Malta: The Old

So in addition to hiking every day, we also visited some of the oldest standing structures in the world. Older than the pyramids! Older than Stonehenge! The temples on Malta and Gozo are big, old, and beautiful. These megalithic structures are a bit mind boggling, especially since there are so many sites and they are all strategically placed with stunning vistas and precise relationships to the seasonal equinoxes. And there are still plenty of mysteries surrounding their existence. I kind of like the fact that despite all of our fancy modern technology and knowledge, there are still some unknowns in this world. 

We visited Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, and Ggantija. Hagar Qim and Mnajdra can be seen together and there is a nice, little museum at the entrance to these sites. They are in a stunning location and if it is a nice day be sure to leave some extra time for hiking around the area. The only disappointing aspect is that both of the temple areas have recently been covered with a protective awning. I understand the need to prevent erosion, but it wasn't quite as picturesque as the images presented in the guide books.  Ggantija is located on  the island of Gozo. It is a smaller site, but still quite impressive and not covered. Also, if you are traveling with kids there is a small playground and soccer field just before the entrance to the Ggantija temple. When we return to Malta we hope to visit the Hypogeum (and we'll be sure to buy our tickets in advance). Prior to our visit, I had no idea Malta had such an ancient history, did you?