Home » Ile de Malte Histoire » Malta's Megalithic temples » Ġgantija Temples
Officially recognised by UNESCO as the oldest freestanding buildings in the world, the imposing Ġgantija Neolithic temples, just outside Xagħra in Gozo, are over 5,500 years old–that’s 1,000 years older than Stonehenge or the pyramids in Egypt.
Thanks to an extensive preservation effort, the temples are among the best-preserved historical sites in the Maltese Islands.
The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980, along with the other temples on the island of Malta.
Whether you’re a history buff, an archaeology enthusiast or simply curious, this unique prehistoric monument awaits you!
This guide explains everything you need to know before visiting the temples.
More info about similar sites in Malta: Uncovering Malta’s Megalithic Temples (including map)
The temples derive their name from a popular local myth. Gozitans believed the temples were constructed by a gigantic race of people–Ġgantija means ‘Place of Giants’ in Maltese.
Another tale recounts how a giantess who ate nothing but broad beans and honey bore a child from a common man. With the child hanging from her shoulder, she built the temples as a place of worship.
It was certainly these legends that led Jean-Pierre Houël to name the monument the “Tower of the Giants” in 1770.
Temples are unique in that they are free-standing structures. Their construction dates back to around 3600-3200 BC, making them the earliest buildings in Malta’s history.
Little is known about the builders of the Neolithic period. However, the site and the artefacts found during archaeological excavations have given archaeologists some clues about their way of life, which you can discover by visiting the museum located next to the temples.
As in Malta, Gozo’s temples were built from limestone. Hard-wearing Coralline Limestone was used extensively to build the monument, while Globigerine Limestone (Malta’s soft stone) was used for interior fittings such as doors, altars and decorative slabs.
The real technique used to erect these magnificent structures remains unknown. Studies have unearthed a number of spherical stones which led to the supposition that the temple builders rolled the impressive blocks of stone on these spheres to get them into place. However, it is uncertain how they managed to place them together.
Excavated in 1826, archaeologists believe that like other Neolithic sites on the islands, Ġgantija was a temple complex dedicated to a fertility deity, a theory supported both by the layout of the temple (which resembles the shape of a fat woman) and also by artefacts found on site such as numerous female figurines and statues.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of two separate temples; the South temple and the North temple. The remains of a third temple were also found adjacent to the other two and archaeologists think this was abandoned before completion. Although the two structures must originally have had plastered and painted roofs, today they stand roofless.
The two temples have separate entrances and a common perimeter wall. Each temple consists of a number of apses flanking a central corridor.
If you look at a site map, you’ll realize that the temples are built in the shape of a clover leaf, with the pattern drawn by inward-facing blocks.
Two fragments of red ochre plaster, now on display at the Ġgantija Archaeological Park Museum, suggest that the interior walls were plastered and covered with paint.
Architectural elements confirm the site’s use as a place of worship where rites were performed. The presence of stone hearths indicates the use of fire. In addition, a number of holes in the floor were used to pour libations (a religious ritual involving the offering of drinks and liquids).
The temple, like most megalithic sites in Malta, faces the rising sun.
Ġgantija is one of the main attractions you shouldn’t miss when in Gozo. There are many reasons why:
The tour begins with a visit to the museum (Interpretation Centre), which will then allow you to admire the structures outside with a more experienced eye. You’ll learn more about their builders and admire a number of objects and relics discovered during the archaeological excavations (pottery, bones, statuettes, amulets…).
The second part of the tour is dedicated to exploring the temples themselves, outside. Along the way, explanatory panels (in English) provide interesting information about the site.
An audioguide (in English) will accompany you on your tour.
In case you’re not fluent in English, I’d advise you to book a tour with a guide in advance.
To better understand this site, which dates from around 3600-3200 BC, a visit to Gozo’s temples is accompanied by a visit to a museum (“Interpretation Centre”).
The museum offers visitors the chance to learn a little more about how humans lived during the Neolithic period.
It also houses a selection of the most significant artefacts discovered at various prehistoric sites on Gozo. For example, the remains of animal bones discovered at the temple site suggest communal rituals and feasting.
Get my recommendations on the best day trips, boat trips, excursions and activities and book in advance!
To get to the Ġgantija Temples you must first cross from Malta to Gozo using the ferry. You can find out more information on how to catch the ferry from my travel guide article on Gozo.
Once in Gozo, there are several ways to get to your destination. The cheapest (but not the fastest or most reliable!) is the public bus. You can use the same bus tickets and cards as on the island of Malta.
If you hire a car, you can take it on the ferry from Ċirkewwa. Once you arrive in Gozo, leave the port of Mġarr and follow the signs to Xagħra, the village where the archaeological site is located. You can use a GPS or Google Maps.
You can also get to the site by taxi, or by taking a hop-on hop-off tourist bus operated by iSeeMalta (which allows you to discover lots of other places of interest in Gozo in a single day). The Gozo Heritage Day Pass even includes free entry to Ġgantija!
John Otto Bayer Street, Xagħra, Gozo
Tel: +356 21 553 194
Buy a Multipass to visit the Ġgantija Temples and many other temples and museums and save on your sightseeing tickets. You can also buy a Multipass with hop-on-hop-off (land and sea) included.
Check out my two guidebooks full of local knowledge and my best recommendations for your trip, and up-to-date for 2024!
Malta & Gozo guide book
Valletta: An Insider’s Guide to Malta’s Capital
Take the hassle out of planning your trip to Malta and be an informed traveller!
Get the best travel tips from Malta Uncovered delivered to you in bite-sized chunks by email. (Unsubscribe at any time!)
Was this article helpful? Share it with your friends!
Get the most out of your visit to Malta with Malta Uncovered guidebooks – full of local knowledge and up-to-date for 2024!