The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts is launching a number of new Cultural Tours. These Cultural Tours form part of our annual Cultural Calendar of Events. They enhance the understanding of our local culture and serve to encourage appreciation of Maltese historical heritage, and traditions.

Past Cultural Tours have been well received and feedback for the current ones is very positive.

The first tour will be held on Sunday, the 15th of November 2009. A total of eight cultural tours will be scheduled for the 2009 – 2010 season which will end on Sunday 2nd May 2010.

Following is the programme for this series of Cultural Tours:

Sunday 15th November 2009

In Mellieha and the surroundings

· War Shelters

· Tuna Fishing and Agricultural museum

· Chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady

· The nature reserve in Ghadira

Sunday 6th December 2009

In Cottonera

· Bir Mula Heritage

· Cloister and undergrounds burial place in St Theresa Church

· Model of a church decorated for the feast

· St Margaret Church

· St John’s Chapel in Ta’ Ghuxa

Sunday 24th January 2010

· Villa Francia in Hal- Lija

· Carmelite Museum in Mdina

· Stagno Palace in Hal Qormi

· Australian bungalow and the national centre for research and agricultural development of Ghamieri

Sunday 21st February 2010

Cordin, Marsascala, Paola and Tarxien

· The mosque

· Sant’Ubaldesca Church and exhibition of ‘5000 years of history and 100 years as a Parish’

· The Church of Saint Bartholomew in Hal Tarxien

· The historical remains of Corradino

Sunday 7th March 2010

Floriana and Valletta

· Sir Temi Zammit laboratory and prison cells of Palazzo Castellania

· St Andrew’s Scots Church

· The Archbishop’s Curia

· Milorda Gardens

· The Knights of St John (embassy of the Order in Malta)

Sunday 11th April 2010

In Birkirkara

· The Aula Capitularis in the Basilica of Saint Helen

· A limestone miniature model of Saint Helen’s church

· The church dedicated to Our Lady of Tal-Herba

· The old parish dedicated to Saint Mary

· Shelters of World War II

Sunday 2nd May 2010

Full day cultural tour in Gozo

Applications and more information about these Cultural Tours may be obtained from the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, 230 Republic Street Valletta, by not later than Wednesday before the respective tour.

There are also applications for the whole set of tours, at a reduced price. For further information please phone 21232515 or 21245168. You may also browse the website www.maltaculture.com or send an e-mail to adrian.german@maltaculture.com