Palazzo Parisio and the Blue Grotto

We started slightly later at 9:30 am this morning with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Palazzo Parisio.

The ceilings were fabulously painted.

Then we had a quick photo stop for a panoramic picture of Mdina on the hilltop. We visited Mdina two days ago.

We were supposed to take a boat ride to see the Blue Grotto, but the winds were too high and the sea too rough. But we were scheduled to have lunch there, so we went and walked around. I was able to get some photos from the shore.

We had lunch at Alka.

After lunch we visited the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady.

A bomb penetrated the dome during mass with 300 people inside, but didn’t explode. It was defused and disposed. A replica of the miracle bomb.

We got dropped off near the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum as we have tickets to see it this afternoon. It only allows 80 people a day in, 8 groups of 10, so you get tickets several months in advance. Photos are not allowed inside, so this is all you get.

We arrived early and did a little walking in the area.

We had extra dark chocolate, mango and elderberry gelato at Dolce. Donna rates it the best we’ve had on Malta.