Malta

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March 29th: Flight

  • YYZ ( Depart 9 PM) to MLA 

March 30th: Malta (St. Julian and Valleta)

  • Arrive at airport MLA (Arrive: 2:40 PM) 
  • Pick up rental and drive to hotel
  • Checking to Hotel 
    • Westin Dragonara Resort
    • Hilton Malta 
  • Spend evening in St. Julian and Town of Valletta

March 31st: Malta (Rabat and MDina)

Mdina

  • Drive from Hotel to Mdina (for directions click here)
  • Park in large parking lot (about 7 minute walk to the main gate)
  • Self guided walking tour (Click here for directions)
  • Walking tour includes: 
    • Main Gate (Free)
    • Dungeons Museum (Skip, 4 Euro entrance, kids can do it for 30 minutes)
    • Natural History Museum (Skip)
    • Kappella ta’ Sant’ Agata
    • Mdina Cathedral Museum (Entrance fee)
    • St. Paul Cathdral (Entrance fee)
    • Fontanella Tea Garden (Have cake and tea)
    • Palazzo Falson (Entrance fee)
    • Bastion Square (Must do, breath taking views of Malta, walk the Ramparts)
  • Reference sites: 
  • https://travel2malta.com/mdina-the-silent-city-of-malta-a-walking-tour-guide/

Rabat 

Malta’s Cliffs:

April 1st: Malta (Gozo and Comino Islands)

 (Comino) Blue Lagoon (Overcrowded beach with lots of people, avoid)
  1. Citadel (Shuttle to Victoria (Capital City) (Must do)
  2. Xlendi (Picturesque Fjord like bay) (Must do)
    1. (Gozo) Blue Hole/Azure Window
  3. Xwenjni Salt Pans
  4. Ta’Cenc Cliffs and Sanap Cliffs
  5. GGantija Temples
  6. Skippable
    1. Calypso Cave
    2. Inland Sea
    3. Church of St. John Baptist
Traveler Recommendations:
Take tour or ferry to Gozo and Comino Islands (Comino Islands is skippable, but Gozo is must do)
Difficult to do on your own. Need a bike, jeep. Walking not possible, bus transportation can be unreliable.

April 2nd: Fly to Sicily (Taormina)

  • Drive to airport (Leave around 10:45 AM)
  • Things to do 
    • Fly to Sicily
      • Malta – Catania
         Departure time – 13:35
        Arrival time – 14:20
    • Drive to Taormina and Park at Parcheggio Porta Catania.
    • Taormina Walk: Visit Porta Catania, Via del Ghetto, Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano, Church of San Michele, San Domenic Convent (Four Seasons – can stop in for coffee; afterwards cheap eats at Da Cristina pizzeria), Piazza Duomo, Piazza IX Aprile (peek inside high society cafes), Naumanchie structure, Churches/ruins/Palazzo Corvaja
    • Greek-Roman Theater (10 euros pp; closes at 6:30 pm; cafe at top has best views of town); Public Gardens
    • Dinner in town, consider Pizzeria Villa Zuccaro or La Napoletana
    • Drive to Modica 
  • Note Worthy
    • Taormina has 2 parts: Greek city and medieval Norman city. Note the Norman architecture and Catalan-Gothic architectures. Taormina was a Grand Tour destination for the aristocrats in the 1500s, sponsored by the Vatican to rediscover Europe’s antiquity.
      Local specialty: Almond wine (vino alla mandorla)
      Godfather series was filmed at Savoca and Forza d’Agro – 40 min. drive from Taormina
  • Preparation/Keep in mind
    • Reach the theater entrance by 5 pm latest for time to purchase tickets, see theater, check out cafe & gardens and time for dinner before 3 hour drive to Modica

April 3rd: Modica and Ragusa

Modica

  • Modica Walk: 
    • For early risers, drive 5 minutes to town of Modica (pay for parking).
    • Check out Cathedral of San Pietro (8:00 – 18:30), and a chain of chocolate shops doling out samples, especially Antica Dolceria Bonajuto (9:00 – 20:30).
    • With time, take the 10 minute hike to Cathedral of San Giorgio (by same architect who designed Cathedral of San Giorgio in Ragusa Ibla)
    • Check out popular chocolate shop, Sabadi (10:00 – 20:00). ~1.5 hours. Head to Ragusa directly.
  • Noteworthy: 
    • Famous for local specialty – cioccolato di Modica. Modica is split into the upper town Modica Alta and lower town Modica Bassa
  • Preparation/Keep in Mind: 
    • Hotel breakfast buffet (free) is 7:00 – 10:00. 
    • Modica town is on the way to Ragusa, hence make it a first stop. 
    • Churches will only be open in the morning, and see town in broad daylight.

Ragusa

  • Ragusa Ibla Walk:
    • Park on the east side of Ragusa, if possible.
    • Check out Public Garden, Portale San Giorgio, Corso XXV Aprile, Piazza Pola, Cinabro Carretrieri
    • Grab bite to eat at I Banchi owned by a local celebrity chef has takeaway counter
    • Stop at Caffetteria Donnafugata for granite, Arezzo Family Palazzi, Circolo di Conversazione, Cathedral of San Giorgio (enter for free 10:00 – 12:30 and 16:00 – 18:30), Palazzo La Rocca. (3 hours)
    • Head to Piazza della Repubblica and walk uphill with 248 steps.
  • Ragusa Superiore Walk:
    • Piazza della Repubblica, Stair Climb, Church of Santa Maria delle Scale (only church that predates eqarthquake, has Catalan-Gothic architecture), Enter the town and enjoy views of Palazzo Bertini, Town Hall, Piazza Matteotti, Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista/Piazza San Giovanni. (1.5 hours)
    • Grab a drink or bite to eat in nearby cafes or Trattoria da Luigi for an affordable meal, can stroll on the pedestrianzed shopping street Via Roma
    • Climb down during sunset for a photography treat. (1.5 hours)
    • Retrace steps through Ragusa Ibla and head back to Modica (20 min. drive, setting GPS to Duomo di San Pietro).
  • Noteworthy: 
    • Entire region was devasted by a catastrophic earthquake in 1693. Villages with 2,000 years history were flattened and later rebuilt in Baroque style.
    • Check out purgatory churches (departed loved ones who need extra prayer to purify them of their sins) are common in Sicily but not mainland Italy.
    • Ragusa Ibla is the old, sparsely populated town, rebuilt slowly after the earthquake, and Ragusa Superiore is the new town as most chose to move there. Prosperous and less touristy. 
  • Preparation/Keep in Mind: 
    • Street parking within white lines is free, blue lines require a pay and display ticket
    • For 30-min English tour of Palazzo Arezzo di Trifiletti by owner’s son, reserve ahead of time.
  • Alternate Plan:
    • Head early by 8 am to Donnafugata Castle first thing. Reach by 9:30, from hotel taking southeast countryside drive ~1.5 hours. 10 euro entry into castle, park and museum, opens 9 am. Then 30 min. drive to Ragusa, then dinner in Modica. Full circle.
  • Noteworthy
    • Donnafugata means “fleeing woman”. This castle is a rare example in Sicily of rural aristrocracy.
Dinner: 
  • Can Dine at Osteria dei Sapori Perduti for hearty bowls of pasta, 5 minute walk from Cathedral of San Pietro, or if late, eat at hotel restaurant

April 4th: Modica - Noto - Ortigia

Modica

  • Check out of Hotel by 10:00 am. Early risers (leave at 8 am) can head to Modica town for sampling chocolates and checking out churches and getting exercise with climb to 2nd cathedral, if this was skipped previous day.
  • Drive to Noto (Park at Parcheggio Centrale)

Noto

  • Noto Town Walk:
    • Porta Reale, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Piazza San Francesco, Piazza Municipio, City Hall.
    • Enjoy gelato at Caffe Sicilia and compare at Caffe Costanzo (also an excellent pasticceria and gelateria, try almond granita)
    • Via Corrado Nicolaci, can enter Palazzo Nicolaci for 4 euros
    • grab a bite at Sabbinirica sandwich shop, Piazza XVI Maggio (if Church of San Domenico is open, see 10 minute video loop showing stunning collapse of done of San Nicolo, Rosario Gagliardi, main architect of Noto is buried here) (1 hour drive from Modica and 1 hour walk).
    • Drive to Ortigia, anticipate 1 hour travel.
  • Hotel
    • (N/A will be driving)
  • Noteworthy:  
    • Known as “Garden in Stone” Noto is the capital (jewel in the crown) of Sicilian Baroque. Most planned Sicilian city. Noto is known for its gelato artistry. 
 

Ortigua

  • Parking: :(Via Nizza, 50) Talete municipal parking (cost 15€ per day). Call hotel :+39 09311798038 even by whatsapp to add License Plate
  • Arrive at Ortigia
    • Lunch at 12:30 or later. Park at free parking spots in Ortigia east side on embankment OR outside Ortigia Molo San’Antonio and walk across Ponte Santa Lucia, if unable to enter Ortigia. Eat at Ortigia street market (Via Emanuele de Benedictis).
    • Ortigia Walk – 1: Santa Lucia Bridge Spin-Tour, Piazza Pancali, Temple of Apollo, Ortigia Street Market (lots of places to eat, street vendors start to wind down by 13:00, completely gone by 14:00). Can walk past these sites, eat lunch and then view these site in reverse to pick up parked car next to Ponte Santa Lucia.
      Check into hotel after 3 pm. Take a nap/relax in the evening after checking into hotel.
    • Stroll, drink and dine along the 360 harbor and enjoy seafront views. Great place for seafood.
      Dinner
  • Hotel
    • Lanterne Magiche Ortigia
  • Noteworthy
    • Ancient Siracusa was a huge power in the Greek world, for some time dominating over rival city-state Athens. This medieval-era town came tumbling down in the 1693 earthquake.
      Siracusa has 2 parts: modern mainland city and small, historic island of Ortigia.
    • The Battle of Syracuse was fought here ending the Second Peloponnesian war, with complete destruction of Athenian fleet and kicking off the ancient golden age of Sicily.
  • Preparation/Keep in mind
    • Check with the hotelier if they can register the car for entry into Ortigia. If the ZTL sign says “non-attivo” then you can drive in. Else must park in mainland and walk into the island. Some free unlimited time parking spaces along the embankment round on east side of island.

April 5th: Ortigia (Siracusa)

  • Things to do in Ortigia and Sicracusa
    • Buffet breakfast at hotel may require a surcharge of 18 euros.
      Take Siracusa Open Tour hop-on, hop-off bus to mainland Siracusa. Catch bus at Piazza Archimede or Lungomare. Buses run 9:00 – 19:30, 10 euros pp. good for 24 hours, every 20 min. Get on first bus at 9 am.
    • Mainland Siracuse: Visit Neopolis Archaeological Park (13 euros pp. Open 8:30 – 19:30) and optionally the Catacombs of San Giovanni (9:30 – 12:30 & 14:30 – 17:30, 10 euros pp. for guided tour -ask for English tour). Visit catacombs (underground cemeteries from 4th century AD) first, and then walk 10 minutes east along Viale Teocrito to archaeological park. Return by bus, and relax in hotel until 3 pm.
    • Ortigia Walk – 2: Lunch optionally at Ortigia Street Market. Corso Giacomo Matteotti, Via Cavour & Piazza Archimede, Siracusa Cathedral (enter 2 euros pp, 8:30 – 18:30 – combines architectures of Greek, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, and Baroque), Piazza Duomo, Fountain of Arethusa, Viewpoint over the bay.
      Shopping in Ortigia: Via Cavour, Via Roma, ceramics shops artisan shops.
      Stroll, drink and dine along the 360 harbor and enjoy seafront views.
  • Hotel 
    • Lanterne Magiche Ortigia
  • Noteworthy:  
    • Known as “Garden in Stone” Noto is the capital (jewel in the crown) of Sicilian Baroque. Most planned Sicilian city. Noto is known for its gelato artistry. 
 

April 6th: Ortigia - Catania (Fly back to Malta)

  • Check out of hotel by 9:30 am for arrival in Catania by 11 am.
  • Alternative Plan: Leave hotel by 8:30 am for arrival in Catania by 9:30 am. Enjoy an abbreviated city walk and sit down for brunch. Leave for airport for arrival by 11:30 am. Reach earlier if luggage must be checked in. 
  • Hotel 
    • Lanterne Magiche Ortigia
  • Preparation:  
    • Consider time for returning car and checking in luggage in foreign country. 

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