Top Malta Art & Culture - page 11

Valletta is best known for its UNESCO-listed monuments and Baroque architecture, but the Maltese capital also has a dark side. Experience the city after dark on this private 2-hour walking tour and dare to discover Valletta’s haunted buildings, ghostly happenings, and gruesome past.

Check out two of Valletta’s natural harbors, Marsamxett and the Grand Harbor, with this group half-day tour. You’ll keep costs down by booking this group tour, yet still have plenty of photo opportunities. You’ll also have time to walk around Silema’s shopping area and explore the area on your own time.

Discover the Mediterranean island of Gozo on this all-day guided tour. See spots not on the usual tourist route for a unique perspective of Gozo. Highlights include the Ggantija temple, the Ta' Pinu National Shrine, and the old prison in Victoria, plus there will be time to shop at the crafts village.

Visit the picturesque city of Vittoriosa on a 3-hour private walking tour, and get a personalized introduction to the city’s highlights, history, and architecture. Walk alongside an expert guide as you explore the historic Couvre Port, sites of dramatic battles, and the unique Inquisitor’s Palace, former seat of the Maltese inquisition. This 3-hour walking tour offers the flexible experience of a private guide, with departures available throughout the day.

Check off three of Malta’s most visited attractions in one afternoon on this half-day from Valletta. Stroll around the idyllic San Anton Gardens, explore the Catacombs of St. Paul in Rabat, and enjoy a walking tour of Mdina, Malta’s ancient capital. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Explore Valletta's history and architecture on a private walking tour with a guide who offers insights into the city's top attractions and hidden gems. Highlights include UNESCO-listed baroque architecture, St. John's Co-Cathedral, and panoramic views from Upper Barrakka Gardens. Uncover stories behind landmarks like The New Parliament, Pjazza Teatru Rjal, and much more.

This private walking tour explores the romantic and cultural heritage of Valletta. Begin at panoramic gardens overlooking the Grand Harbour shaped by centuries of maritime power. Walk through elegant streets lined with baroque architecture and noble residences. Admire historic squares dedicated to the city’s founder and legacy. View the exterior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral, a masterpiece of religious art and design. Stroll along Strait Street where history and social life once intertwined. This journey blends architectural beauty, cultural depth, and refined atmosphere. Please note: The program and attractions may vary based on booking date/time and crowd conditions, ensuring each visit is a unique experience.

Immerse yourself in a transformative Art and Meditation session in Malta, where creativity meets relaxation. Guided by soothing voice and sound, you’ll paint an abstract masterpiece on a lightweight canvas, unlocking your emotions while exploring local Maltese history. As you express your artistic side, enjoy a thoughtful discussion over a glass of locally produced wine or kombucha, reflecting on your creations. Each participant leaves with a keepsake tote bag, a certificate of completion, and a unique piece of art to cherish.

Book your tickets to the Valletta Black Friars Experience in advance to secure your spot at the time best suited for your needs. With this ticket, you have entrance to two sites that were closed off for many years: the Sacristy and the Silver Room. Learn all about Valletta’s Dominican community, going back nearly 450 years.

Cover all the best spots in Malta on this 8-day tour without having to do any of the planning or logistical organization yourself, allowing you to just relax and enjoy the beautiful islands. Your hotel and breakfast are also taken care of, and if you like, you can upgrade, add more nights, or add meal plans. Since this is a group tour, you’ll most likely end up meeting some like-minded travelers, too.

Swap the crowds and hassle of group tours for a private and personalized experience of Malta. This private tour is great for those who have little time to explore Malta but want to see the sights and learn about the history and culture. Enjoy the flexibility of creating your own itinerary to ensure that you only see the places you are interested in.

Discover Valletta your way with self-guided walking tour—audio and text in 7 languages, right on your phone. No app, no hassle—just press play and explore! This walk through Valletta begins not with fanfare but with a city gate that whispers rather than shouts. From stone fortresses to baroque showpieces and bomb-scarred gardens, Valletta’s blend of faith and defense unfolds in straight lines and shaded courtyards. You’ll pass tombs with stories underfoot, stroll markets where trade still hums, and pause where cannons once answered ships. Valletta doesn’t open up all at once, but this walk will get you closer to its core. Start at the gate and see where it leads. With this handy self-guided format, you’ll explore at your own pace Valletta using audio or text on your phone. Start when ready and enjoy!

This tour is designed to show you more than just the usual Blue Lagoon stop. You’ll visit two beautiful swimming locations, Crystal Lagoon and Santa Marija Bay, and also enjoy scenic close-up views of Cominotto Reef, Ħondoq Bay, Ħalfa Rock, Santa Maria Caves, and Elephant Head Rock. What makes this trip different is the mix of swimming stops, cave views, coastal sightseeing, and time to relax on board. You’ll also receive a free welcome drink, plus free use of snorkels, a stand-up paddleboard, and swim noodles, making it easier to enjoy Comino’s clear turquoise waters during the tour.

Explore the magnificent city of Valletta at your own pace with our immersive audio experience. Unlike traditional guided tours with rigid schedules, you'll enjoy complete freedom to wander the historic streets as you please, spending more time at places that captivate you. Our expertly crafted narration reveals exclusive historical insights and hidden stories that even locals may not know. Experience authentic Malta through carefully selected routes that showcase both iconic landmarks and secret spots off the beaten path. Our professional narration and atmospheric sound design transport you through time, bringing Valletta's rich history to life in a way guidebooks simply cannot match. With superior historical context and engaging storytelling, this audio experience offers exceptional value and a personalized journey through Malta's captivating capital.

Departing from Marfa Bay, enjoy a 3.5-hour scenic cruise exploring Comino Island’s breathtaking beauty. Choose a morning cruise for a relaxing start to your day or an evening cruise to witness a stunning sunset when Comino is less crowded. Sail past the striking Elephant Head rock formation and Santa Maria Bay, visiting the fascinating Santa Maria Caves. Your first destination is Ħalfa Rock, a secluded islet near Gozo, followed by the famous Blue Lagoon, known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and vibrant marine life. Finally, visit the stunning Crystal Lagoon, a paradise for snorkeling and diving, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and mesmerizing sea caves. Relax on board, soak in the breathtaking views, and make unforgettable memories as you explore one of the Mediterranean’s most stunning destinations.

Visit a cloistered monastery once closed off to the world for 400 years – until now. This special guided event is held after hours in St Catherine’s Monastery in Valletta. Our private tour will show you where the nuns live, reveal the truth behind the monastery’s “control rooms” and lead you into the candlelit crypt where you’ll hear the rituals surrounding the burials of the nuns after they pass away You’ll also learn why there is a statue with a beheaded man in a chapel, hear how convent life was organised to be self-sufficient over the centuries, and how the origins of the monastery start with the plague. Tour numbers are limited to ensure an intimate experience. This event is part of the Behind Closed Doors series by Dark Malta Tours, taking you into fascinating places to experience their dark histories.

Learn all about Malta’s capital by solving challenges on an app-led escape game in Valletta. This is a fun way to explore Valletta, unlike a normal walking tour. You can take your time as you go from one challenge to the next, without having to stick to a large tour group or follow a tour guide.

Senglea is one of the most densely populated parts of Malta – and where there’s people, there are dark tales to be told. Within the city’s atmospheric streets there have been gruesome murders and a miraculous Madonna. Strange thefts have occurred from the parish church, which was built by an architect who liked talking to the dead. Senglea was badly affected on the day a dragon flew into the Grand Harbour and caused devastation, while mermaids have also been known to swim ashore to hide in Senglea’s caves. The tour will also pass by the house where a young woman was brutally beheaded by her two lovers. All this, and more, on The Dark Side of Senglea tour. Please note this tour involves several stairs and requires at least average fitness levels.

Ladies and Gentlemen, children of all ages, please give a round of applause for the brave, the bald and the beautiful Monsieur Baroque! Ever wondered what it is like to be shown around one of the oldest working theatres in the world with an actual actor/guide? This tour is aimed at being as entertaining as it is factual. Join us on this theatrical tour as your professional guide in costume tells you all about this buildings legacy. From its construction, function, occasional scandal and finally of course, its glorious history! Monsieur Baroque will leave no stone unturned.

Take an exclusive guided tour around Mdina Dungeons at night and hear tales of terror and trauma from Malta’s dark past. This tour begins on the dimly lit streets of Mdina. Our small group will then enter the dungeons for a viewing of the gruesome exhibits. Together we will examine the life-like displays which include torturers and their butchered victims, witches, plague victims and more, while hearing blood-curdling stories of these brutal, true-life moments from history. You’ll see examples of the orgy of violence that followed the failed Conspiracy of the Slaves, hear stories of the plagues that have ravaged the Maltese islands, and see how metal masks were once used to silence women. This 90-minute tour will entertain, educate and chill as we hear stories of crime, murder, poisons, plague and torture in the dark and shadowy rooms of this atmospheric dungeon. Tour numbers are strictly limited to ensure an intimate experience.

Discover the titillating truth about the naughty knights of the Order of St John and the people they ruled over. This tour begins next to The Malta Experience on the tip of Valletta, taking in the back streets of this charming city - and its saucy past. Please note: Adult themes of a sexual nature are discussed throughout, so a minimum age of 16 is required. You'll discover stories of the sex lives of these rich, bored knights and hear the antics of the former prostitutes who became rich nuns but then sometimes failed to leave bad habits behind. Hear of the female pharmacist who used witchcraft to seduce rich men and who had slaves hung upside down and tortured. Learn the instructions given to prostitutes by the authorities in the 17th and 18th centuries, and how the knights would bend their own rules to bed women. The tour will finish in St George’s Square in front of the Grand Master’s Palace, where you’ll learn why a stone column in the square once showed a wolf having a poo.

Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum is one of the finest cultural attractions on the island with thousands of paintings, silver, furniture, jewellery, Oriental rugs, armoury, books and manuscripts. Palazzo Falson's most recent owner and resident was Captain Olof Frederick Gollcher O.B.E. (1889-1962) of Swedish descent. He was a researcher, artist, philanthropist and a passionate collector of objets d’art and historical items, putting together an extraordinarily rich collection which is now on display in this Palazzo. The collection is a unique and extraordinary treasure-trove of over 3,500 objects, made up of forty-five specific collections spread over 17 rooms of this house museum. The paintings collection includes a number of significant 17th century works including ones attributed to Mattia Preti, Jusepe de Ribera, Jakob-Ferdinand Voet, Charles Beale and Juriaen van Streeck.

Discover the rich history of Casa Gourgion, a stunning Neo-Gothic residence in Mdina, originally built in the 19th century for Baron Giuseppe De Piro Gourgion. This house museum showcases the legacy and collection of the De Piro Gourgion family, offering a glimpse into Malta's noble past. Wander through meticulously restored rooms, each filled with unique artifacts and historical significance, and learn about the architectural evolution of this remarkable building in the heart of a fortified city with over 4000 years of history. A visit to Casa Gourgion is an essential experience for anyone interested in Malta's cultural heritage.

Experience an unforgettable 30-minute audio-visual show about Mdina’s fascinating journey through time. Relive Mdina’s 7,000 years of triumphs and tribulations, learn about the cult of the mother goddess, the shipwreck of St. Paul, the devastating earthquake that destroyed half of the city before it was gloriously rebuilt, and much more. Suitable for all ages, this audio-visual journey offers an enjoyable combination of education and entertainment while chronicling the intriguing history of the former capital city of Malta. This remarkable attraction uses multi-controlled, high-resolution projection systems with a big screen to provide the sharpest panoramic visuals, complemented by a modern headset-based surround sound system with simultaneous multi-language soundtracks in 12 different languages. After the show, step back in time and enjoy a delectable array of freshly prepared food and drinks at our mediaeval tavern (food and drinks are not included in the price).