Insider Insider Magazine
SPRING - SUMMER 2018
MAGAZINE
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Nadine NOKO Nadine Noko is an artist and illustrator, based in Malta. She is self taught and never underwent any formal training.
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adine Noko is an artist and illustrator, based in Malta. She is self taught and never underwent any formal training. She started programming, then moved into web and graphic design and then to illustration and art. Brought up on a diet of Beano Comics, Maurice Sendak books, Richard Pryor tapes, David Hockney and Teruhiko Yumura’s work. Drawing gives her a sense of control which is why her lines and colours are so clean. The colour, form and composition allow her to create her own surreal world that evoke her morbid curiosity. Nadine always carries a sketchbook with her, her drawing is instinctive. It’s a visual diary of her thoughts. In reality her work revolves around everything and nothing.
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Her last solo exhibition in 2013 called ‘Two Heads and A City’ was supported by the Arts Council Malta and Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture. The aim of the project was to experiment with colourful illustrations featuring half-real, half imaginary portrayals of Valletta which allude to the city’s and country’s traditions. The exhibition intended to highlight that which forms our unique identity as Maltese inspite of the increasing assimilation of other influences brought on by the Europeanisation and globalisation of cultures and nations as communities become less isolated and more visible to each other. The works were based on impressions formed and experiences and people, showing a city that is very much alive and that changes character depending on the time of day as the tide of people into and out of the city ebbs and flows.
Insider Magazine HIGHLIGHT ON A MALTESE ARTIST
Noko is currently working on another solo exhibition called ‘The Catholic Itch’ which deals with the Maltese bi-polar attitude to religion, ritual and modern anxieties. The exhibition will touch on themes of identity, social status, sexuality through the religious and cultural context of Malta. Going to a Catholic school definitely influenced the way she consumes images. She is hoping it will make the audience questions what constitutes the Maltese identity; How Maltese deal with stress, love and fear through metaphor and symbolism.
She works from her studio listening to Dolly Parton together with her studio assistant Georgie Bear, a beautiful 9 month old cockapoo that takes all her calls and curates her work.
At the moment she is also At the moment she is also reading for her Masters in Fine Art Digital University of the Arts London: Camberwell College of Arts. Which she is hoping will allow her to develop her artistic abilities in directions that she has not yet explored or been exposed to.
Her research and focus is on how art and satire as manifestations of the human condition operate in the digital space. It explores how intimacy, sex, love, candid and explicit emotions, sinister humour and narratives can be delicately and elegantly
constructed within an airbrushed cinematic still, all within the boundaries of our short attention span.
Nadine is fascinated by the way people’s online presence is increasingly occupying a greater part of their daily lives through social media. Virtual Reality has become an extension of their real life with entire relationships evolving within this space. It’s a way of cementing friendships, expressing opinions, developing a sense of self as perceived by others, almost synonymous with reality TV. She is interested in exploring how people’s experiences which often seem to be lived or viewed through the screen of their mobile phones which accompany them everywhere impinge on their feelings and recollections. In the past memories were sanitised and embellished through our own imaginations. Today everything is captured for raw posterity without any room for filtering.
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Big Bang Unico Magic Sapphire. Scratch-resistant sapphire case. In-house chronograph UNICO movement. Limited edition of 500 pieces.
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Insider Magazine HIGHLIGHT
Prestige & Tradition
The Cawnpore Cup
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n Saturday 9th June, the Malta Polo Club together with Edwards Lowell will hold the most prestigious match of the playing season – the ‘Cawnpore Cup’ – A trophy first contested in 1901, at Cawnpore India, (the site of the infamous “Cawnpore Massacre” in 1857) some 118 years ago. Gifted to the Malta Polo Club in 1947, the Cawnpore Cup has been played for annually with the exception of the war years. The highest handicapped polo players in the Club are eligible to play in the Cawnpore Cup, and this year’s teams present a fine selection of the Clubs best players. Edwards Lowell in collaboration with Hublot will host the VIP Hospitality Area for the 3rd year in a row, exhibiting some of Hublot’s finest and latest timepieces. Free flowing Veuve Clicquot champagne, delicious canapes and live entertainment will accompany this year’s event.
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Edwards Lowell and The Malta Polo Club will be honoured by the presence of Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta who will present the Cawnpore Cup to the winning team. The event expects a record attendance of distinguished VIP’s and invited guests and the match will be followed by the presentation of the Cawnpore Cup to the winning team, with awards for Most Valuable Player and Best Playing Pony. Entertainment will accompany this year’s event. Hublot, one of the main sponsors of this prestigious event, is a Swiss luxury watchmaker founded in 1980 by Italian Carlo Crocco. The company currently operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of France’s LVMH. Carlo Crocco set about designing a watch that he named the Hublot after the French word for “porthole”. The watch made its debut at the 1980 Basel Watch Fair which despite failing to attract a single potential customer during the fair, the watch quickly proved to be a commercial success with sales in excess of $2m in its first year.
Insider Magazine HIGHLIGHT
Hublot is known for their innovative watches and designs which has led it to, throughout the years of operation, heavily associate itself with those individuals who are one-of-a-kind leaders and achievers within their respective fields. Sport, motorsport, football, fashion and music are just some areas within which Hublot have created collaborations thanks to their partnership with individuals such as Usain Bolt, Ferrari, Pele, Bar Rafaeli and Depeche Mode respectively. They have also partnered up with football clubs such as Juventus F.C. which according to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, a body recognised by FIFA, Juventus was the best Italian club and second best European club in the 20th Century therefore reinforcing the brands association with success. ‘Big Bang’, ‘Classic Fusion’ and ‘Spirit of Big Bang’ are Hublots best known families of timepieces which branch into several collections. The ‘Big Bang’ family includes the Big Bang Unico, the Ferrari Limited Edition Collections and the One Click Italia Independent. The ‘Spirit of Big Bang’ is Hublot’s most recognisable collection due to its rectangular shaped case which is available in an impressionable 45mm size. The ‘Classic Fusion’ range is available in a few different sizes – 45mm, 42mm, 38mm, 33mm and is also available in a Chronograph version and Aerofusion version. All Hublot timepieces are manufactured in Switzerland using the most traditional of watchmaking crafts alongside state-of-the-artmanufacturing technology, a veritable fusion between the traditional and the cutting-edge. While most of the movement’s parts are handassembled, Hublot also relies on technologically advanced automatic and semi-automated hightech method for certain tasks, such as setting
the rubies into the plates and bridges as well as applying precise amount of lubricant oil. Once the movements are complete, the final watches are hand-assembled by watchmakers based on function. Quality control is carried out at every step during the watch assembly process to ensure and verify that every timepiece conforms to Hublot’s strict quality standards. Should a problem arise at any point in the assembly line, the watch is sent back to the start of the production line to be disassembled, and the process starts all over again. The assembly process for Hublot’s High Complication watches works in a much more traditional manner. Such pieces due to their complexity are individually hand-assembled from start to finish by a single watchmaker, sometimes requiring up to three months to complete a single watch. To date, Hublot has 80 Boutiques all over the world. Their main focus to continue growing the brand globally, is through increased investment in those countries which show potential, namely Malta. Edwards Lowell are the sole authorised retailers for Hublot watches in Malta and the latest pieces can be found at either the St. Julian’s boutique in Spinola or the Valletta boutique. These can also be viewed on the Edwards Lowell online boutique – www.elcol.com Access to the Malta Cawnpore Cup VIP Hospitality area is strictly by invite. Invitations will be sent by Edwards Lowell’ guest list. For more info contact us events@elcol.com
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Insider Magazine MODERN LUXURY
LEVEL 17 • 18 • 19 • SKYBEACH • SKYHIGH
Highline Suites At InterContinental Malta, luxury is not only a state of mind; it is core to our beliefs and it is central to every aspiration and desire that our guests wish for.
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ll 30 Highline Suites range between 90 and 120 square metres and are beautifully designed with an emphasis on understated elegance. Each suite offers you an uninterrupted transition between its indoor and outdoor environments, enabling you to enjoy innovative luxury. The suites’ decor is chic and contemporary, with all bed linen and furnishings being custom made.
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Whilst residing in our suites our skilled Club team will cater for your every need and certainly exceed your expectations. Highline Suites’ service offers pristine attention to detail in the most luxurious contemporary environment.
Insider Magazine MODERN LUXURY
Aximperiaes estrumqui qua, odis nectur ab errum audignatem. i nectur ab errum sim aditm. volesciasdignatem.
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... designed with an emphasis on elegance and space.
Apart from the services and facilities available within the hotel guests staying in the Highline suites have the opportunity to relax and let the world pass by with stunning island views, the Mediterranean Sea and a rooftop infinity pool as company. The accompanying bar and restaurant provide all those enjoying the hotel’s Highline Suites with private and intimate attention whilst offering pristine comfort and enjoyment.
Should you wish further information concerning our Highline Suites, kindly contact your Concierge at your convenience.
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Insider Magazine INSPIRATIONS
Your luxury stay at InterContinental Malta
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ituated in the heart of St. Julian’s, one of Malta’s most sought-after destinations for both business and leisure, the InterContinental Hotel offers convenience, luxury and topflight care to all those seeking the best accommodation in what arguably is Europe’s sunniest destination. When staying at InterContinental Malta, we will make sure that you will always be well relaxed and thoroughly comfortable regardless of your choice of room, since all our accommodation’s options are elegantly furnished and feature all the amenities expected from a first-class luxury hotel. When booking a Deluxe Room, you will be surrounded by an elegant and modern interior, lavishly furnished, especially suitable for those that are travelling for leisure.
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Our Deluxe Rooms are our luxury and family-oriented brand. Built to convey a sense of space and privacy, they are equipped with balconies, sumptuous king or queen size beds and a spacious private bathroom with a separate shower. Modern comforts are key to our core values, and so all our Deluxe Rooms are equipped with coffee and tea making facilities, as well as free Wi-Fi. If you want a truly pampered stay, or if you are visiting us for business purposes, you can upgrade to our top-of-the-line Highline Suites. With private check-in, beautiful panoramic views of Malta, a sophisticated design and the latest technology available in room, the Highline Suites are the epitome of elegance and comfort in our hotel.
Insider Magazine INSPIRATIONS
However, they will give you access to more than just a bigger and more comfortable room with a view. When upgrading your stay to one of our Highline Suites – from our Deluxe and Club Suites to the truly indulgent Penthouse and Presidential Suites – you will be given access to beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea and Malta’s unique skyline at our exclusive Club InterContinental lounge. This venue offers a range of premier services for our most discerning customers, including complimentary drinks and snacks throughout the day. When staying at the Highline Suites, you will also have access to our Skybeach rooftop pool and our Skyhigh bar, where you will be able to relax and let the world pass by whilst swimming in our exclusive infinity pool and dining in a private and intimate surrounding.
But we know that not all our guests visit us for leisure, and so we also offer technologically advanced solutions for those that visit us on business. We have several private meeting spaces on our higher floors, as well as a boardroom, available to all guests that have upgraded their stay to our Highline Suites. Diverse as our rooms are, however, you can rest assured that, regardless of your choice of room, you will be truly pampered by an attentive and experienced staff during your stay at InterContinental Malta.
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Insider Magazine EVENTS
WHAT’S ON
in Malta
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EU RO PE AN E YES O N J A PA N
IN GUARDIA PA R A D E
VA L L E T TA G R E E N F E S T I VA L
3 0 / 0 3 / 2 018 2 9 / 0 4 / 2 018
0 8 / 0 4 / 2 018 11: 0 0 -11: 4 0
0 4 - 0 6 / 0 5 / 2 018
Led by artistic director Mikiko Kikuta, European Eyes on Japan is a visual arts project that has toured over thirty European Capitals of Culture since 1999. In anticipation of our European Capital of Culture year, the project extends an invitation to Maltese photographer, Alexandra Pace, from Valletta 2018 and another photographer from our twin European Capital of Culture, Leeuwarden-Fryslân 2018. Both photographers will live and work in Japan, looking to capture the country’s lifestyle through a European lens. In 2018, an exhibition featuring the work of both artists will be hosted in Malta at Spazju Kreattiv, after which it will travel to Leeuwarden and Japan.
The parade is a re-enactment that portrays an authentic event that took place regularly inside Malta’s major fortifications of the Order of St. John.
Each year, the Valletta Green Festival transforms one of the largest open urban spaces in Valletta, Pjazza San Ġorġ, with its colourful signature feature – a grand floral carpet composed of some 80,000 potted plants. A yearly programme of familyfriendly activities happening in the capital city and other localities have established this much-loved weekend-long festival as a fun and accessible platform for initiatives promoting environmental consciousness on the Maltese Islands. The festival also offers visitors rare glimpses into some of the capital city’s lesser-known historical treasures, including the four-hundred-year-old gardens of the Archbishop’s Palace and the Convent of St Catherine.
M A LTA I N T E R N AT I O N A L M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 1 8 15 / 0 4 / 2 018 - 01/ 0 5 / 2 018 The Festival will feature highly acclaimed world-famous musicians. It will also present the Malta International Piano Competition 2018 between 20th and 30th April for pianists under the age of 35 years. The concerts will be held in the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Robert Samut Hall in Floriana.
Insider Magazine EVENTS
GĦANAFEST from the Maltese folk singing known as ‘Għana’ (pronounced A-na). Although the programme includes some of this musical genre, it also goes beyond the local boundaries, converging GĦANAFEST is a two-day music festival which soundscapes and cultures that look seemingly takes place in the marvellous surroundings of disparate but are indeed closer than one may Buskett Gardens. The festival takes its name think. 01/ 0 6 / 2 018 - 0 2 / 0 6 / 2 018 2 0 : 3 0 -2 3 : 3 0
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Insider Magazine EVENTS
M A LTA F A S H I O N W E E K & AWA R D S 2 8 / 0 5 - 0 2 / 0 6 / 2 018
During this week, the capital city becomes a platform for unveiling Malta’s top-shelf talent and all that the local fashion industry has to offer the international scene. Designers, catwalk models, stylists, makeup artists and many other creative professionals set a glamorous scene while photographers and bloggers capture the essence of each showcase. Malta Fashion Week also
offers a unique opportunity for guests and influencers to network and exchange ideas over parties, fashion shows, exhibitions, design workshops, pop-up shops and much more. The fashion show events are held at Fort St. Elmo.
VA L L E T TA PA G E A N T OF THE SEAS VA L L E T TA F I L M F E S T I VA L
M A LTA J
0 7/ 0 6 / 2 018 0 8 -17/ 0 6 / 2 018 Set against the majestic backdrop of Valletta’s Grand Harbour, the Pageant of the Seas, hosts a programme teeming with exciting daytime activities – competitive races, visual demonstrations and water acts – and a colourful celebration by night. Local communities take part in races on specially designed vessels, constructed specifically for the day. After sundown, the atmosphere transfigures into a spectacular display of fireworks and light effects.
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Organized by the Film Grain Foundation, the Valletta Film Festival is Malta’s largest cinematic event, screening over forty feature films and twenty-five short films at indoor and open-air cinemas around the city. The festival is made up of three competitive sections adjudicated by international juries and a number of sidebars that focus on films from different islands around the world, coming-of-age cinema and a retrospective dedicated to an established film director.
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One of Malta’s this highly-accla local and intern days of jazz per events. Each ye some of the mo working in the offers a divers activities and e concerts, maste performances, a
Insider Magazine EVENTS
S T. J O H N B O N F I R E 24 / 0 6 / 2 018 19 : 0 0 -2 3 : 0 8
L- I M N A R J A 29/06/2018
The Mellieħa Local Council will be organising ‘St John Bonfire’ on Sunday, 24th June 2018 from 19.00hrs onward. A wonderful event for the whole family which will be complemented by music, stories, food and more.
J A Z Z F E S T I VA L
2018 - 21/07/2018 0:00 - 23:30
longest-running festivals, imed music event brings national artists for three rformances, concerts, and ear, the festival features ost popular jazz musicians e music sector, and also se programme of free events, such as open-air er classes, intimate jazz and jazz contests.
In Malta and Gozo, this was the way people manifested their joy in recognition of a particular feast, such lighting being offered by burning bonfires and candles. This feast is held in Buskett Garden on the eve of June 29 the day of the feast.
KINEMASTIK I N T E R N AT I O N A L S H O RT F I L M F E S T I VA L 27/07/2018 29/07/2018 20:00
KISFF will be held over three days in an open-air venue – Garden of Rest, one of the most beautiful garden/ cemeteries in Europe. Kinemastik collaborates with international festivals and filmmakers to bring to our shores a selection of finest film making on this planet we call home. Kinemastik links young filmmakers to the world of cinema and provides them with a platform for their work, through local screenings as well as through worldwide distribution of locally produced works.
M A LTA M E D I T E R R A N E A N L I T E R AT U R E F E S T I VA L 123 - 25/08/2018 20:00 Since 2006, this Festival has brought together active writers and translators from Malta, the Mediterranean and beyond. Through close engagement with local and international creatives, this platform works to consolidate the place of Maltese literature in a global and Mediterranean context. A special multidisciplinary edition of the festival to the capital city that uses script, text and music to play on the diverse themes of the programme.
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Insider Magazine
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Paranga
CHEF CLAUDIO FARRUGIA PRESENTS HIS SUMMER RECIPE
Insider Magazine RECIPE
Anchovy crusted John Dory, scallops wrapped in lard pork fat prawn tempura, potato cake, rock salt shallots, roasted pumpkin, baby asparagus, baby marrows and pink grapefruit gel METHOD
INGREDIENTS 180g 40 g 80 g 20 g 120g
John Dory fillet Scallops Red prawns Lard pork fat Flour
Potato Cake 100g Potatoes 2g Thyme 50g Butter Beetroot purée 150g Beetroot 20ml Olive oil 1 Pinch of salt
Rock salt onions 5 Shallots 200g Fine salt 100g Rock salt 1 Egg white Anchovy crust 10 g Anchovy 30g Bread crumbs Vegetables 150g Roasted pumkin 35g Baby asparagus 35g Baby zucchini
John Dory Fillet Fillet the John Dory and peel off the skin, in a medium heat pan sear the fillet from both sides until golden brown colour, then place the crust on top of the fish from one side and bake it in a temperature of 180 degrees for 3 minutes. Slice the lard of the pork very thin and wrap the scallop and seal in a medium heat pan until golden brown color from all sides. In a separate bowl dip the head less red prawn and deep fry until golden brown colour and crispy. Potato cake Slice peeled potatoes and submerge in cold water to remove starch and repeat the washing 3 times. Melt the butter on a low flame until liquid. Let the liquid rest so that you can collect the clarified butter from the surface. Place the first layer of sliced potatoes in a greased baking tray then brush with clarified butter, thyme and salt. Repeat this process for 5 times. Bake at a temperature of 160° C for 90 minutes.
Beetroot purée In a pot boil the beetroot with skin for around 20 minutes until is becomes soft, then remove the skin and roughly cut. Blend the cooked beetroot and gradually add the olive oil and salt. Rock salt onions Mix the rock salt and fine salt together, add the egg white to this mixture, beat to a firm and fluffy texture. Lay the shallots on a baking dish and cover properly with the salt mixture. Bake at 170° C for 30 minutes. When cooled, break the salt crust and peal the onions. When ready to serve sauté in olive oil. Vegetables For the Roasted pumpkin use the Parisian scoop, lay on an oiled baking tray and roast until soft. Take the Baby zucchini and asparagus blanched in boiling water for 20 seconds. Then place in iced water. When ready to serve sauté lightly in olive oil and butter.
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Insider Magazine TREASURE
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hen wandering the narrow and eye-catching streets of Valletta, you might come across Triq it-Teatru l-Antik, or the Old Theatre Street, named after what is claimed to be the third oldest theatre still in operation in Europe: the intriguing and unmissable Manoel Theatre (formerly known as Teatro Pubblico and Teatro Reale). Do not let its unassuming façade fool you. Even in a city that can be described as an open-air museum, bursting with many
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architectural wonders, this is a landmark not to miss. The theatre was constructed in 1731 by António Manoel de Vilhena, Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, to keep both the public and the young, unruly members of his order entertained. Such was his purpose that to this day the words “Ad honestam populi oblectationem”, or “for the honest recreation of the people”, can still be read over the theatre’s entrance.
Insider Magazine TREASURE
THE charming MANOEL THEATRE C ATC H A S HOW ON O NE O F EU RO PE’S OLDES T WO RKING THEATRES
theatre has endured throughout the ages and all seamlessly come together to create the illusion that you are watching a performance alongside Vilhena and the knights themselves. In preparation for Valletta’s tenure as European Capital of Culture 2018, the theatre’s façade has undergone extensive restorations in 2017, and it is now once more fully open to the public. It has since delighted Maltese and foreign audiences alike with many artistic performances. However, Manoel Theatre is more than just a stage. It is also a true architectural treasure in the heart of Valletta, beautifully embellished by its lavish baroque decoration. In fact, while watching a show from one of the delightfully detailed and quaint wooden theatre-boxes, it is hard not to get distracted by the awe-inspiring surrounding décor. It is as if everything came into place to whisk you away to a utopia where beauty and aesthetics are paramount. The trompel’oeil ceiling, resembling a cupola; the bright and ornate Viennese chandelier; the Carrara marble staircase and shell-covered niches: all survived the many restorations the
Nowadays, it hosts a selection of concerts, operas and other theatrical performances in both English and Maltese. If you are a fan of the performing arts, be sure to check out Manoel Theatre’s schedule. Apart from the performances, tours of the Theatre and its attached museum are offered every Monday to Saturday in several languages and for a small fee. During your visit, you will gasp at the marvellous interior while learning interesting facts about the institution, such as how Manoel Theatre was one of few landmarks in Valletta not to be damaged during the Second World War, instead serving as an emergency shelter for displaced locals.
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Insider Magazine
InterContinental Malta
INDULGE AT
FACILTIES
INTERCONTINENTAL BEACH CLUB The revamped and extended InterContinental Beach Club incorporates an extensive array of amenities, with an exclusive sandy beach area set aside for guests’ personal use and comfort. All hotel guests enjoy access to the InterContinental Beach Club where sun beds, umbrellas and beach towels are all provided with the hotel’s compliments. A variety of water sport facilities are also available. The Beach Club also includes a bar and restaurant so that all one need do, is lie back, relax and enjoy the sunshine comfortably aided by the quick and efficient service available. The relaxed and calm atmosphere of the Beach Bar is only enhanced by the waves washing up and down the beach. Guests, whilst soaking up the sun and refreshing themselves with a dip in the cool Mediterranean, can enjoy drinks and cocktails served throughout the day and late into the night.
CARISMA SPA AND WELLNESS Carisma Spa & Wellness is available for hotel guests to be pampered by professionally trained therapists in a sophisticated and personal environment. Here one can indulge in the secluded and individual atmosphere of the traditional hamam and benefit from Dead Sea salt exfoliation treatments upon request. A visit to these Turkish baths is not only a cleansing ritual but also a feast for ultimate health and well being. These diligently chosen treatments and programs guarantee a maximum amount of relaxation and recuperation for body and soul.
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Insider Magazine FACILTIES
CYNERGI HEALTH & FITNESS CENTRE Whether you are looking to improve your fitness or simply to relax, Cynergi Health & Fitness Centre provides the ultimate in health and fitness technology. Boasting the ideal ambiance in a state of the art fully equipped gymnasium, with over 2,500 square meters of workout space. The extensive facilities include over 70 low-impact cardiovascular machines, free weights, an aerobics studio with cardiovascular exercise equipment, two ISF approved squash courts and TRX suspension training equipment. The centre is also located immediately next door to Carisma Spa and Wellness and the hotel’s 17 metre indoor pool.
ELITE COIFFEUR
19TH FLOOR
‘Glamour first’ is the philosophy at Elite Coiffeur stylists. Their style and form is certainly artwork and will truly make an individual stand out at any special occasion or event and ensure the perfection in creativity. Located on the third floor near the south elevators, the salon is classic and elegant, with knowledgeable stylists for all types of colouring, styling and blow dries.
Relax and let the world pass by with stunning islands views, the Mediterranean Sea and a rooftop infinity pool as company. The accompanying bar and restaurant provides definitive refined sophistication to all those enjoying the hotel’s highline suites with private and intimate attention, whilst offering pristine comfort and enjoyment.
POOLS The hotel’s selection of pool facilities gives our guests the ideal choice of how to completely embrace relaxation throughout their stay. The facilities include a lagoon styled outdoor swimming pool, a heated indoor pool conveniently located near Carisma Spa & Wellness and Cynergi Health and Fitness Centre and of course InterContinental Malta’s rooftop infinity pool, located on the 19th floor and enjoying breathtaking views across the islands.
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Insider Magazine ART CONSERVATION
The Triton Fountain I
A rev ea le d Valletta’s gem .
f you have ever been to Valletta before, odds are that you have already been fascinated by ‘Il-Funtana TatTritoni,’ Valletta’s staggering Triton Fountain. If you did so recently, you might have even noticed it was missing from the city’s entrance. However, the fountain has undergone a careful restoration in preparation for Valletta’s term as European Capital of Culture 2018 and it is now back to its rightful place. The time could not be better for you to rediscover it or visit it for the very first time. This modernist piece of art by local artist Vincent Apap was inspired by a Greek legend and Malta’s deeply rooted maritime traditions. It dates back to 1959,
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when Malta was still under British colonial rule. In fact, due to the unstable political situation at the time, it was never officially inaugurated. However, this historical curiosity did nothing to prevent it from becoming a much-beloved landmark of Malta’s capital and a source of national pride. Disaster struck when its central basin collapsed in 1978, only two decades after it was originally commissioned, which led to much-criticised repairs in 1986. Even though many felt that the addition of a loadbearing central column robbed the fountain of its elegance and charm, it remained a landmark of Valletta, delighting visitors
Insider Magazine ART CONSERVATION
and locals alike for several decades, until it was removed in February 2017 for additional restoration works. After a year absent from its rightful place welcoming visitors to Valletta, this unmissable landmark is back to its former glory, just in time for Valletta’s role as European Capital of Culture 2018. The restoration brought back the fountain’s original blue hues and all of its grace, having removed the controversial loadbearing central column. Now, the three tritons once again hold alone the round bronze platter in an eye-pleasing feat of careful engineering. This time around no expenses were spared, with
the stated cost of €4.5 millions covering high-tech damageprevention solutions, such as the use of a microcrystalline wax for surface protection. Walk out of Valletta’s city gates late at night to see it in its true splendour: the surrounding ancient walls and the quiet of the night contrasting with its water and light displays create a picture-perfect setting. If you are there late enough, you might even have it all to yourself, a privilege you will surely not have in daytime. During the day, kissed by a myriad of happy camera flashes, the city bustle gives it a different charm. The Triton Fountain becomes a meeting point for friends, the setting of many romantic
embraces and an object of admiration for vacationers from around the world. Whether you are in Valletta for the events of Malta 2018 or just in town for casual holidays or business, be sure not to miss out on this truly unique piece of art, which adds freshness and a touch of colour and flair to Valletta’s entrance.
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Wine & Dine at InterContinental Malta
Insider Magazine RESTAURANTS & BARS
WATERBISCUIT Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Waterbiscuit offers a gastronomic experience to delight all patrons with a charming and contemporary atmosphere, and an accomplished kitchen that uses only the freshest Mediterranean ingredients. At the Waterbiscuit Bar, fine dining may be enjoyed throughout the day, but it is their cocktails that ultimately steal the show as each creation seeks to exceed the wildest expectations.
ALFRESCO GARDENS Dinner Located in the hotels large landscape gardens, Al fresco is the ideal place for a breath of fresh air while enjoying dining beneath the stars. Our chefs create a menu demonstrating the latest in culinary creativity style, prepared on the sizzling bbq. (Seasonal)
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Insider Magazine RESTAURANTS & BARS
NARCIS POOL BAR
PARANGA
Lunch
Lunch • Dinner
Sit back, relax and wind down your day at Narcis Pool Bar and Grill! Every evening between 17:00 and 18:00 join in the sunset hour and enjoy our cool cocktails for 5 euros each. (Seasonal)
Paranga is the hotel’s seaside restaurant, set on teak decking adjacent to the rippling Mediterranean Sea. Here one finds an enticing and exclusive atmosphere, where the focus is on the pristine and unspoiled natural flavour of the cuisine. The menu offers a superb array of stimulating and diverse Sicilian flavours interpreted from a traditional or contemporary style. Local fishermen deliver fresh fish and shellfish daily, which may be enjoyed with ideally selected and impeccably paired wine, aperitif or digestif.
INTERCONTINENTAL BEACH CLUB Lunch • Dinner Enjoy a truly enticing spot for an evening of relaxation and recreation. Guests, whilst soaking up the sun and refreshing themselves with a dip in the cool Mediterranean, can enjoy burgers and cocktails served throughout the day and late into the night. (Seasonal)
HARRUBA Breakfast Harruba is InterContinental Malta’s main breakfast restaurant. Hosting buffet breakfast daily, the restaurant provides a lavish selection of tantalising dishes from the finest that world cuisine has to offer.
SKYBEACH Lunch • Dinner
SKYHIGH Lounge Bar On the 19th floor overlooking breathtaking views of St. George’s Bay and the surrounding areas, one can find our exclusive and chic SKYHIGH bar and lounge. This premium venue is the perfect place for pre and post dinner lounging. Serving the best gins, spirits, whiskeys, fine wines and luscious cocktails prepared by our talented bartenders. Drinks can be paired with a range of high-end cigars offered exclusively at our outlet. SKYHIGH, the ideal venue for a unique experience.
Located on the hotel’s 19th floor, SKYBEACH bar provides all those enjoying the hotel’s Highline Suites with private and intimate attention, whilst offering pristine comfort and enjoyment. Seasonal, Weekly and Daily memberships are available. (Seasonal)
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Insider Magazine MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
MUŻA The Malta National-community art museum MUŻA is the new National Museum of Art in Malta and Heritage Malta’s flagship project for Valletta’s 2018 Capital of Culture title.
MUŻA, facade, Auberge d’Italie, Valletta
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t is located at Auberge d’Italie, one of several hostels and administration buildings built by the various langues within the Order of St John. This auberge, built by the Italian knights, had its origional facade on Pjazza de Valette from which the building can now also be accessed. The main facade on Merchants street was completed by the end of the 16th century and later remodelled as it survives to date, also prominently displaying the portrait bust of the Italian Grandmaster Gregorio Carafa with a complimenting marble
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armorial backdrop. In 1920 the building was also chosen as the seat of the then Valletta Museum where the national collection, including what was then known as the Fine Arts Section, was put on display. Indeed, the Fine Arts Section was set up here to slowly develop and evolve into a national museum in its own right.
Insider Magazine MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
MUŻA is an acronym for MUŻew Nazzjonali tal-Arti (EN : National Museum of Art or Fine Arts). It also refers to the muses; the mythological figures from classical antiquity inspiring creativity and, in effect, the etymological source of the word museum. MUŻA is also the Maltese word for inspiration.
Mari tal-Bajd by Maltese artist Esprit Barthet
MUŻA shall present a narrative of themes and related objects in four main stories each with a focus on the Mediterranean, Europe and Empire and how the artist engages with each of these. Highlights on display include Mattia Preti and seventeenth century works of art, British artist Victor Pasmore and other works by local and international artists. The display also features historic furniture, maps and cartography, sculpture and historic glass. Pride of place is also given to the Camocio siege maps, made during the Great Siege of 1565 as a means to disseminate information, recently inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
St John the Baptiste wearing the red tabard of the order of St John by Mattia Preti
Besides galleries and cutting edge displays, including a hands-on digital interface, interactives and audiovisuals, the experience at MUŻA also includes a restaurant and cafeteria, tourist information facilities and a MUŻA concept store selling bespoke products. MUŻA is also a green-powered cultural institution generating its own energy needs and requirements through intelligent lighting systems, controlled museum climate and photovoltaic cells for generating the necessary power to run the place as a neutral carbon institution.
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Insider Magazine SHOPPING
Our Summer recommendations We have compiled some haunts for you to shop, explore and enjoy your time whilst you are in Malta.
1 Noni
Valletta can count a new but already iconic address on its list of culinary rendezvous. NONI, located in Republic Street, Valletta. The cuisine on offer is genuine, local, and will highlight the flavours of seasonal ingredients without any arrogance. NONI will be open six days a week between Monday to Saturday, for lunch and dinner. Seats are limited and reservations advised. Discover more at www.noni.com.mt.
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2 Edwards, Lowell Co. Ltd
Edwards, Lowell Co. Ltd is a family owned company established in 1925 and is the exclusive distributor in Malta Royal Malta Golf Club for all their brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chopard, Hublot, Girard-Perregaux, Dodo Established in 1888, the Royal Malta Parmigiani Fleurier, Breitling, Golf Club is one of the 66 golf clubs worldwide that carry the prestigious Tudor and Pomellato. “Royal� title. Located in Marsa, the Club welcomes beginners and visitors.
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Insider Magazine SHOPPING
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Charles & Ron
A contemporary lifestyle brand, presenting high-end practical clothing and bags with a distinct Meditteranean flair and a superior quality. Maltese culture is an integral part of the design ethic and vision.
Camilleri Paris Mode
These shops located in Sliema and Rabat offers quality furnishings and branded lifestyle products, including home accessories, fragrances and luxury toweling.
5 4 Shopping in Valletta
Shopping is among one of the favourite activities to many visitors during their stay in Malta. Valletta, The European Capital of Culture, offers numerous and diverse shops and boutiques which will offer you a variety to satisfy all of your shopping expectations.
Love don’t come easy
Fattima Mahdi recently published her debut title, Love Don’t Come Easy, The Modern Struggle, a book which highlight the ways in which we have socially evolved through modern technology and the effect this has on our perceptions of love. The book is available online on Amazon.
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TAKE NOTE
Insider Magazine
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BANKS AND CURRENCY EXCHANGE Banks are normally open between 08:30 and 13:30 from Monday to Thursday, between 08:30 and 15:30 on Friday and up to 12:00 on Saturday. Some banks open for longer hours. International bankcards are accepted and foreign currency is easily exchanged. Banks, Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and currency exchange offices can be found all over the islands.
SWIMMING The Maltese coastal waters are generally clean and safe for swimming as there are no tides. Some bays are exposed to north and north-easterly winds that at times produce strong undercurrents. Ghajn Tuffieha Bay and Golden Bay areas can be potentially dangerous - a red flag indicates when bathing should be restricted to only the innermost, shallow waters. The sea temperature averages around 22.8 degrees centigrade in summer.
Insider Magazine
TIME DIFFERENCE Malta is on Central European Time (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT in winter and 2 hours ahead between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October. Malta is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST) in winter and 7 hours ahead between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
CASINOS PHARMACIES Pharmacies are found throughout the islands and are open during normal shopping hours. On Sundays, they operate on a roster from 09:00 to 12:00 in Malta and from 07:30 to 11:00 in Gozo. Details of the roster are available on the local Sunday newspapers and online.
SMOKING Smoking is not allowed in entertainment establishments, including bars and restaurants, unless there is a designated smoking area.
Casino Malta, located on level 2, provides the islands most exciting gaming experience, offering world class levels of entertainment in complete comfort, 24 hours a day. Foreign nationals must be at least 18 years of age to enter and Maltese citizens must be 21 years of age.
USEFUL AND EMERGENCY NUMBERS 00356 International Code 112 Emergency Services 1182 Directory Enquiries 1152 Overseas Operator 195 Time Check 5004 3333 Flight Enquiries
ELECTRICITY The electrical supply is 230 volts, 50 hertz. The three-pin rectangular plug system is used, as in the United Kingdom.
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St. George’s Bay • St. Julian’s STJ 3310 • Malta Tel: +356 21 377 600 • Fax: +356 21 372 222 malta@ihg.com • malta.intercontinental.com