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Places of interest II |
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Fort St. Lucian
This massive fort lies to the west of the village of Marsaxlokk . It was built by the Knights of Malta from 1610 to 1611 as a defense against the Ottoman Turks. The fort's guns fired their first shots in 1614 against a fleet of sixty Turkish vessels. In World War II, Fort St. Lucian was used as a munitions depot. Today, the fort houses the Marine Research Center.
Address: Marsaxlokk.
Telephone: 216 51 898
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San Pawl tat-Targa
The San Pawl tat-Targa ( Targa Gap ) near Naxxar is a field with a very strange and unique feature: a crisscrossing of shallow tracks and ruts on the ground. These ruts are similar to those found in the Buskett Forest scrub land called the Clapham Junction . The origins and purpose of the ruts remain a complete mystery and baffle archaeologists to this day. It is suspected that the ruts were made by primitive sleds made of logs and pulled by men. The ruts do not appear to have been trodden by round wheels, and vary in width at various points. Also, where there should be animal hoof markings, as in the case of the sleds being drawn by animals, there are none.
Address: Naxxar.
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St. Paul's Catacombs
St. Paul's Catacombs are a network of interconnected, underground Roman cemeteries. These particular catacombs are found near Mdina , the original Roman capital of Malta , and were supposedly used until the 4 th century AD. They represent the earliest evidence of Christianity in Malta and were named after St. Paul because of their proximity to St. Paul's church and grotto. Within the catacombs, archaeologists found murals covering the complex network of tomb galleries, as well as ancient furniture that was supposedly used when relatives of the dead came to commemorate during annual festivals of the dead.
Address: St. Agatha Street, Rabat.
Telephone: 214 54 562
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Ta'Hagrat and Skorba Temples
The Skorba ruins are believed to be ruins of an ancient domestic dwelling that existed in the Bronze Age. In fact, Skorba is the only place where signs of Neolithic and Bronze Age habitations can be found. The Ta'Hagrat is believed to be the earliest temple complex on Malta Island , contemporary to the Ggantija temple complex on Gozo . The complex at Ta'Hagrat consists of two adjacent temples that date to around 3600 BC to 3300 BC.
These sites are not normally open to the public but may be seen by request.
Address: St. Peter's Street, Mgarr.
Telephone: 215 86 264
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Malta Aviation Museum
This is an interesting museum devoted to aviation. It is housed in a former Royal Air Force station at Ta'Qali. On display are various warplanes of the past. Other sections of the museum feature aircraft engines, scale models, pilot uniforms and memorabilia, and various forms of aviation equipment.
Address: Ta'Qali, Rabat.
Telephone: 214 16 095
Archbishop's Palace
The Archbishop's Palace is the private residence of the Maltese Archbishop. Its location in Mdina has always constant since the palace was built in 1722, and all past archbishops of Malta have called it their home.
Address: Mdina.
Telephone: 214 50 707
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Argotti Botanical Gardens
The Argotti Gardens started life as a private garden owned by the Grand Master Pinto in the 18 th century. A century later, it became a botanical garden and was opened to the public. The arboretum is a collection of trees and shrubs of a great variety and has a number of ponds, fountains, and water towers amid a network of shaded pathways. Within the garden, there is a small horticultural museum with seed displays, plant pressing equipment, and gardening maps and records. There is also a beautiful, elaborate gazebo that was built in 1741.
Address: Floriana.
Telephone: 212 35 523
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Mellieha Sanctuary Museum
This is the oldest sanctuary in Malta devoted to the Virgin Mary. It hosts pilgrimages and pilgrims from all over the world until this day. The site is a small grotto under the Sanctuary of Our Lady parish that contains a painting of the Virgin Mary said to have been painted by the apostle St. Luke, who is said to have accompanied St. Paul when he was shipwrecked on Malta in 60 AD. In the museum, visitors can see an interesting collection of gifts, pledges, and offerings that pilgrims and locals alike have offered for the Virgin Mary.
Address: The Sanctuary of Our Lady Parish Square, Mellieha.
Telephone: 215 73 141
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Bighi Hospital
The Bighi Royal Naval Hospital is a fine example of neoclassical architecture and design from the 19 th century.
Address: Malta Center for Restoration, Bighi, Kalkara
Telephone: 218 23 290
Borg in-Nadur Temple
These are temple ruins that can be found in the southern area of Malta . These temples date back to the temple era of prehistoric Maltese culture. Among the temple ruins is a ruin of a four-apse temple, circa 2000 BC, and a fortified Bronze Era settlement. A ruined defensive wall can be seen near the temple ruins; this wall runs across a promontory leading down to St. George's and Pretty Bay. The Bronze Era huts can be seen just behind the wall.
Address: Birzebbugia
Telephone: 229 54 000
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 Other relevant Travel Guides |
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