Discover Qrendi

When planning a trip to Qrendi, you’ll encounter a range of themes: Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra represent megalithic history, while the chapel and palace reflect religious and historic heritage. A historic public garden and the coast add views and activities by the sea. When planning your stay, you can decide whether to focus on early history, later architectural history, landscapes or an activity by the sea.

Megalithic temples: age, UNESCO status and location

Ħaġar Qim is a megalithic site from the Late Neolithic, more than 5,000 years old. The site is part of the serial UNESCO World Heritage property “Megalithic Temples of Malta,” inscribed in 1992. The two dates serve different purposes: the age describes Ħaġar Qim, while 1992 is the year the World Heritage property was inscribed. This clearly distinguishes its prehistoric context from its later UNESCO inscription.

Ħaġar Qim is situated at the tip of a promontory. From there, you can look out over the open sea to the west and as far as the edge of a fertile plain to the east. Mnajdra lies 500 metres below Ħaġar Qim. The Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park includes a visitor centre. The landscape and elevation provide a tangible setting for understanding the two named sites.

Chapel, feast and architectural history

St Matthew’s Chapel consists of two chapels dedicated to the Apostle Matthew. The Feast of St Matthew at Il-Maqluba is celebrated every year on the first Sunday after 21 September. This Sunday-based rule is key for calendar planning: the feast day does not fall on a fixed day of the month. If you’d like to plan your stay around the feast, you can determine the specific Sunday for the year you have in mind using this rule.

Guarena Palace was built between 1735 and 1740. The palace grounds offer views over Qrendi. In terms of chronology, the building adds an 18th-century architectural history to the prehistoric context of Ħaġar Qim. As a result, the sights you can choose from represent different historical periods: a megalithic site more than 5,000 years old and a palace from a much later era.

Garden and coastal scenery

Ġnien Congreve is a historic public garden in Qrendi. From there, you can enjoy views of the open sea and Filfla. This differs from the view from the grounds of Guarena Palace, which overlooks Qrendi. If you want to consider both architectural history and landscape, these two distinct views can help you choose what to focus on.

The Blue Grotto and the surrounding coast are among the most scenic and spectacular areas of the Maltese Islands. Boat trips can be taken from Wied iż-Żurrieq; their availability may vary depending on sea conditions. If you’re planning such a trip, check availability in advance, as it may depend on these conditions. Another topic for travellers interested in underwater sites is the nearby Um el Faroud wreck, which is visited by a number of divers.

This makes it easy to distinguish between different interests for your trip: the temples offer a prehistoric focus, the palace and chapel bring in later and religious connections, while the garden and coast highlight the landscape. Boat trips and the wreck are separate activity options; for trips from Wied iż-Żurrieq, bear in mind that availability depends on sea conditions.

Discover more destinations: Swieqi, San Lawrenz, Qala, Bugibba, Valletta, Luqa, Marsaxlokk, Naxxar

For the broader travel overview: Malta.