Explore Ras il-Hobz

The pinnacle itself is known to attract several different marine species like barracudas, striped red mullets, tuna, morays, the common dentex, chromis, while as the pinnacle nears its summit and the rock splits into two, you’ll find an abundance of slipper lobsters and octopuses right in the fissures. The rock is covered in algae which has attracted spiral tubeworms. Sea hares and the dotted seaslug are also common in these parts and if you’re lucky, you may even encounter a noble pen shell, otherwise known as fan mussel, a large species of Mediterranean clam.

At a depth of 63 metres, there is a massive 3-prong anchor which protrudes right out from the reef wall, while nearby, there’s the Fessej Rock, also known as Black Rock or Skoll tal-Fessej in Maltese, a very dark rock rising 15 metres above the water.

Ghajnsielem’s name means peaceful spring and it originates from the water spring where Grandmaster Perellos built an arcade with public washbasins and fresh water sprouts back in 1700. Brimming with attractions, for the more religiously inclined, you may want to visit the Lourdes Chapel with its sharp steeple and underlying niche of Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Anthony’s Church or the old parish church. If you’re interested in prehistoric sites, then head to Borg Gharib and L-Imrejzbiet a short distance from the first site where you’ll find another group of megaliths.

Lastly, dive right into the Maltese history by marvelling at fortresses like Fort Chambray, Mgarr Ix-Xini Tower and the Fougasse, a large well dug close to the shoreline and cut at a 45-degree angle, designed to fire a large mass of stone boulders.