The sheer number of archaeological sites here sets Malta's history apart from that of other Mediterranean destinations. There are megalithic monuments, Bronze Age dolmens, Punic tombs, remains of Roman Villas and traces of prehistoric man which defy explanation, such as the mysterious ‘cart’ tracks. For three millennia, from around 5200 B.C., the archipelago was home to a unique, temple-building civilisation. Malta and Gozo’s temples are thought to be the oldest free-standing buildings known to man. One site above all others is special to Malta – the Hypogeum, a labyrinth of underground chambers probably used as both a burial site and a temple. The Islands’ temples are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are open to the public. A good place to start your tour is at the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, and the Hypogeum itself.
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