Walking into the small square behind the Parish Church in Nadur, known to the local folk as il-pjazzetta, you could already notice the smell of hay as it welcomed visitors to the 21st Annual Agrarian Festival. A small, picturesque fair showcasing the villagers’ love and pride.
Thinking of spending your holiday in Gozo? Check out this romantic Farmhouse Villa in Nadur.
Local news sources are reporting the sighting of Hollywood actor Bruce Willis as he landed at Malta International Airport for an unannounced visit.
Wearing bermudas and a t-shird, Bruce Willis was seen posing for photos with airport staff. The actor is known for his visits to the island and reports suggest he will be staying on the family’s property located in the village of Siggiewi.
Malcolm J. Naudi, Managing Director, Malcolm J. Naudi Communications writes
Tomorrow I will have the privilege to attend the opening of an art exhibition, Malta and Australia, by the President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, at San Anton Palace, Attard.
Rita Muscat Galea, originally from Qormi, is a Maltese-Australian artist who lives in Melbourne. Over the past few weeks and months, I have got to know this extraordinary character who has great courage and personality, which is reflected in her work.
Together with other Board Members of the Malta Guide Dogs Foundation, we have worked to make this first exhibition by Rita a reality and, as a result, she has committed to give the Foundation a donation to help it in its mission to provide training and other assistance to visually impaired persons, such as in the use of the long cane, mobility and orientation skills, and guide dogs that will assist them to interact in their daily environment, enhance their individuality and gain independence in their everyday life.
Malta and Australia is an intimately personal exhibition that sums up the attachment Rita has for the island of her birth and the one where she has made her home and grown a family. Consisting of 26 artworks, varying for still-lifes and city-scapes to beach and harbour scenes of Valletta, Sydney and Melbourne, apart from the Australian Bush, many paintings are executed in plein air, enabling her to inspire people’s hearts and imagination.
Made in various mediums, like oil on canvas, oil on boards and charcoals on paper, Rita has always enjoyed the challenge of painting on different mediums and in different styles – from realism to impressionist, which enable her to explore life through her art and art in her life. Often the scenes of her paintings will reflect a mood or a frame of mind that enables her to externalise these strong emotions.
Rita Muscat Galea’s father was a baker and her mother a homemaker. She was always unique and an individualist in her ways of being, expressing her creative side since early childhood. First it was music, singing in festivals and competitions around Malta, and learning the guitar, but also designing her own clothes.
Her love for oil painting began with her grandmother giving her an art kit at the age of 12. Her first paintings harnessed her connection to water and Malta’s seascapes.
When she was 16, she emigrated with her family to Australia, which immediately reminded her of the connections she had with water and Malta’s landscapes.
Now married to an Australian-born Maltese and having three children, she currently lives on a farm in the Melbourne suburb of Victoria. She never lost her desire to paint and opened her own art studio (Muscart Art Studio and Gallery) in 2008, where students are encouraged to experiment with various mediums, and both traditional and modern art.
Having previously exhibited her works in the Maltese Centre in Melbourne and at community fund-raisers, it is the first time she has shown her work in the land of her birth. Since she left, she has been back to Malta four times.
“I never cease to be amazed by the beautiful and variety of landscapes Malta offers. Every time I come here I take many photos that, when I return to my studio in Australia, help me to put to canvas what I had seen and felt over there,” Rita said.
Once the Malta and Australia art exhibition over, Rita Muscat Galea envisions painting her autobiography in Malta over the coming years.
Do make it a point to visit the exhibition, which runs from Saturday, 14 June-Tuesday, 24 June, 2014. Opening times are daily from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Not only will you be able to enjoy Rita’s art, but by buying one of the paintings, you will also be helping the Malta Guide Dogs Foundation.
It had to be a Maltese flag that drew the singer’s attention during her concert in Zurich last Saturday.
Two keen Maltese fans of Miley Cyrus managed to squeeze themselves front of stage and hand out their country’s national flag, only for the international star to grab and wave at the roaring crowd in front of her.
With dozens of beaches and bays around the coast of Malta, it is not always easy to choose which beach to visit. This becomes more of an issue on windy days but WhichBeach.com.mt has found a good solution to this (Summer) question!
WhichBeach.com.mt takes into consideration wind direction and force to suggest the most enjoyable beach to visit. Unless you are looking for a thrill, you can safely follow the site’s suggestion and choose between rocky or sandy beaches around the islands of Malta and Gozo.
WhichBeach.com.mt also offers a link to Google Maps to help visitor locate better the recommended beaches, set their GPS and hit the road towards another enjoyable day at the beach.
Once a year, the residents of the old city of Birgu (also knows as Vittorioso) switch off all their lights and the cobbled streets of this proud city reflect the tiny candle flames for another edition of Birgufest.
During Birgufest, the historic city turns romantic and boasts not only its glorious pasts but also its architecture through a playful dance of light and shadow. The streets are lit up with a gentle glow by thousands of candles of all kinds and locals together with visitors enjoy the narrow cobbled streets of Birgu discovering centuries of history and culture.
The historic re-enactments, extended and cheaper museum entrances, and the opening up to the public of other venues of interest including churches, highlight the immense historic value of this city.
In addition, Birgufest 2014 will also feature food stalls offering both Maltese and other food, various musical concerts – ranging from classical to modern, and various exhibitions, make this event truly an outing with something to suit all tastes and ages.
Birgufest 2014 will be hedl between the 10th and 12th October.
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Religious village traditions, colourful festas, and fishermen were featured alongside UNESCO World Heritage temples and cities that gem the Maltese islands, in an article published on Reisijuht.ee.
The Estonian portal part of the Delfi.ee group has featured the Maltese Islands prominently on its online travel publication. The article recommends the top 10 places to visit in Malta and Gozo.
Full article here: http://reisijuht.delfi.ee/news/reisijutud/10-soovitust-kohalikult-eestlaselt-mida-esimest-korda-maltal-vaadata.d?id=68741901
Seven sites on Malta have just received a Certificate of Excellence for 2014 by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site.
The National War Museum, Ġgantija Temples, Ħaġar Qim Temples, Mnajdra Temples, Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, Malta Maritime Museum and St. Paul’s Catacombs have received the award which is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.
As stated in the official website www.tripadvisor.com, “Winners of the Certificate of Excellence are located all over the world and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website, with only the top 10 percent receiving the prestigious award.” This means that these four Heritage Malta sites have constantly featured as top attractions by those who visited them.
To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months of the year in question.
For more information regarding these seven award winning sites one may visit Heritage Malta’s official website www.heritagemalta.org
[alerts title=”Read more…” type=”info”]How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in Malta?[/alerts]
Ms Birgit Oidram, CEO at Mediteraan Marketing LLC, operators of MaltaVillageHolidays.com and myVillageHolidays.com has attended the annual conference for top management and leaders in the city of Parnu, in Estonia.
The event that was held on the 15th-16th May, 2014 is aimed at the country’s CEOs, entrepreneurs and leaders in business and this year’s edition attracted over 300 participants. Sandwiching the networking events and workshops, international keynote speakers addressed the participants on different topics ranging management in a fast changing world to European socio-political strategies.
Ms Oidram is the founder of MaltaVillageHolidays.com – the first local accommodation website specialising on rural and village tourism.
The Malta Jazz Festival 2014 has announced its full programme line-up with world-class acts and rising jazz stars spread over three days in the unique setting of the Grand Harbour. Once again the stage at Ta’ Liesse – where the city meets the sea – will host some of the biggest names in jazz, including Tom Harrell Colors of a Dream and Brecker Brothers Band Reunion “The Heavy Metal Bebop Tour”.
Now in its 24th edition, the Malta Jazz Festival has helped raise the profile of jazz locally from a fringe festival to one of the most-awaited musical events in Malta’s artistic and cultural calendar. Running from the 17th to the 19th July in the open-air setting of Ta’ Liesse – where the Grand Harbour bastions meet the sea – contemporary music comes together with a sense of history, setting the backdrop for high-calibre performances which delight jazz aficionados and lay persons alike.
This year’s line-up will showcase the diversity of styles which constitute the contemporary jazz scene
This, however, is only one of the many intersections running through this year’s festival. Another is that created by the musicians themselves as they cross jazz with other types of music. Mehliana (featuring Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana), for instance – which is set to be one of the festival’s hottest tickets – mix jazz with electronica to create a trance-laden music while the French-born musician Laurent Coq combines Caribbean/Creole influences with modern jazz piano in his Laurent Coq Dialogue Trio.
Other rising stars include vibraphonist Warren Wolf and Kneebody, a band which crosses genres with ease. Local talent will be represented by Paul Abela Quintet featuring Gabriele Comeglio on Thursday 17th, Joseph Camilleri Trio and Dominic Galea Trio on Friday 18th and Francesca Galea, the winner of last year’s Jazz Contest, on Saturday 19th.
“This year’s line-up will showcase the diversity of styles which constitute the contemporary jazz scene,” says artistic director Sandro Zerafa. “In its mission to combine a wide audience appeal with quality and artistic integrity, this year the Malta Jazz Festival will feature a variety of cutting edge acts.”
With a programme which also includes a fringe festival – Jazz on the Fringe – featuring masterclasses and open-air concerts, the festival also provides opportunities for collaborations between local and international musicians.
Tickets for the Malta Jazz Festival 2014 cost €30 for a single-day ticket (seated) or €75 for a 3-day block ticket (seated). Standing single-day tickets are also available for €20 (free seating available) while a 3-day block ticket (standing) can be bought for €40 (free seating available). Those who book until the end of April can avail themselves of an early bird discount: €60 instead of €75 for a 3-day block ticket – seated; €25 instead of €30 for a single-day ticket – seated, €30 instead of €40 for a 3-day block ticket – standing (free seating available) and €15 instead of €20 for a single-day ticket – standing (free seating available).
For full programme and line-ups visit www.maltajazzfestival.org