Mgarr combines megalithic history with a coastline stretching from Fomm ir-Rih to Għajn Tuffieħa Bay. Its places and traces tell stories from different periods: from Neolithic structures and Roman baths to 19th-century fortifications. When planning your trip, it may help to first decide whether temples, local history, or the landscape will be your main focus.

Megalithic Sites and Early Traces

Skorba consists of two separate temples and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Megalithic Temples of Malta”; Skorba was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1992. The site also includes the remains of residential huts. They provide important insights into the domestic life of Neolithic inhabitants. Earlier structures at Skorba date from the earliest phases of the Neolithic period and are among the oldest on the Maltese Islands. This should be distinguished from the dating of the West Temple, which dates to around 3500 BC. Skorba therefore brings both the temple structures and traces of life at the time into focus.

Ta’ Ħaġrat comprises two megalithic structures and belongs to a group of local megalithic sites that was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. The site thus combines an archaeological distinction with a broad connection to the surrounding landscape: Ta’ Ħaġrat offers panoramic views of the Maltese countryside. As at Skorba, the number of structures here is clearly defined, while its UNESCO connection is described as part of a group.

Traces from different periods can also be found beyond the temple sites. Cart ruts are found throughout Mgarr. The Roman baths on the road from Mgarr to Għajn Tuffieħa date from the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD. The Victoria Lines, a fortified wall built in the 19th century, run along Mgarr’s southern boundary. Lippija Tower, meanwhile, was built in 1657 by Grand Master Lascaris to protect Gnejna and the few families living in Mġarr at the time. These examples represent different functions and periods, not a single historical site.

Coast and Sheltered Bays

Gnejna is a picturesque bay in Mgarr. Together with Għajn Tuffieħa, it is one of the sheltered bays that served as refuges for pirates throughout history. Mgarr’s coastline stretches from Fomm ir-Rih to Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, so the bays are part of a longer stretch of coast. Those planning their trip with the landscape in mind will find a different focus here from the temples and archaeological traces in the village.

Heritage Trail and Village Life

The Heritage Trail passes through Mgarr, by the cart ruts and the temples of Ħaġrat, and ends beside the Church of the Rotunda of the Assumption of Mary. Access to Ta’ Ħaġrat by bus is also straightforward to describe: the nearest bus stop is a five-minute walk away.

A distinctive feature of the parish church of Mġarr is its egg-shaped design. The village feast is celebrated on the first Sunday after 15 August. Alongside the archaeological and landscape attractions, visitors can therefore plan around a distinctive architectural feature and a specific feast date.

Discover more destinations: Sannat, Tarxien, Gzira, Nadur, Mdina, Hal Kirkop, Gharb, Rabat.

For the broader travel overview: Malta.