Elite Traveler Spring 2022

117 etr li at ve eler SPRING 2022

MUST-DO MALTA

Hagar Qim Temples A megalithic complex that predates the pyramids at Giza, this archeological treasure is the best-preserved of Malta’s prehistoric sites. By a cli ff face, the structure incorporates a series of chambers (the roof long ago collapsed). An adjacent museum makes some sense of the setting, though this is a Maltese marvel that will always be shrouded in mystery. heritagemalta.org EYOS Expeditions Its strategic position between Europe and Africa also means that Malta’s waters teem with shipwrecks, from the luxury steam yacht HMY Aegusa (felled in 1916) to the British submarine HMS Olympus . Intrepid-adventure specialist EYOS Expeditions can arrange once-in-a-lifetime access to these sites, alongside various other underwater wonders, aboard a U-Boat Navigator submersible capable of dives up to 1,000 meters deep. eyos-expeditions.com Gozo by tuk-tuk Gozo’s tranquility isn’t tarnished by these increasingly popular tuk-tuk safaris: The all-electric vehicles traverse this tiny island without making a sound. Fun customized tours might explore Victoria’s picturesque citadel, ornate churches, traditional villages and dramatic cli ff tops dressed with scraggy tufts of wild fl owers. yippeemalta.com

St John’s Co-Cathedral One of Europe’s most glorious and grandiose cathedrals, this 16th-century Baroque beauty features a riot of rich golds on all sides and a series of intricately detailed marble tombstones underfoot. There’s so much to take in here, but don’t miss a visit to the Oratory. The out-of-the-way annex houses The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist , a 1608 painting considered one of Caravaggio’s most signi fi cant works. stjohnscocathedral.com

Superyacht sailing With the island a bridge between Italy, Spain, France, Montenegro and Greece, superyachters are increasingly gravitating to Malta as a sailing destination. The recently launched Carblu Malta provides charters through these waters, with use of the 135-ft Lady in Blue coming in at about $16,800 per day or $84,400 per week. carblumalta.com

Photo Victor Elzerman