Ramla Bay
On the southern European island of Gozo, which is part of the main island of Malta, vacationers will find a rich culture with huge temples, impressive churches and beautiful beaches.
The most beautiful beach on the island is located in the well-known Ramla Bay and is a popular destination for locals and tourists with its red and gold, fine sand.
Ramla Bay in the north of the island of Gozos lies at the foot of a very fertile valley. From the small village of Xaghra through the valley it is only a 45 minute walk to this unique bay, where tourists can spend relaxing holidays. The fine sandy beach is followed by an almost 500 meter long strip of dunes, which is several meters high in some places.
The full name of Ramla Bay means something like “red sandy beach”. The whole area offers idyllic views of historical importance. Roman ruins can be found buried in the sandy beach and the Kalypso grotto is located above the western area of the beach. The Romans built a villa here, adorned with stucco and marble, which was so comfortable and noble that it was supplemented by a hot bath that drew its water from a nearby spring. It is also said of the grotto that the Greek hero Odysseus lived there with the nymph Calypso for seven years before he resumed his travels.
The wide and sandy beach of Ramla Bay can be easily reached by bus from Nadur, which makes the beach a popular attraction. The sea, the crystal clear water and the vastness of nature invite you to go on extensive tours of discovery.
Mnajdra
One of the most fascinating sights on the Mediterranean island of Malta is the Mnajdra (pronounced Imnaidra) with its temples. The structures are said to be over 5000 years old.
Visit of Mnajdra
Anyone taking a study trip to Malta should definitely make a detour to the village of Il-Qrendi in the southwest of the island. There, about two kilometers away, is the Mnajdra temple complex, which dates from the Neolithic Age.
The Mnajdra is located on Malta’s southwest coast and is located on a rocky slope on a terrace. 500 meters further to the south-west there is another imposing sight to be marveled at with the cult place Hagar Qim.
The specifics of Mnajdra
A visit to Mnajdra should not be missed when traveling to Malta. The special features of the temples include their great age and their artistic construction. They are said to have been around between 3600 and 3200 BC. Have been erected. Very little is known about the high culture that built the temple complex. The youngest temple was built between 3000 and 2500 BC. It is best preserved from the Mnajdra, so that its facade is almost completely in its original condition. Its decorations are considered to be the most beautiful temple decorations in Malta.
The temples of Mnajdra are part of the National Inventory of the Cultural Assets of Malta. They have also been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.
Building material
The temple walls are made up of extensive cut stones and rubble stones that have only been sparsely worked. The limestone types are globigerine limestone and coral limestone.
Arrival to Mnajdra
The temple site of Mnajdra can be reached from Malta’s capital La Valletta by regular bus connections, some of which run through abandoned villages. There is a small restaurant in the Hagar Qim Visitor Center. Tickets for the temple tour and souvenirs can also be purchased in the center as mementos of the trip. In the direction of the coast, the temples of Mnajdra can then be reached on foot. There are also two hiking trails between the temples, which can be used to explore the wider area.
Muza Museum
The National Museum of Fine Arts was an art museum in Valletta, Malta. It houses a collection of works by Maltese and foreign artists who mainly represent the main European art styles. Inaugurated on May 7, 1974, the museum was housed in the Admiralty House, an 18th-century palace that was formerly the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. The house was closed on October 2, 2016 and will reopen as MUŻA in 2018 in the Auberge d’Italie.
The National Museum of Fine Arts in the Admiralty House was opened on May 7, 1974 by Minister of Education and Culture Agatha Barbara. His collection was formerly part of the National Museum in the Auberge de Provence. In 2013, plans began to move the art exhibition from the Admiralty House to Auberge d’Italie. In September 2014 it was announced that the move would take place and the new museum would be called MUŻA (from the Maltese acronym Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti). The museum in the Admiralty House was closed on October 2, 2016. The new museum is slated to open in 2018 as one of Valletta’s projects as the European Capital of Culture.
History and exhibits
The museum housed most of the national collection of Malta. The collection began in 1923 when the first art curator, Vincenzo Bonello, started establishing a collection within what was then the National Museum. Bonello acquired numerous works of exceptional quality on the local art market and in London and Italy. Most were bought at a time when art market prices were still within reach of the museum’s modest budget. Maltese citizens and organizations also left significant legacies. The permanent exhibition included the largest collection of paintings by the southern Italian baroque artist Mattia Preti, an Italian knight of the Order of Malta who also helped redesign the interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. This, together with a fine and rare collection of antique maps, represented one of the special features of the collection. The works of other artists include Guido Reni, Giuseppe Ribera, Carlo Maratta and Bernardo Strozzi. Works by Dutch, French and British artists were also on permanent display.
