Although small in size, Malta is home to the oldest free-standing structures in the world - older than Stonehenge and the Great Egyptian Pyramids! In fact, the Megalithic Temples of Malta date back to 3600-2500 B.C., with the Ggantija Temples in Gozo being classified as the oldest structure in the world, dating back to around 3600-3200 B.C. There are several pre-historic temples scattered around the Maltese islands, seven of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temples were built using mostly materials such as coralline rock and globigerina limestone.
Take a look at the photos of some of the oldest sites in Malta, below:
Ä gantija Temples, Gozo:
Haġar Qim, Qrendi:
Tarxien Temples, Tarxien:
Ta' Haġrat Temple, Mġarr:
Mnajdra Temples, Qrendi:
Skorba Temples, Żebbiegħ:
This weekend I plan on visiting the Tarxien temples, the last temples on my to-visit list! I've read that these temples are the most elaborately decorated in Malta and one can find depictions of animals carved in relief into the stone as well as spiral designs and other patterns. I'm looking forward to be taken back in time into the pre-historic world and to imagine what life was like in Malta in 3000BC!
Author: Sabine Jung
