Valletta

The possible sighting of an occasional automobile is the only reminder of the modern world as you stroll through Mdina, the Silent City of Malta. Exploring the churches and palazzos framing narrow alleyways, you will feel as if a moment has been frozen in time in this 8th-century walled town that once served as the nation's capital. Take a tour of Palazzo Falson, a 13th-century medieval palace modeled after Sicilian examples of its time. Then travel to Naxxar to visit Palazzo Parisio, situated across from the beautiful 17th-century Church of the Nativity of Mary.

Your guide meets you at the yacht pier for your informative walk around the clifftop city built in the 16th century by the Knights of St. John. Begin by taking the lift up to the Upper Barracca Gardens, whose high perch provides panoramic views of Malta’s two natural harbors and the trio of historic cities – Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa – that predate Valletta. Then follow your guide down the narrow streets that laid out in a neat, uniform grid by European military engineers.

At Malta’s megalithic temples, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, travel back in time more than 6,000 years as you explore these prehistoric monuments that are among the world’s earliest free-standing stone structures. Marvel at the diversity of architectural styles and the artistic and technological sophistication of an ancient culture exhibited in the Tarxien Temples and the Hypogeum in Paola.

Experience the exquisitely romantic ambiance of Valletta at nightfall. Meander through narrow cobblestone streets as the sky darkens and shops and cafés begin to light up. Behold the city’s most iconic landmarks, from the dome of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the 17th-century St. John’s Co-Cathedral to the Auberge de Castille and the Grand Master’s Palace. The hustle and bustle of daily life subsides, and the streets grow serene as you experience this historic city by the light of the Mediterranean moon.