for the first time in 1839, dates from the Ggantija phase (c. 3600 - 3200 BC). It stands on a hilltop overlooking the sea and the islet of Fifla and lies some 2km south-west of the village of Qrendi. Just 500m away from Hagar Qim, further towards the cliff face, lies another remarkable temple site, Mnajdra set in a hollow above the Southern cliffs. The surrounding area, which is typical of Mediterranean garigue and spectacular in its starkness and isolation, is designated a Heritage Park.
The Mnajdra Temples lie tucked in a hollow in the cliffs on Malta?s southern coast. The site is probably the most atmospheric of all Malta?s temples. It lies in an isolated position on a rugged stretch of coast overlooking the isle of Fifla and just 500m from another principle temple site, Hagar Qim. The surrounding area is designated a Heritage Park and is typical of rugged Mediterranean garigue landscape. Barren in summer, the landscape is transformed in spring by flowering herbs and shrubs.
The Skorba Temples lie in fields overlooking Zebbiegh, a hamlet near Mgarr, in northwest Malta. The site comprises two temple remains, side by side. Skorba, excavated in the 1960s, is one of the most informative sites since it was left untouched during the first two phases of archaeological digs at temple sites in the early 19th and 20th centuries.
St Pauls Catacombs represent the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity in Malta. They have been called after St Paul because of their vicinity to St Pauls church and grotto. They were cleared up and investigated in 1894 by Dr A. A. Caruana, the pioneer of Christian archaeology in Malta.
San Pawl Milqi - The present chapel of St Paul, or San Pawl Milqi, dates from 1616 although it was built on the site of an earlier, 15th century church. San Pawl Milqi means St Paul is welcomed. It is commonly believed that this was the place where Publius, the then Islands Roman governor, welcomed St Paul and where the Apostle preached after his shipwreck on Malta in around AD 60. However, studies and research that has been carried sometimes are difficult to reconcile with this popular tradition. The most important aspect of the site still remains the finds of the villa which shed light on the nature of the Maltese economy under the Romans.
Ta Hagrat Temples, lying in a picturesque and evocative setting on the outskirts of Mgarr, is an important temple site. Dating from around 3600 ? 3200 BC, it is one of the earliest temple buildings in Malta. Ta? Hagrat is smaller than many of the Islands? temples, at 15m long internally, but it is better preserved.
The Ta Kola Windmill is a step back in time to the trade of the miller and a fine example of the rural economy and domestic life of Gozo in centuries past.
The Tarxien temples were discovered in 1914 by local farmers who struck large stone blocks while ploughing a field. Their discovery was reported to Sir Temistocles Zammit, Maltas first director of museums, who excavated the site in 1915-17. His pioneering work put our understanding of Maltese prehistory on a solid foundation.
Gozo Archaeology Museum The museum illustrates chronologically the cultural history of the Island of Gozo from prehistoric times to the early modern period. The Museum of Archaeology is located within the walls of the Citadel just behind the old gate. It is housed in a seventeenth century building, Palazzo Bondi, which originally served as a town hall where the Knights of St John used to receive their distinguished visitors. At one time, it was the residence of a prominent Gozitan family after whom the Palace is named.
Folklore Museum, The Museum houses a wide range of exhibits depicting the domestic, rural and traditional ways of life in the agrarian economy of the Maltese and Gozitans in centuries past.
Inquisitors Palace, sited in the heart of Vittoriosa, is one of the very few surviving examples of a style of palace that would have been found all over Europe and South America in the early modern period. Many such buildings succumbed to the ravages of time or became victims of the reactionary power unleashed by the French Revolution against the ancien regime and all it represented. The fact that Maltas palace, throughout its five centuries of history, always hosted high-ranking officials representing the main ruling powers on the Island helped ensure its survival.
The Maritime Museum charts Maltas maritime history and lore within a Mediterranean context and also illustrates the global nature of seafaring and its impact on society.
The National Museum of Archaeology displays an exceptional array of artefacts from Maltas unique prehistoric periods starting with the first arrival of man in the Ghar Dalam phase (5200 BC) and running up to the Tarxien phase (2500 BC).
National Museum of Fine Arts The stately home hosting the Museum of Fine Arts dates from the late 1570s and served as a residence of various Knights of the Order of St John. It passed into the ownership of the Order in the mid-18th century, when it was radically transformed into an exuberant Rococo palace. After 1798 it was used mainly as the official residence of the commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, earning its name Admiralty House. Inaugurated in 1974, the Museum of Fine Arts, houses historic works of art and organises temporary exhibitions of contemporary art.
The National Museum of Natural History is the national repository of biological specimens. Both life and earth sciences are represented in the museum, which has a particular focus on the Maltese Islands.
The National War Museum in Fort St Elmo ranks among the most popular tourist venues on the Maltese Islands. The museum mainly represents Maltas important military role in the post-1800 period under British rule, especially during the Second World War. It was set up primarily through the efforts of dedicated enthusiasts, founders of the National War Museum Association, and was opened to the public in 1975.
The Natural Science Museum - Gozo Situated behind the Law Courts in the Citadel of Victoria, Gozo, the Natural Science Museum is hosted in an old house the origins of which may date back to the Aragonese period. During the 17th and 18th centuries it was used as an inn. A visitor to the islands in the 19th century is on record as having remarked that the hotel was clean, that the food was good, and that the prices were reasonable. During the Second World War, the building gave shelter to several Maltese families who sought refuge from enemy action in Malta.
The Old Prison - Gozo is situated in the Citadel, overlooking Cathedral Square and adjacent to the Law Courts, to which it was originally connected. In its present form, the prison complex is divided into two sections: the entrance hall, which served as a common cell in the 19th century; and a free-standing block with six individual cells. The prison was in use from the mid-16th century until the beginning of the 20th century.
The Palace Armoury is one of the worlds greatest arms collections housed in their original buildings, and ranks among the most valuable historic monuments of European culture.
Domvs Romana,The mosaic pavements in the Roman house at Rabat rank among the finest and oldest mosaic compositions from the western Mediterranean, alongside those of Pompeii and Sicily. They were discovered in 1881 just outside Mdina in the remains of a rich and sumptuously decorated town house of the Roman period.