Ħaġar Qim Archaeological Site
About This Museum
Perched on a windswept hilltop in southern Malta, Ħaġar Qim is not so much a museum as a portal to a lost world. These colossal limestone temples have stood here for over five millennia, predating both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Walking among the ruined apses, you can trace the outlines of ancient chambers and run your hands over stone slabs decorated with intricate spiral carvings. The sheer scale of the place, with some megaliths weighing over twenty tons, forces you to wonder about the people who hauled them here.
Collection Highlights
The 'oracle hole' is a fascinating feature—a small, carved aperture in one chamber that amplifies voices in an eerie, otherworldly way. Don't miss the famous 'fat lady' statues, corpulent figures thought to represent fertility goddesses, and the massive 'swinging stone' that once acted as a movable doorway.
Visitor Information
A modern visitor centre provides essential context with informative displays before you head out to explore the ruins themselves; it's wise to go early or late in the day to avoid the full force of the Maltese sun on this exposed site.
Architecture & Building
A complex of sprawling, cloverleaf-shaped chambers built from massive globigerina limestone blocks, characterized by its megalithic construction and trefoil floor plan typical of Malta's Neolithic temple period.
Contact & Location
Address: Triq Ħaġar Qim, Il-Qrendi, Nofsinhar, QRD 3043, Malta
Phone: +356 2142 4231
Website: Visit Website
