Malta Opera Festival

2012 marks our third visit to picturesque Malta for the annual Opera Festival at the Teatru Manoel in Valletta. The theatre was commissioned and funded in 1731 by António Manoel de Vilhena, Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, and is a jewel of Malta’s national heritage. Our visit includes a performance of Verdi’s Il Trovatore, and a private recital in Mdina Cathedral, as well as the chance to discover all that this delightful country has to offer.


Mon 12 Mar Afternoon arrival in Malta and transfer to the 5-star Hotel Le Meridien Phoenicia, an elegant hotel situated just outside the city walls of ancient Valletta. Welcome dinner in a local restaurant.

Tue 13 Mar Join your guide for a walking tour of the historical centre of Valletta. Important sites of interest include St John’s Co-Cathedral, Malta’s most famous monument to the glorious era of the Knights of St John, and the Palace of the Grand Masters. Completed in 1574, the Palace was the administrative headquarters of the Order of St John. Today it is filled with tapestries, paintings and furnishings which reflect the varied history of the rule of the country. Afternoon at leisure. This evening we visit Mdina for a private recital in the Cathedral, followed by dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Wed 14 Mar Full-day excursion, commencing with a visit to the Palazzo Parisio, the ‘mini Versailles’ of Malta. The interiors of the palace are rich with fine frescoes, magnificent marble, mirrored walls and extravagant gilding. We then head to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk and onwards to lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we visit the Three Cities in the south of the island; Cospicua, Vittoriosa and Senglea, which are renowned for their historic buildings and beautiful harbours. Return to Valletta for a free evening.

Thu 15 Mar Today we visit Mosta Church, which is Europe’s third largest free-standing dome, and then continue to Mdina, ‘the Silent City’, the medieval capital of Malta. Some of the best Norman and baroque architecture lies within its narrow winding streets, and the spectacular Cathedral is a particular highlight. Return to Valletta for an afternoon at leisure. Evening performance at Teatru Manoel.

Fri 16 Mar Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to the airport for your homeward flight.

Flights: Air Malta

Flight schedules are subject to alteration. Flights from other UK airports can be arranged on request.