Welcome to EMPA’s
47th
General Meeting in Malta
The event will also be hosting a number of varied and attractive excursions during the three days of the Conference. Hereunder please find some of the attractions we will be able to enjoy: Welcome Reception Tuesday 23rd April
Welcome Reception - Westin Dragonara Hotel It all starts with a welcome reception hosted by the Malta Maritime Pilots Cooperative. Participants and their guests will be given their personal information packs, and the reception will provide all present with an opportunity to network together in an elegant but informal environment. The Westin Dragonara Resort is one of Malta’s main resorts, and also one of its most beautiful. The resort has been voted the Best Family Resort in Europe by World Travel Awards, and gets top ratings by Tripadvisor Reviewers for the 2013 Travellers’ Choice. The Westin Dragonara Resort will be hosting the Conference, is offering accommodation to Conference Participants and their guests.
Excursions Wednesday 24th April Dingli and Cliffs Dingli is a quiet and quaint village on the West Coast of Malta, and rests on a plateau around 250 metres above sea level. Dingli is one of the highest points of Malta, and provides breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, the island of Filfla, as well as a good inland vantage point over Malta.
Verdala Castle The Latin inscription on its main door reads: “Caedant curae loco� (All cares end here). This Castle was built in 1586 by Grand Master Verdalle as a retreat for Grand Masters and the Knights. Verdala castle was turned into a prison in 1800 when the French surrendered to the British and Allied troops. The Palace has hosted many distinguished personalities and visitors: King George V and Queen Mary in 1912, Prince Albert in 1913 and again as King George VI in April 1943, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia in 1909 and 1919, and Kaiser Wilhelm II. Today, Verdala Castle is used as the official summer residence of the President of Malta.
Rabat Rabat is a village outside the old capital city, Mdina. Half of the village had once formed part of the Roman city of Melita. Rabat is, in fact, famous for its Roman Remains and the Domus Romana, as well as it early Christian Catacombs. Its streets offer a very visual impression of village life in Malta.
Mdina Called the ‘silent city’, Mdina was Malta’s old capital city before Valletta. Built by the Standing high on its battlements, Mdina was probably first fortified by the Phoenicians in around 700 BC. Mdina was further developed by the Arabs between 870AD and 1091AD, when the Normans conquered Malta. These influences can still be seen in Mdina’s layout and architecture. When Malta was under Roman rule, the Roman Governor built his palace at Mdina, and when the Knights of St. John took over Malta, it became their capital city until they built the city of Valletta in 1566. A strong earthquake in 1693 led to the introduction of Baroque design within the city scape, including the Cathedral. Its network of narrow streets, its medieval presence, and its quiet surroundings make Mdina an unforgettable experience to those who visit it.
Malta’s famous Glass Blowers and Crafts village True to the Phoenician tradition, Malta is still witness to the famous glassblowers. The creativity, artistry, and sheer beauty of these glass creations is an attraction to many a visitor. So are the traditional filigree and pottery artists, all situated in one crafts area. Visitors can be free to roam around and admire first hand, these artists at work.
Mosta Dome The Mosta rotunda, famously known as Mosta Dome, is the third largest unsupported dome in the world. Built in the 19th century, it has a diameter of more than 37 metres. The rotunda dome is the third-largest church dome in Europe and the ninth largest in the world. With a design based on the Pantheon in Rome, one remains awestruck by its grandeur. The church was at the center of what the locals consider a miracle when, in 1942, a 200 kg bomb dropped by the Luftwaffe fell among the congregation gathered for early evening Mass, but did not explode.
Reception at the Magazino Hall, Valletta Waterfront. The Magazino Hall, initially built to store oil in 1727, has recently been meticulously restored, and has become one of the Waterfront’s main attractions. The historical space, food, drink, music, and good company, promises to be a very enjoyable experience.
For the latest updates on EMPA2013, log on the official site of the Conference and activities on www.empa2013.com.
Thursday 25th April
Cottonera Tour Senglea Point Senglea is one of the three cities surrounding the Grand Harbour. It played an important part in the Great Siege of 1565, and managed to resist the Ottoman invasion. During the Second World War, Senglea was heavily bombarded. At its tip, the gardens have a watchtower on its tip (Gardjola). This is a famous landmark used in many productions on Malta. This tip offers spectacular views of Malta’s Grand Harbour.
The Inquisitor’s Palace Situated in the old medieval city of Birgu, is a fantastic relic of two centuries from the mid 1500’s. It was a place where loyalty to the Catholic Chruch during that time was enforced by the notorious Inquisition. Today, this palace is an architectural jewwl, as it is a historical relic. From the Tribunal Room, to the prison complex and the kitchen, the Inquisitor’s Palace makes for a fascinating and ingriguing visit.
St. Lawrence Church Deemed to be Malta’s second oldest parish, St. Lawrence’s Church was the conventual curch of the Order of St. John till Valletta was built. Its intimate connections to the Order are still very evident today. One of its main attractions is the ‘Martyrdom of St. Lawrence’ a huge altarpiece, (6 by 4 metres), painted by one of the Greatest South Italian artist of the 17th century, Mattia Preti. The statue of St. Lawrence, probably brought to Birgu by Spanish sailors, is unique since it is made with real attire.
Valletta Malta’s capital city, Valletta has been declared European City of Culture 2018. Built by the knights of St. John in 1566, Valletta is a gem of Baroque architecture. Its fortifications were built to withstand enemy attack, but the city never really saw battle. It was only in 1798, when Napoleon Bonaparte walked through its walls without resistance.
St. John’s Co-Cathedral St. John’s is a gem of baroque architecture and art. Built by the Grand Masters between 1573 and 1578, it became the conventual church of the Order of St. John. The church is considered to be one of the finest examples of high Baroque architecture in Europe and one of the world’s great cathedrals. Apart from its ornate Baroque decorations largely done by Mattia Preti, St. John’s Co-Cathedral boasts two of Caravaggio’s masterpieces, the Beheading of St. John, and St. Jerome. The Co-Cathedral is also famous for its marble tombstones of various knights and Grand Masters. This unique masterpiece is a mustsee for people coming to Valletta. Valletta tour There will be some time to tour some of Valletta’s attractions, such as the Grand Masters’ Palace, Republic and Merchants Streets, as well as the famous Upper Barrakka Gardens. We will also be using the scenic Barrakka lift, which has been recently restored, taking the visitor up to the city, which was inaugurated in 2012. We will also be viewing a unique, multi-lingual cinematic experience, the Malta 5D. You will be dazzled by incredible images using the latest 3-D technology. At the same time numerous special effects further enhance your voyage your moving seat follows the movements of the Falcon as it speeds you on your memorable adventure. It is a truly fantastic way of witnessing Malta’s rich history through the millennia.
Grand Master’s Palace and Armoury Erected in 1571, the Palace was one of the first buildings in Valletta. Situated on St. George’s Square, it housed a string of Grand Masters, and was also the Governor’s Palace during British rule. An 18th century traveller, Patrick Brydone in his published account of his travels entitled A Tour Through Sicily and Malta in 1773, commented that “the Grand Master (who studies conveniency more than magnificence) is more comfortably and commodiously, lodged than any prince in Europe...” The Palace Armory is one of the world’s greatest arms collections housed in their original buildings. The show includes fantastic decorated parade armour, Turkish Armour in the Islamic and Ottoman Section, as well as arms used by both foot soldiers and the knights themselves.
Dinner at the Casino Maltese This grand building very near the Grand Masters’ Palace, was the Knights Treasury, where the accounts, contracts and records of the treasury were kept. This role was also kept during the early years of British rule. It was after converted as the Grand Hotel in the late 19th century, and was turned into the Casino Maltese in 1914. Distinguished visitors to the Casino were Quenn Elizabeth II and Emperor Hirohito of Japan. The Casino Maltese is a beautifully kept building, commanding beautiful views of two of Valletta’s main squares.
Friday 26th April – Tour of Gozo Gozo Malta’s sister island, reached by ferry, is more rural in nature than Malta, and is also more tranquil and has beautiful, scenic hills. Gozo has been traditionally been linked to the island home of the nymph Calypso in Homer’s Odessey. Being such a small island, it boasts of an incredible number of attractions.
Ggantija The Ġgantija temples are older than the pyramids of Egypt, dating back to the Neolithic Age (c. 3600-2500 BC). They are the world’s second oldest manmade religious temples. These structures were constructed during a time where no metal tools existed, and the wheel was not yet introduces. This UNESCO World Heritage site was possibly the site of a fertility cult.
The Cittadella The Citadel lies high overlooking the main town of Victoria. First fortified during the Bronze Age, around 1500BC, it assumed the role of a fortified refuge till the 18th Century. Within its walls lies Gozo’s baroque Cathedral, which is famous for its painting in perspective of its dome, which was never built. The Cittadella is a must for the Gozo vistor, walking the narrow streets housing the Old Prisons, the beautiful battlements, as well as a number of museums. The Azure window at Dwejra Stunning scenery awaits the visitor. It is a veritable, natural, natural window created by nature thousands of years ago when two limestone caves collapsed. The Azure window featured in films, sich as Clash of the Titans (1981), and the Count of Monte Cristo (2002), as well as the TV miniseries The Odessey (1997) and HSB’s TV series Game of Thrones. The crystal clear waters of the Azure window make it a world-famous diving site.
Malta Maritime Museum The EMPA 2013 Conference will draw to a fitting close with a lavish reception in the Malta Maritime Museum at Birgu. With beautiful scenery of the three cities and Valletta, this building, which used to house the Old Naval Bakery, houses numerous artefacts through different epochs, witnessing Malta as a seafaring nation. The activity promises to serve as a suggestive backdrop for all to enjoy themselves through good food , drink, and music, as well as an ‘au revoir’ to the next EMPA Conference.