A MUST FOR CULTURE VULTURES

NOT only is Malta a beautiful place to visit for its stunning beaches, it is also very rich in history and cultural sights, from significant gardens and palaces to galleries and museums (the weapons’ museum is quite unique). Of particular note is the city of Valletta, which is full to bursting with historical finds. The Lascaris War Rooms, for example, are a series of fascinating underground tunnels that acted as Malta’s headquarters during the Second World War.

The Maltese islands are also home to three UNESCO heritage sites – and given that Malta is small, it’s easy to see all of them should you choose. The Megalithic Temples are seven temples that will appeal to all budding archaeologists (in fact, to anyone with an interest in history), while the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is an important burial complex – thought to have been built as a ritualistic sanctuary for life and death – that was excavated up to c2,500BC, and once held thousands of bodies.

As it’s carved into a rock, and for reasons of preservation, only ten people can visit at a time, but the fact that you can visit this prehistoric site at all makes it a very unique place to come – so be sure to book well in advance.

It was discovered in 1902, and remains one of the world’s best-preserved sites.