Partner's Social Programme
We have arranged a set of tours for accompanying persons. These will
be by minibus with a local guide.
All tours will start from Valletta meeting at 09.00 am in Castille
Square, outside the Castille hotel. The fee will be 10 Euros for all
tours, except the walking tour which is 5 Euros, and will cover services
of tour guide and transport. Lunch and tea/coffee will be purchased
independently. Please contact to sign up for a tour.
Sunday 17th September: Temples and
Three Cities Tour - Fee 10 Euros
A whole day tour visiting the prehistoric sites of Malta and the ‘Three
cities’ famous for withstanding the Great Siege of 1565.
Depart Valletta and visit Tarxien Temples, these Neolithic
temples are among the most refined prehistoric temples that still maintain
a good representation of prehistoric art in the form of bas-reliefs,
sculpture and pottery.
Drive on to the southern coast to Hagar Qim and Mnajdra
Temples which are the most impressive of prehistoric sites situated a
few metres away from the southern cliffs of Malta.
Lunch at Malta’s main fishing village of Marsaxlokk which has
the largest fishing fleet of luzzu boats and enjoy the street market.
Afternoon enjoy the visit to the Three Cities – Vittoriosa (Birgu),
Cospicua and Senglea. All three cities are situated in the Grand
Harbour area, Vittoriosa is the oldest of the three and is Malta’s
maritime town. At its tip is Fort St Angelo which since medieval times and
until World War II has seen many sea battles. Senglea, built by the
Knights of St John, at its tip is the famous sentry post displaying eye,
ear and crane bird as symbols of watchfulness. Cospicua, site of the 19th
century ship yard and famous dry-docks.
Return to Valletta to arrive approx 5pm.
Monday 18th September: Walking tour of
Valletta, fee 5 Euros for entry into Casa Rocco Piccola.
No tour charge. Entrance fees to be paid individually.
Starting at Upper Barrakka Gardens with majestic, unforgettable
view of
Grand Harbour (cameras at the ready please!), we will visit St
John’s Co-Cathedral which contains Caravaggio’s Beheading of John the
Baptist before touring the Grand Master’s Palace built as the
official residence of The Grand Master of St John, later served as the
British Governor’s Residence and administrative offices. Today, the Palace
houses the Maltese Parliament and also serves as the office of the
President of Malta. We will visit the State Rooms and the Palace Armoury.
Morning coffee/tea in Republic Square, nearby, where you can enjoy the
local pastizzi.
Visit to Casa Rocca Piccola, magnificent 16th century palace and
private family house of the 9th Marquis de Piro, containing exquisite
furniture and paintings, unique collections of costumes and even the
family’s World War II air-raid shelter.
1.00 pm return to Conference Centre to join other delegates for
afternoon cruise.
Tuesday 19th September: Glorious Gozo -
Fee 10 Euros
An all-day tour to Malta’s sister island where Ulysses is said to have
been held captive, entranced by the nymph Calypso. Almost entirely
agricultural, it is an island of farmers and fisherman, life is simple but
comfortable.
Travelling for one hour to northern tip of Malta to take the very
pleasant ferry crossing to Malta’s sister island of Gozo, passing the
island of Comino, before landing at the picturesque Mgarr harbour.
Travel to Dwejra Bay and the Azure Window, site of many films
(including most recently, Troy). En route we will visit Ta Pinu
sanctuary, where The Virgin Mary is said to have appeared in 1883.
Return to Victoria, the island’s capital for lunch, some
shopping in its local market, and tour of The Citadel with some
magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.
Afternoon visit to Ggantija prehistoric temples dating from 3600
BC, a thousand years before the pyramids of Egypt. The Guinness Book of
Records recognises these as the oldest, free-standing structures in the
world. Tea in the village of Xaghra. Return to ferry via village of
Naxxar for scenic view towards Malta.
Return to Valletta approx 6pm.
Wednesday 20th September: Palace and
gardens tour - Fee 10 Euros
Visit to the lovely and tranquil San Anton Palace and Gardens,
site of the British Governor’s residence and site of declaration of
Maltese independence. Enjoy wandering round the Botanic gardens and
aviary.
Onward for retail-therapy at Ta Qali, (a former airfield base
and now site of Malta’s leading craft village) See the famous Mdina
Glass and lace-making, and silver filigree and semi-precious stones.
Lunch in Mosta: site of one of the largest domed churches in the
world, based on the form of the Pantheon in Rome.
Afternoon with tea: Visit to Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar, a unique
19th century Maltese Palace, home of the Scicluna family, with one of the
finest gardens in Malta (not to be missed!).
Return to Valletta approx 4.30 pm in time for change and onward to
Conference Dinner in the walled city of
Mdina.
