Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
Hipogeo de Hal Saflieni
Hal Saflieni Hypogeum (Burial Street, Paola, Valletta) – discovered in the early 1900s, this archeological site is a complex made up of interconnecting rock-cut chambers set on three distinct levels. Earliest remains at the site date back to about 4000BC, and the complex was used over a span of many centuries, up to c. 2500 BC. Paintings in red ochre, which decorate some of the walls within the site, are the oldest and only prehistoric paintings recorded on the Maltese Islands.
The Hypogeum was first opened to visitors in 1908 and since then it has been visited by many thousands of people. Unfortunately, this has had a toll on the delicate microclimate of the site which has affected the preservation of the site and the unique red ochre paintings. For this reason, after a conservation project which saw the site closed for 10 years between 1990 and 2000, a new system was established in which only 10 visitors an hour are allowed in for a maximum of 8 hours a day, complemented by an environmental control system which keeps temperature and humidity at required levels.
Hours: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm daily. Admission: €30 (adults 18 years+), €15 (youths/12-17 years; seniors; and students), €12 (children ages 6-11), no admission for those under 6 years.
Note: due to health and safety reasons, no one under the age of 6 years will be admitted to the Hypogeum. Additionally, please take into consideration that the Hypogeum is an enclosed space and this might cause mild discomfort to those susceptible to claustrophobia. Comfortable shoes (but no flip flops) should be worn for the visit as due to the high humidity levels within the site, some areas may be slippery.