Heritage Malta is once again organising a guided tour of the Mnajdra Temples on Tuesday 21 December to mark the solstice.
The unique setting of the Mnajdra Temples at Qrendi, overlooking the coast, gives them a special charm not found in any other of the large-scale megalithic buildings of the Maltese Islands.
In a bid to provide an enhanced experience to visitors, only 40 people will be allowed access to the Mnajdra Temples.
Sunrise on the first day of each season underlines the relationship between the temples and celestial bodies. Although it is not known for certain whether these orientations were intentional, they are so systematic that this is very probable. In prehistoric agricultural societies, observation of the motion of the stars, the moon and sun could have been related to the changing seasons and times of planting and harvesting crops.
On 21 December, visitors to the temples will marvel when, at the crack of dawn, the sun’s rays light up the edge of a megalith found on the right of the central doorway connecting the first pair of chambers to the inner chambers.
A limited number of tickets for the Mnajdra tour are selling for Lm5 and are strictly on a first come first served basis. Interested parties can purchase their tickets from Heritage Malta Head Office – Old University Buildings, Merchants Street, Valletta by not later than tomorrow. Please call on 22954307 for any queries.
The guided tour starts at around 6.30am.
For further information on activities organised by Heritage Malta please visit the web site: www.heritagemalta.org