Reader Trips
11th to 18th September 2018
Join us for an Oldie golden latesummer voyage round Malta, crossroads of the Mediterranean, place of fables, island of saints, sieges, sailors and spectacular fireworks.
From our comfortable hotel, which has the most magnificent views of the harbour, we will visit the great fortress port of Valletta, which has withstood half a millennium of siege and attack. Away from the city, we enjoy the arabesque atmosphere of the old capital, Mdina, and sample the simple grandeur of the Villa Bologna. We indulge in islandhopping to nearby Gozo with a sunset boat trip round the Blue Lagoon and Camino Island.
We will stay at the Grand Harbour Hotel (www.grandharbourhotel.com) and have dinner every night at the Sicilia restaurant next door. Full www.theoldie.co.uk/tours itinerary and terms and conditions at: Tuesday 11th September – arrive on Malta – 10.50: depart Heathrow with Air Malta flight number KM0101; arrive 15.00. Transfer to Hotel Grand Harbour. Talk by Robert Fox.
Wednesday 12th September – Valletta – Morning tour of the Grandmaster’s Palace and the Armoury. After lunch, a tour of St John’s Cathedral – to see Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist.
Thursday 13th September – Vittoriosa – We tour the Inquisitor’s Palace. After lunch we visit the Malta at War Museum. Friday 14th September – Gozo and The Blue
Lagoon – Ferry to Gozo and drive to Dwejra Bay and take a boat to see the Azure Window before returning to the island’s capital of Vittoria. Then a sunset boat trip around the Blue Lagoon and Camino Island. Saturday 15th September – Villa Bologna –A morning visit to the baroque stately home and gardens in the village of Attard in Malta’s centre.
Sunday 16th September – Mdina and Rabat –A day in Mdina, Malta’s old capital. After lunch, a walk around the defensive walls and Rabat, Mdina’s ancient suburb, before returning to Valletta. Monday 17th September – Hagar Qim and Mnajdra – We see the 5,000-year-old temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra. After lunch, the prehistoric, subterranean burial ground of the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum. Tuesday 18th September – depart for UK
Free morning in Valletta. 17.05: depart Malta on Air Malta KM0102; arrive Heathrow 19.30.