Hidden for many centuries and nearly forgotten through Malta’s long history they were rediscovered during the 19th century by European and Maltese archaeologists.

Not much is known about the people who actually built these beautiful and perplexing temples. It is thought that the original inhabitants of Malta were farmers who probably crossed over from Sicily in around 5,000 BC.

Some temples are relatively large measuring about 120 feet side by side. Considering the fact that no known technology existed during this ancient period, temples must have played a considerable role in those communities, due to the complexity and resources required to build them.

Maltese Prehistoric Chronology

Neolithic
5,000-4,300 BC, G?ar Dalam
4,500-4,400 BC, Grey Skorba
4,400-4,100 BC, Red Skorba

Temple Period
4,100-3,700 BC, ?ebbu?
3,800-3,600 BC, M?arr
3,300-3,000 BC, Saflieni
3,150-2,500 BC, Tarxien
2,500-1,500 BC, Tarxien Cemetery

Bronze Age
1,500–700 BC, Bor? in-Nadur
900–700 BC, Ba?rija

Ggantija Temples Gozo (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Located near the village of Xaghra on the island of Gozo, they are the oldest Megalithic temples to be found in the Maltese islands. The two Ggantija temples were erected during the Neolithic age (3,600 – 2,500 BC), which means they are more than 5,500 years old.

It is thought that the Ggantija temples were the sites of a fertility cult as numerous figurines and statues have been found on site, which are connected with that cult.

Opening hours: 9.00-17.00 Monday to Sunday
Last admission: 16.30
Closed: 24th, 25th & 31st December, 1st January and Good Friday
Tel: (+356) 21 553194

Admission fees:
Adult: €8, Students & Senior Citizens €6
Children (6–11 years): €4
Children (under 5): Free
Malta bus number: 64 & 65 from Victoria