Mdina, Dingli Cliffs & San Anton Botanical Gardens (Half Day)

Description

Join us on this fascinating guided tour of Mdina, Dingli Cliffs, and San Anton Botanical Gardens, carefully designed to make your experience truly memorable. We start by visiting the ancient mediaeval city of Mdina, renowned for its opulent palaces and fortifications, mediaeval and baroque architecture, and ancient heritage. This majestic city, also known as Città Vecchia (the Old City) or Città Notabile (the Noble City), is unquestionably one of the island's most evocative destinations.

Serving as the island's capital city from antiquity until the mediaeval period, Mdina is truly an enchanting city! A stroll through its narrow streets, which have not changed much in the last 1000 years, is a must for anyone visiting the Maltese islands. It is undoubtedly one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled/fortified city. Explore this historic city with an experienced local guide and delve into the rich past of the city as you explore its mediaeval streets. Take a journey back in time, admiring the magnificent palazzos and churches in the city’s unique mix of mediaeval and baroque styles, as well as the spectacular panoramas from the high bastion walls.

Leaving Mdina through the ‘Greeks Gate’ we proceed to Dingli Cliffs, located off the village of Dingli on Malta’s western coast, at around 253 metres above sea level. These cliffs represent the highest point of the Maltese Islands. The cliffs propose a majestic sight; the views overlooking the terraced fields underneath and the panorama of the vast open seas with the uninhabited small island of Filfla as its backdrop are truly breath-taking! Given their impressive height, the cliffs can be considered natural forts since no attacker can approach the island from the west. Perched on the edge, marking the highest point on the Maltese islands, is a gorgeous, tiny chapel built in 1646, dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene.

We end our tour with a visit to the San Anton Botanical Gardens, located in the village of Attard. These beautiful gardens were built in the early 17th century by Grand Master Antoine de Paule to complement his summer residence, San Anton Palace, which is located at the perimeter of the gardens and which today serves as the residence of the Maltese President.

Open to the public since 1882, the gardens have several pathways surrounded by fountains and ponds that are inhabited by families of ducks, swans, peacocks, peahens, and turtles and encompass a large variety of trees and flowers from around the world, including a variety of palm trees, cypress, jacarandas, araucarias, and other exotic plants, some of them over three centuries old.

During the whole tour, our knowledgeable and experienced guides will provide you with riveting information and enhance your experience through narration and engaging storytelling.

What should you know before you go?

• The time shown on the website or on your ticket is the approximate start time of the activity and not the time when you will be picked up from your hotel (or closest meeting point). At least a few days before the date of your activity, you need to make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pick-up location and pick-up time. Your pick-up time can be any time between 8:30 AM and 9:10 AM, depending on where you are staying.

• To confirm your pick-up location (meeting point) and your pick-up time, please send an e-mail to internal-tours@robertarrigo.com at least a few days before the date of your activity. Make sure to include your booking reference number in the e-mail.

• The tour will be guided in the language that you have booked; however, please note that occasionally, due to operational circumstances, a multilingual guide (limited to a maximum of two languages) might provide the commentary in two languages.

• The tour in Spanish will be conducted by either a Spanish-speaking guide (subject to availability) or an English-speaking guide together with a Spanish-speaking host serving as a translator.

• The provider reserves the right to change the order of the visits without prior notice.

• No particular dress code is required; we suggest wearing comfortable clothes according to the forecasted weather.

• The tour is not wheelchair-accessible.

• Foldable strollers are allowed during the tour.

• Pets, large luggage, and large suitcases are not allowed during the tour.

• Any personal belongings, including backpacks or rucksacks, must be carried with you at all times and may not be left unattended on the coach or bus.

• The tour is not recommended for travellers with mobility impairments.

• The tour will operate as scheduled, rain or shine.

• Both electronic and paper vouchers are accepted.

What to bring?

• Comfortable shoes

• Sunglasses

• A hat or a cap (especially in summer)

• Sunscreen (especially in summer)

• An umbrella (if it's expected to rain)

• Some cash

Included on booking:

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off (from your Hotel or a close meeting point)

• A licenced tour guide

• All transportation in air-conditioned vehicles

Not included on booking:

• Food and drinks

• Tips (optional)