Contemplate the infinite timelessness of two peerless Stone Age masterpieces and journey back in time to a world shrouded in myth and mystery.
Officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980, together with the City of Valletta, both Ġgantija Temples and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum represent a unique achievement in the history of humanity.
Sealed and forgotten from prehistory to the dawn of the 20th century, the Hypogeum displays a degree of artistry in stone sculpture exclusive in the Neolithic to the Maltese islands. With the earliest remains dating back to 4000 BC, the subterranean necropolis consists of three separate, superimposed levels.
Featuring carved portals and lintels and intricate red ochre motifs of spirals, discs and honeycombs on the walls and ceiling, the middle tier includes the popularly known 'Oracle' room, so named because of a niche that has acoustic properties.
Often pre-booked for months in advance, secure a ticket to see one of the world's remaining marvels for yourself by logging on here: https://booking.heritagemalta.org/
Located on Gozo, Malta's smaller sister island, a picturesque 25-minute ferry ride across the channel, Ġgantija Temples are considered to be a milestone in humankind's technological evolution.
The ingenious temple builders accomplished a level of engineering and sophistication in the construction of these monuments that appears unparalleled elsewhere in the Neolithic. Along with Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Ħal Tarxien, Skorba and Ta' Ħaġrat, and collectively listed by UNESCO as the 'Megalithic Temples of Malta', Ġgantija is one of the earliest groups of free-standing monumental structures in the world.
A fixture on the Grand Tour circuit as early 18th century drawings attest, these sites were actually believed -on account of the size of their enormous megaliths- to have been erected by a giantess who fed on a diet of broad beans and honey, according to Gozitan folklore.
The Ġgantija complex consists of a five-chambered South Temple, constructed around 3600 BC, a North Temple built 400 years later, with four apses and a terminal niche and a large open semi-circular forecourt.
In 2013, with the help of EU funding, the site underwent a complete transformation with the construction of a visitor-centred Interpretation Centre, featuring a collection of rare artefacts from Gozo's prehistoric sites and making it a must-visit destination for anyone wanting to discover more about the Islands' Neolithic heritage.
For further information: visit www.heritagemalta.org
As published in UNESCO 75 'FROM PAST TO FUTURE ' Magazine 2021
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