2011 October Malta, Floriana

Floriana open Day

On Sunday 23rd October 2011 there was an Open Day in Floriana. This is a small town before the capital city, Valletta.

My Maltese friend told me about this event because one of the attraction was a possibility to visit the Floriana Train Station at St. Philip’s Gardens. 

I know that there was a tunnel and the train station but I couldn’t find it.

All interesting information you will find on this vebsite:

http://website.lineone.net/~alan.c.edwards/mtrail.html

I started near the Sarria church close to the crossing of Bugeja and Sarria street where is the Wignacourt Water Tower and the St. Philip’s Gardens. Firstly, we entered garden with our guide. On the left hand side there was a gate and afterwards the ramp started leading to the train station.

Our guide told us about everything but I was busy taking pictures. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t very good. Below the ramp an old railway platform began followed by a tunnel to Valletta. There was still a lot of rubbish but I was really impressed by what they did. Inside the tunnel. 

There were wooden boxes, some railway equipment. In my opinion the tunnel is amazing and I hope that they will open it again.

http://www.faydon.com/Malta/Malta.html

There are also so beautiful gardens. We went there and from the forts we had a picturesque view. These gardens were originally private and in 1805 they were converted into a botanic garden and used for medical and surgical purposes and medicinal herbs were grown here.

Parish Church of St Publius. The church looks like many Maltese or Italian Baroque churches from inside everything is richly decorated. On this occasion we were able to visit the roof and it was the main attraction there. We visited a belfry and listened to the Maltese musicians who walk on the streets.

In the Police and Crime Museum we found an exhibition about Maltese crime history. In fact there were some really horrible murders. This museum is located on San Kalcidonju street. 

Below the museum there is the Wartime Emergency Underground Shelter which is quite impressive and big.

2011 October Malta

Curiosity

Have you ever wondered about the origins of the design of the reverse of the Maltese 1, 2 and 5 cents?

The design of the reverse side these euro coins was inspired by the Mnajdra Temples. It shows a doorway inside the South Temple at Hagar

On the 15^th October 2011 there was an open day. That was an excellent time to visit these temples. I was passing nearby many times but I have never been inside.
The prehistoric site of Hagar Qim consists of a group of monumental megalithic buildings. They were built during the late Neolithic, around 5,000 years ago. 

Till today they don’t have many information about what went on inside them. In Malta and Gozo they found about 20 different places like this one.
The temples are covered by white tent to protect of sun and rain.

Firstly, there is a museum where is information about this place, a short movie and a small play ground for children.

The main temple is about 100 meters far from museum. The second one is a little bit further.

From the second temple there is a footh path toward the sea. Near the monument there is path going down and you can see mini ‘Blue Grotto’.

Good shoes are needed and snoorkeling equipment is necessary because there is a wonderful place. It is good to have swimming shoes too. 

Visiting temples and resting in the water took me more than half day.