Malta - The History, Romance, and Drama of the Mediterranean 
Package # 25

Value charged program starting at $1499

Package includes:

• RT Air from New York, Boston, and Washington  DC
  add just $80 to fly from Miami or Orlando and $100 from LAX or San Francisco
• RT Transfers from airport to hotel
• 5 Nights at the Golden Tulip Vivaldi, St. Julian’s ( see below )
• Breakfast daily
• Choice of 2 Full day tours or 4 half day tours, or a combo

When you stay at the Golden Tulip Vivaldi , you are in the midst of Malta’s top entertainment spot, St. Julian’s. Yet shopping attractions, business opportunities and a bevy of great restaurants surround us.

Located just 50 metres from the sea and 300 metres from the Dragonara Casino, the Golden Tulip Vivaldi is a superior Four Star Hotel that combines the local flavours of the Mediterranean whilst ensuring international standards.

A number of rooms and outlets have breath taking sea views. You can try your luck at the nearby casino, or just relax over dinner or the various other facilities provided by the hotel. Those who would like to dance the night out, well, nothing on the Island beats the night life in St. Julian’s.

On the other hand, spacious conference facilities and the location of the hotel is just a mere 10 minutes by car from the business district of Sliema or a 15 minute-drive from the capital of Malta, Valletta, qualifies the hotel as an excellent host for people on business.

Providing the finest accommodation with spacious and well appointed rooms and suites, some of which offer a commanding view of the eastern coast of Malta, equipped with all the necessary up-to-date amenities, your search for the ideal hotel, be it business or leisure, is over.

Inaugurated in July 1999, the Golden Tulip Vivaldi is elegantly decorated, with a classical style that ponders on the musical talents of the Venetian virtuoso Antonio Vivaldi. Indeed, the level of service sounds music to the ears of our guests!

Timings of departure from Hotel will be between 08:15 to 08:45 depending on the Hotel.

MONDAYS:

HALFDAY VALLETTA AND MALTA EXPERIENCE

Departure from hotel in coach accompanied by guide to Valletta – The Capital City of  Malta , the City built by the Knights of St. John.  During our walking tour of the city, we will first visit the Upper Barracca Gardens which enjoy a wonderful view of the Grand Harbour and the Three Historical Cities .  We then visit St. John’s Co Cathedral which is historically and artistically one of the most important monuments on the island.  The beginning of the building of this Conventual church started in 1573 by Grandmaster La Cassiere.  Four hundred memorial slabs cover the floor and the cathedral is full of beautiful paintings.  Finally, we visit the Grandmaster’s Palace which has two lovely courtyards.  In the Tapestry Chambers, one can see the priceless Gobelein Tapestries.We will finally walk down Republic Street to Fort St. Elmo and we will view “The Malta Experience Show” which is an excellent multivision show (ca. 45minutes), which introduces visitors to Malta and its people. Afternoon at leisure.

FULLDAY MDINA

Departure from hotel in coach and we transfer to Mosta to visit the parish church dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.  This church was built in the classical style and based on that of the Pantheon in Rome .  It is said that the dome of this church is the third largest in Europe .  We then proceed with our tour and we visit Ta’ Qali handicrafts village where we will be able to watch local artisans at their work such as filigree and ceramic making and glass blowing etc., etc.  We then drive to Rabat and we visit the catacombs of St. Paul , which are typical underground Christian  cemeteries, which were common in the 4th century AD.  Finally  we walk to Mdina – the Old Capital City of Malta and we visit the cathedral which was built on plans by Lorenzo Gafà.  We walk around the narrow and winding streets and enjoy the panoramic view of Malta from the historic bastions.

TUESDAY:

OR

HALFDAY MDINA

Departure from hotel in coach and we transfer to Mosta to visit the parish church dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.  This church was built in the classical style and based on that of the Pantheon in Rome .  It is said that the dome of this church is the third largest in Europe .  We then drive to Rabat and we visit the catacombs of St. Catald, which are typical underground Christian  cemeteries, which were common in the 4th century AD.  Finally  we walk to Mdina – the Old Capital City of Malta and we visit the cathedral which was built on plans by Lorenzo Gafà.  We walk around the narrow and winding streets and enjoy the panoramic view of Malta from the historic bastions.

Afternoon at leisure.

WEDNESDAY

HALFDAY THREE CITIES

Departure from hotel in coach accompanied by guide to visit the Three Historical Cities of SENGLEA, COSPICUA and VITTORIOSA.  When the Knights first arrived in Malta , they chose as their home Vittoriosa (Birgu) because of its vicinity to Fort St. Angelo.  In Cospicua (Bormla) one can admire The Cottonera Lines, the Santa Margherita Lines, Verdala Fort & Barracks and the magnificent Collegiate Parish Church and its artistic Oratory.  In Vittoriosa we will be able to visit the church dedicated to St. Lawrence and the Maritime Museum  

OR

 
Afternoon:

HALFDAY HARBOUR CRUISE

Departure from hotel by coach and accompanied by a fully licensed guide to Sliema Ferries.  We embark on a pleasure boat to visit the natural ports of Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour whose natural creeks make this port one of the most beautiful in Europe .  The view of the fortifications from the seaward side are unique and a treasure for photographers.

THURSDAY

(FULLDAY GOZO EXPERIENCE)

Departure from hotel in coach and we transfer to Cirkewwa for ferry boat crossing to Mgarr - GOZO.  The short trip from Malta to Gozo is in itself a pleasant experience especially on a fine day.  Mgarr Harbour is picturesque with all kinds of seacraft. We proceed to DWEJRA BAY which is famous for its hanging window. We then proceed to VICTORIA which is in the centre of the island as well as being the centre of commerce.  THE CITADEL is a medieval fortified town with massive bastions that date back to the 17th century. In the afternoon we continue with our tour, visiting XLENDI BAY which has sheer Cliffs and clean water and is in itself a very picturesque little village and then finally to the Gozo Heritage.

FRIDAY

HALF DAY BLUE GROTTO HALFDAY

Departure from hotel in coach accompanied by guide and we drive to Wied Iz-Zurrieq which is also a small fishing village.  Subject to weather permitting we may take a small fishing boat to visit the BLUE GROTTO cave which can be reached only by sea.  The cave is 40 metres in circumference and reaches a depth of 26 metres.  The Blue Grotto faces east and it is at its best in the morning because the sunrays floodlight the entire grotto revealing its beauty. (boat price not included – weather permitting). We finally drive to MARSAXLOKK fishing village which is Malta 's largest fishing village.  Here one will be able to watch the fishermen mending their nets or painting their boats but above all admire this quaint village full of the typical colourful fishing boats. 

FULLDAY BLUE GROTTO AND TEMPLES

Departure from hotel in coach accompanied by guide and we transfer to the drive to Wied Iz-Zurrieq which is also a small fishing village.  Subject to weather permitting we may take a small fishing boat to visit the BLUE GROTTO cave which can be reached only by sea. The Blue Grotto faces the east and is at its best in the morning because the sunrays floodlight the entire grotto revealing its beauty. (boat price not included – weather permitting). Lunch is served inone of the picturesque village. Then we go and visit the Tarxien Temples and finally we drive to Birzebbuga to visit GHAR DALAM which is a 144 metre long natural cave. 

SATURDAY

FULLDAY GOZO

Departure from hotel in coach and we transfer to Cirkewwa for ferry boat crossing to Mgarr - GOZO.  The short trip from Malta to Gozo is in itself a pleasant experience especially on a fine day.  Mgarr Harbour is picturesque with all kinds of seacraft.  During this tour we will visit GGANTIJA TEMPLES in Xaghra which were built and developed between 3600 and 2400 BC, making them among the earliest architectural planned facades in the world.  We then proceed to VICTORIA which is in the centre of the island as well as being the centre of commerce.  THE CITADEL is a medieval fortified town with massive bastions that date back to the 17th century. In the afternoon we continue with our tour, visiting XLENDI BAY which has sheer Cliffs and clean water and is in itself a very picturesque little village. 

SUNDAY

HALFDAY BLUE GROTTO, LIMESTONE HERITAGE AND MARSAXLOKK MARKET

Excursion to the south of the island. We commence our tour with a visit to the Blue Grotto and the other grottoes from closeby. (boat price not included – weather permitting).

We proceed our tour with a visit to an insight of Maltese history. Bringing old and new together enjoy an extensive featue witin a modernized quarry that explains one of Malta’s foremost trades of quarrying together with farmhouse building and stone decoration always using the limestone that gives its name to this spectacle called “the Limestone Heritage”

Lastly we will visit the main fisihing village off Marsaxlokk whose water front is lined with “luzzuz” painted in traditional reds, blues and yellows that add colour to this peaceful bay once the site of the first Turkish landing during the great siege of 1565 where you will be given free time to spend browsing around the local market stalls.