Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park

Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra are two megalithic sites dating back to the late Neolithic, over 5000 years old. They were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1992, forming part of the serial inscription of the ‘Megalithic Temples of Malta’. Ħaġar Qim is located at the top of a promontory, while Mnajdra is located 500m downhill. Given their proximity, it is likely that both sites were used by the same community. The Park also includes a Visitor Centre.

The site of Ħaġar Qim consists of a group of megalithic structures constructed in globigerina limestone, situated on the crest of a ridge. To the west, the site commands views over the open sea, while to the east it overlooks the edge of a large fertile plain. The main structure of Ħaġar Qim is unusual, with features and doorways along its external wall. The floor of the central passage is paved with stone slabs, while the floors in the chambers branching off this passage are made from beaten earth. Doorways inside the structures are either trilithon, built of two upright stone blocks with a lintel and threshold, or an opening cut into a single megalith, known as a ‘porthole’ doorway. Parts of the structure were originally covered by a corbelled roof, made of successive courses of megaliths, each one smaller than the one below. The original low-relief carvings are now represented by copies in this structure. One of the originals is displayed at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, while the other is displayed at the Visitor Centre.

Mnajdra consists of three structures, constructed in both globigerina and coralline limestone. The first and oldest is the small three-apsed structure. The South structure, with its concave façade, was next to be completed, followed by the Central structure, which was constructed on an artificial platform between the two earlier structures. The doorway of the South is aligned with the sunrise during the spring and autumn equinoxes. At the winter and summer solstices, the beams of the rising sun pass along the sides of the main doorway, each time illuminating a different decorated slab within the first chamber. Apart from the central passage leading to chambers on either side, the structures at Mnajdra also include tiny chambers constructed within the thickness of the walls.

Both Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra are protected from the elements by shelters. Since these sites were excavated less than two centuries ago, their slow deterioration has been witnessed at first hand. Shelters were therefore constructed in 2008 and are intended to slow down the impact of natural elements on the rate of deterioration of these sites until alternative means of preservation are tested and implemented.

FACILITIES AVAILABLE ON SITE

Audio Guides Languages: MT, EN, DE, IT, EL, ES, FR, CN/ZH, JA, PL	Food & Drinks	Gift Shop	Indoor / Outdoor Seating Area	Lockers

			Bicycle parking Free binoculars near pic-nic area	Accessibility: The Visitors’ Centre & Ħaġar Qim are accessible, while Mnajdra is not.
Nappy Changing Facility	Parking Bays	Unattended Children’s Room		Please also note that assistance would still be needed for Ħaġar Qim.

The Management Plan for the Megalithic Temples of Malta provides a framework for decisions about the conservation, management, and enjoyment of the six sites inscribed on the World Heritage List.