This is an amazing place. The only thing I didn't like is the fact that they do not talk about the elongated skulls. This was something I was hoping to learn more about. Other than that, it is one of the most fascinating places to visit. Please remember that they have very limited tickets available daily and you need to buy tickets online before your trip. I got my tickets 3 months prior to my visit. Also don't bother with a camera, as taking pictures inside is not allowed.
You have to see this. It will raise so many questions in your mind about the stone age. Very well done tour.You need to book in advance, as even in February they were fully booked for 11 days ahead, so go on the internet before you leave home.It's quite tricky to find, but it's only a couple of minutes walk south from the main piazza in Paola, where the bus stops outside the church. The bus stop "Ipogeuw" is nearer, but it's difficult to get your bearings from there. Just walk south out of the back of the square, past Traffic Lights Cafe, cross the next road, and it's about 50 yards up on the left (the entrance is round the corner). There are actually signs when you get close.
for an archeologist or related profession, obviously a MUST SEE. For a simple tourist like me, I would not rate it as "Shambles" or "Excellent" either. To the layman it may look like just an underground complex of chambers, however one have to see it in the proper time frame. Together with all the other ancient works of construction to be found at Malta, it is a place not to miss. Booking via website works perfect, I did it 2 or 3 months ahead.No foto's to share, not allowed
Oh dear, oh dear...I really didn't want to give this place a "terrible" as it is quite possibly the oldest known massive architectural pre history monument outside of Zimbabwe but the only redeeming factor I can give is that at least i have seen the 7000 year old mausoleum.The tour started bad from the minute I entered...i went up to the desk and got blanked by the three security guards that run the site...there are no tour guides.Then we were given little translation boxes with audio comnentary on that need constantly holding up to one's ear...except when the clanking music is playing in between narrations.The security guard saw us to a room with seven boards with writing on which we were told to read and then he was very insistent that our boxes were set to channel 22...we then had to sit incomplete silence, holding these boxes to our ears listening to not very interesting stories about Malta that had very little to do with the Hypogeum. Finally we got to go down to the hypogeum itself...we were trundled from point to point listening to more stories, most of which ended with "This is what we believe...you make your own minds up" as they have no knowledge about any of it...just guess work. At no point were we allowed to revel in its awesomeness...just herded from point to point in cramped conditions in almost complete darkness with the security guard shining his torch on things half heartedly for brief seconds.......and all this for thirty Euros.....shocking.My advice...if you are looking for some history in Malta...there is so much on the surface for free...save your money and send a small donation for the upkeep of this monument to death.
哈尔·萨夫列尼地宫无疑是整个旅程的高潮!去之前一定要提前预订门票,我们去的时候是8月21号,可那时候9月6号的票都已经被订完了。因为有人数限制,所以许多人都被拒之门外了,显然,没人想到会这样。
This is 3,000 years of civilisation at your fingertips, just magical, and informative. A little tip, make sure you book a visit BEFORE you go to malta
导游书上都说,这儿是一个亮点--是的,这儿确实不错。书上还说,你必须提前预订--确实也是这样的。我们是09年的8月24日去那儿的,去的时候遇到很多人都回来了,他们告诉我们说,一直到09年的9月6日那儿的住宿都是被订满的。所以提前预订真的非常重要,否则你会失去一次精彩的旅程。我想我知道为什么游客的数量是被限定的了,不同的高度让这儿显得更拥挤,更难走,而如果人数再多的话肯定会更困难了。这增加了一些方面的气氛,这也是因为这个地宫需要好好维护,所以管理人员也觉得限制每天的参观人数非常有必要。开展这个地宫真的像是用了特权--以一个短片开始,然后整个参观的过程都是用一个语音的导游器。这是马耳他的历史文化遗产。
What an amazing place. Having read the (quite mixed) recent reviews, we went with open minds, and really enjoyed it: our “security guard” was a smiling man from Heritage Malta, who locked our bags and cameras away and accompanied us. Unlike others, we seemed to have plenty of time to read the information boards, and although the film was not specifically about the Hypogeum, it put the site into historical and geographical context. If you want to go, book well ahead on the internet through Heritage Malta - it is currently completely booked until the middle of May. Wear flat shoes as there are quite a few steps, uneven floors and parts with low ceilings - sadly it is not accessible to those with walking difficulties. It is quite pricey at €30 (€15 for over 60s/students) but we thought it worth every penny. Bags & cameras are not allowed inside - these are locked away before you enter the site. The music referred to by others was all recorded inside the Hypogeum and is basically stone and wood echoes, which creates an other-worldly atmosphere while you are walking round, but there WAS rather too much of it at some points. The structures themselves are incredible – pillars and ceiling supports all carved out of one piece of stone with hand-tools over 6000 years ago, but looking as smooth as if made by machine last year; there are also some original red ochre wall paintings.Yes, the passageways are narrow and yes, the lights only come on for a limited spell, but we didn’t feel either squashed or rushed and actually had plenty of time to imagine what it must have been like originally. The commentary is clear (hand-held “phones”) in any of 10 languages, and I liked the fact that it didn’t say that something was fact when the archaeologists can only assume from available evidence. There are no artefacts or bones here – they are in the Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, which is well worth a visit. We visited the Tarxien temples down the road first, then the Hypogeum, then the museum, and would recommend others to do things in the same order. Be aware if you visit on a Sunday as we did, virtually the whole of Paola is shut, including all cafes and bars – the only places we found open for lunch were 3 “stalls” selling the most delicious pastries and cakes. Its easy to visit using the bus – get the 221, X2 or X3 and get off at Nazzarenu, the stop after the town square (the driver will tell you when), walk back towards it for 100 yds, turn left onto Triq Ic Cimiterju & you’re there.
I'm primarily a "cultural" tourist. I have seen many renowned monuments and temples from history and prehistory around the world and intend to see a lot more before I have to stop travelling. This site is right up there with the best, but there are some significant limitations (mainly to protect this completely unique site) that you need to get your head around and accept if you are going to get maximum enjoyment out of it.So, what are these limitations? Firstly absolutely no photographs. Secondly, it's an automated, time limited tour with quite limited space. To get the best views you have to come to some kind of arrangement with the rest of your party to shuffle around. Not always easy. Thirdly, it's presented by Heritage Malta which, despite their best intentions, don't always present their wonderful ancient heritage in the best way (I know this is a subjective opinion, but that's the conclusion I have come to from going to most ancient sites in Malta.) Finally, you never really get into the best areas of the temple, always being suspended on an intrusive walkway that doesn't extend into the most enigmatic chambers. You can see them but the intense atmosphere that pervades the site is somewhat curtailed by this.But, for me, it's still a "five star" rating. Why? It boils down to a few things: the age and uniqueness are both obviously hugely appealing. Also consider the vast span of time it was used and extended over and the massive amount of human remains that were once interned here. But the thing that nails it is the completeness of the structures, which gives you an inisght into what they must have been like in use that you rarely get. In addition, it's thought that it was carved in a similar style to some of the overground temples at other sites in Malta. It's hence an absolutely unique opportunity to see in your minds eye what these other sites must have looked like when complete. To me that's priceless.
One of our reasons for returning to Malta this March was because we hadn't pre booked to visit Hal Saflieni Hypogeum before visiting Malta in September 2014. We were so disappointed that when we made our mind up to return to Malta we booked our tickets for the Hypogeum before booking the hotel and flights! The Hypogeum just blows you away - how could such a place be created all those thousands of years ago with the tools and lighting available to the people working on it. The tour itself is really well organised and the amazing Hypogeum is just breathtaking. It will be top of our list to re-visit on our next trip to Malta.