Wednesday 16th April 2003
POST-SEMINAR

Option 1
Cultural Visit - Gozo

This is a full day, departing from the hotel, heading up to the North of the Island to catch the ferry which takes approximately 25 minutes. The charm of Gozo is apparent from the moment you arrive there. Greener, more rural and smaller than Malta, life on Gozo moves at a leisurely pace. The rhythms dictated by the seasons, fishing and agriculture. In winter and spring, the Island is covered with flowering herbs and lush crops. In summer, it's awash with oleander, bougainvillea and geranium. Gozo is steeped in myth. Thought to be the legendary Calypso's isle of Homer's Odyssey, it's a peaceful, mystical backwater. Baroque Churches and old stone farmhouses dot the countryside.

Once on the Island of Calypso (Gozo), we shall make our way up from the harbour to the neibouring village and visit the Ggantija Temples. The Ggantija Temples (place of giants) are thought to be the oldest free-standing structures in the world. They are among the best-preserved temples on the Maltese Islands. They are certainly the most visited historical site on the Maltese Islands. The complex comprises two Neolithic temples dating from the third millennium B.C (3600 to 3000 B.C.). The temples are made up of two separate units enclosed by a wall and sharing a common facade. The concave walls of the temples suggest that the whole structure was once roofed. In both temples, the inner apses have niches with rudimentary altars. The outer temple walls are impressive: the largest megaliths are round six by four metres and the wall may once have stood at a height of 16 metres.

We would also visit the capital city of Gozo, Victoria, Victoria or Rabat, as the local people call it.

For centuries its Citadel served as a sanctuary from attacks by Barbary corsairs and Saracens. When the threat subsided after the Great Siege, a prosperous town grew up below the Citadel. Here we will also have the opportunity to visit the Gozo 360 degrees which is a multivision show on Gozo history through the ages.

Following lunch we will head to the typical Gozitian rural village of San Lawrenz and then on to the Basilica of Ta' Pinu Cathedral. The church is excpetional for its intricate stone carvings which adorn its interior.

The final stop of the tour is at Dwejra. This is perhaps the archipelago's most spectacular natural landmark. Here, geology, time and sea have worked together to produce some of the most remarkable scenery on the Islands - The Azure Window, the Inland Sea, Fungus Rock, sheer cliffs and a rocky coastline yielding fossilised remains of sea creatures dating from the Miocene period.

The price of the tour is Lm27 per person and this includes transport, ferry, lunch, entrance tickets to sites and VAT.

 

Option 2
Cultural tour to Mdina/Rabat and their environs

This tour will be an opportunity to see the World famed silent City. During the tour, the group will visit the main highlights such as the Cathedral, The Medina Experience (a multi vision show) and also the Museum of Natural History. The group shall see the different periods of architecture and the breath taking views of the noble and elegant fortress.

The tour will then proceed to the Roman Villa and later to the Catacombs of St Paul. The early burial place of the christians in the roman era. Time for a lunch at Cusmana Navarra for a typical Maltese meal of Pasta and Rabbit cooked in a most traditional way. After lunch we will drive through Dingli Cliffs and its surroundings and we will then proceed to the Mosta Cathedral. This notable cathedral was made famous through a great miracle which happened during the war. Return to Hotel

The price per person: Lm24.00 inclusive of Vat, all entrances multi-lingual guides, transport from hotel and vice versa

For any further information or to pre-book any of the above tours you may contact the Arrigo Group Limited (conference ground handlers) on email address: ccb@arrigogroup.com.mt