Grand Master's Palace, St. John's Cathedral & Mdina

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Your tour begins by boarding your motorcoach to Mdina, Malta's capital city before the establishment of Valletta. Along the way, you'll pass the scenic towns of Msida, B'Kara, Hamrun, Floriana and Rabat. A stroll through Mdina brings you to many sites including the ramparts that envelope the city, strategically built on a high plateau for protection.

Visit the Cathedral of St. Paul, located within the city walls. This baroque cathedral was built on the orders of Robert of Normandy after he took control of the island from the Arabian Empire.

Your tour continues as your board your coach for a short drive to Valletta. You'll start your walking tour at the City Gate, entrance to the capital, and then continue through its historic streets.

Next on this walking tour is the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta's most beautiful park with a breathtaking view over the Grand Harbor and the old towns of Senglea and Vittoriosa. Continue on to St. John's Co-Cathedral where as you approach, you'll note its surprisingly austere exterior contrasts sharply with the dazzling interior of gilded tracery and marble mosaic floor. The floor is inlaid with the glittering tombs of 400 knights and the barrel vault is painted with scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist. The oratory displays a moving painting by Caravaggio.

Nearby is the Grand Master's Palace, the house of parliament in Malta. The interior boasts the famous Council Chamber, adorned with valuable tapestries (refered to as Gobelins tapestries) woven in France for Grand Master Ramón Perellos y Roccaf. Other rooms and passages of the palace are brilliantly furnished with art objects and old coat of arms and armor.

Your tour concludes with a walk back to your coach, and a relaxing drive back to the pier. With Malta behind you, you leave with a myriad of unforgettable memories to last a lifetime.

Special Notes:

Attire that covers shoulders and knees should be worn in the cathedral.

Please note that the Grand Master's Palace is subject to closures without advance notice, due to official functions.

On Thursdays, Public Holidays and state events the state rooms of the Grand Master's Palace may be closed for private functions, official functions and Parliament. A visit to the armory in the Palace or National Museum of Archeology will be substituted.

On Sundays, Public Holidays and on state events tour groups are not allowed inside the cathedrals due to mass services. The visit to St. John's Co-Cathedral can be replaced by a visit to the Palace Armoury at the Grand Master's Palace or the Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. The Cathedral of St. Paul in Mdina can be replaced by a visit to the Mdina Experience (Audio Visual) or the Domus Romana (formerly known as the Roman Villa).
Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience.