A short walk from Silver Jubilee House stands one of the oldest free-standing stone monuments in the world. The two temples of Ġgantija were built from around 3600 BC — roughly a thousand years before Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids.
The legendBuilt by giants?
The name comes from the Maltese word for giant. Some of the stone blocks are so large that, for centuries, Gozitans told of a giantess who carried them here and built the temples. Archaeologists believe the Neolithic farmers of Gozo moved them using stone rollers and great communal effort — which is hardly less impressive.
What you will see
Two temples stand side by side behind one great outer wall, their curved chambers opening off a central passage. Look for the hearths, altars and niches inside, and the rough coralline limestone of the outer wall against the finer globigerina limestone used inside. Before you reach the temples, a visitor centre explains the site and displays finds from Ġgantija and the nearby Xagħra Stone Circle.
Ġgantija was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, and the listing was later extended to include Malta’s other megalithic temples.
A few minutes’ walk awayTa’ Kola Windmill
Your ticket can include the 18th-century Ta’ Kola Windmill, just down the road in Xagħra. Inside, the original milling machinery and the miller’s living quarters have been restored, with displays on traditional Gozitan crafts and tools.
More to see in Xagħra
Xagħra is also known for two small caves beneath private houses, Ninu’s Cave and Xerri’s Grotto, with stalactites and stalagmites formed by rainwater slowly filtering through the limestone. Opening times vary, so ask locally.
Information checked in October 2026. Check Heritage Malta for current opening hours and prices.
Photo credits
- Ġgantija Temples — Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
