Grand Hotel Excelsior Autumn/Winter 2012 Newsletter

Valletta European Capital of Culture 2018

Win te r 2 0 1 2 / 1 3 e d itio n

Live the Grand Life

EDITORIAL

General Information about the Hotel The hotel’s outlets Level 7 Business Centre Level 6 Hotel Entrance

During every moment of your stay, the Grand Hotel Excelsior, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts is committed to making your stay a memorable one.

An intimate event or a family celebration; a reunion with old friends or a new business connection. We promise intuitive service, unmatched attention to detail, and sophisticated style providing moments that create long-lasting memories.

We invite you to Live the Grand Life at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. With this hotel as your home you are only two minutes away from Valletta, Malta’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is a unique opportunity to re-live Malta’s rich history whilst unwinding during a Mediterranean Luxury Escape.

Visiting Malta and Valletta will help you understand why the Capital was chosen as the European Capital of Culture 2018.

Our prime location allows for easy access to all tourist locations around the Maltese Islands. We highly recommend that you take advantage or our private tours around Malta and Gozo and discover the unique and Truly Mediterranean experience in style.

Le Grand Spa compliments our luxurious accommodation, with excellent spa and wellness facilities. Its relaxing atmosphere is the perfect starting point for the journey toward equilibrium between your body, mind and spirit. We offer an indoor (heated) and outdoor swimming pool and also have the only private sandy beach in the capital city Valletta.

We wish you a pleasant stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, and look forward to with you the Grand Life.

Norbert Grixti General Manager

Our reception desk is manned and at your service round the clock and can be reached by dialing 0 Harbour View Lounge serving a selection of hot and cold beverages, wine, alcoholic and non alcoholic cocktails 24 hours, 7 days a week Chartroom Lounge serving Traditional Afternoon Tea daily between 1500 and 1700hrs Level 5 À la Carte menu and Themed Buffet nights served in Admiral’s Landing between 1830 and 2230hrs Level 4 A lavish spread is available for Breakfast in Spice Island, level 4, between 0630 and 1030hrs Level 1 Le Grand Spa is open daily between 0900 and 1900hrs Guest Services: Room service is available 24 hours Check out time is 1200hrs noon Please let us know whether there is anything else you require during your stay. Nothing is impossible and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure your ultimate comfort and wellbeing.

A Passion for Heritage Planning your next Winter Break? Why not explore Malta’s military heritage with our newly launched package.

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hrough the Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna Heritage Pass you will have access to the Saluting Battery (Valletta), Malta at War Museum (Birgu), Fort Rinella (Kalkara) and also the Lascaris War rooms (Valletta).

Lascaris war rooms were the Operational Headquarters which were built in order to provide a secure place from where war operations could be conducted. The war rooms are located deep in the rock under St Peter and St Paul Bastion which forms part of the defences of Valletta built by the Knights of St John in 1566.

Fort Rinella in Kalkara was built in 1878. This fort is not only a unique remnant of Malta’s recent British colonial past, but it is also the world’s first mechanical fort which enabled its small garrison to fire a monstrous 100-ton gun every six minutes. On visiting this fort in 1889, the great French writer Jules Verne described it as a marvel of the industrial age which would render Malta safe for ever.

The Malta at War Museum housed in an old 18th century military barracks built in the historic walls of Vittoriosa (Birgu, is Malta’s best presented testimonial of the great ordeal suffered by the Island during the Second World War. The site focuses on the daily life of wartime Malta telling the story of how this spec of an island managed to withstand one of the fiercest onslaughts in modern history. It offers a unique experience to the visitor through a combination of original film-footage, expert guiding and original artifacts and memorabilia, all of which are nicely presented in a new modern setting.

The Saluting Battery in Valletta offers a breath-taking view of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. This battery offers the visitor a unique opportunity to learn from close quarters how cannon worked and fired in days gone by. It also provides a wealth of information on how time was measured and signalled out in the past.

It also explains the long quest of mariners to find a practical solution to the issue of longitude that would allow them to sail safely in open seas.

Opening times for all the above mentioned sites are from Monday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm and there is no need for pre-booking.

Malta Military & Heritage Package • Accommodation in a room type of your choice (price varies according to room type booked) • Welcome drink upon arrival, • Daily buffet breakfast, and • A Compulsory Military & Heritage Pass (In the packages section of the booking please select quantity, i.e. the number of persons/passes you wish to book. Price is per pass for one person).

Rates starting from less than €65 per person per night sharing in a Double Deluxe Inland Room. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Our Chauffeur Drive Service can organise your taxi transfers for you.

During your stay kindly visit our Transport Desk and they will be happy to assist you.

Terms and Conditions apply.

the

SACRED

islands

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he Mediterranean island of Malta figures in the historical record of Europe due to its association with the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. However this small island, of 243 square kilometres, has a far greater importance in European prehistory due to its extraordinary collection of megalithic temples.

According to the studies of orthodox archaeologists, the remains of bones, fragments of pottery, and marks of fire indicate that human beings have lived on Malta since at least 5200 BC. Evidence suggests, these early people lived in caves, but later built huts and villages. Approximately 1600 years after their arrival in Malta, these people began the formation of stupendous megalithic temples. The ruins now remaining are the bare skeletons of once magnificent structures, mostly roofed over, paved, furnished with doors and curtains, and beautifully decorated with sculptures and paintings.

On the Islands of Malta and Gozo, one may find around 23 temples in various states of preservation although the remains of 50 temples have been found.

No particular pattern emerges from the distribution of these temples and this may be explained by the probability that numerous temples were destroyed in antiquity and that others remain to be discovered.

Amongst these 23 temples is the Hypogeum which is situated in Paola, and was discovered surprisingly by workmen digging at about 3.5 m under the road surface. The word Hypogeum comes from the Greek word “Ipogaina”, which means, “an underground construction sunk into the solid rock.” It is a UNESCO World Heritage site like the other temples in Malta. This underground temple is made up from a set of rooms and caves dug

by Copper - Age people, most probably

between the years 4100 B.C. and 2500 B.C. At the beginning of its existence, the Hypogeum was used as a temple or sanctuary as well as a burial place. This is known due to its architectural resemblance to the freestanding Megalithic Temples outside. However the greatest evidence present is the several statuettes of the Fat Lady, their goddess of Fertility. A big statue of a “sleeping Lady” was also found in this temple. The discoveries of some 7,000 human bones were also found in the temple and many dead people were found buried with their personal belongings.

The megalithic temple of Hagar Qim is another historical wonder situated in the West of Malta, near the village of Qrendi and was built between 3600 B.C. and 3000 B.C. The name Hagar Qim means “freestanding boulders” and was first explored in 1839. Hagar Qim was the third temple to be built in the Maltese Islands and its layout is very similar in shape of the other temples. The original alters previously found in the temple can now be found in the Museum of Archaeology.

Though of more recent origin than the great megalithic temples, the Romanesque basilica of Ta’ Pinu is of importance as a pilgrimage site. Legends relate that in 1883, a local woman named Carmel Grima heard a voice telling her to pray by a 16th century chapel. A friend, Francesco Portelli, confirmed that he had also heard the voice and thus they prayed together for Francesco’s bedridden mother and she soon experienced a miraculous recovery.

More miraculous healings were thereafter reported and from thanksgiving offerings the present sanctuary was built in the 1920’s.The sanctuary incorporates the early chapel, whose original caretaker, Pinu Gauci, lent his name to the site. The Ta’ Pinu Shrine is visited for its healing qualities and is also sacred to sailors.

Many locals as well as foreigners visit to site to offer thanksgiving and pay for healings.

VALLETTA

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alletta owes its existence to the Knights of St John, who planned the city as a refuge to care for injured soldiers and pilgrims during the Crusades in the 16th century. Until the arrival of the Knights, Mount Sceberras, on which Valletta stands, lying between two natural harbours, was an arid tongue of land.

No building stood on its bare rocks except for a small watch tower, called St Elmo, at its extreme end. Grand Master La Valette, the gallant hero of the Great Siege of 1565, soon realised that if the Order was to maintain its hold on Malta, it had to provide adequate defences. Therefore, he drew up a plan for a new fortified city on the Sceberras peninsula.

Pope Pius V and Philip II of Spain showed interest in the project. They both promised financial aid and the Pope lent the Knights the services of Francesco Laparelli, a military engineer, who drew up the necessary plans for the new city and its defences.

the Fo Work started in earnest in March 1566 - first on the bastions and, soon after, on the more important buildings. The new city was to be called Valletta in honour of La Valette.

The Grand Master didn’t live to see its completion and he died in 1568. His successor, Pietro del Monte continued with the work at the same pace. By 1571, the Knights transferred their quarters from Vittoriosa (Birgu) to their new capital.

Architect Laparelli left Malta in 1570. He was replaced by his assistant Gerolamo Cassar, who had spent some months in Rome, where he had observed the new style of buildings in the Italian city.

Cassar designed and supervised most of the early buildings, including the Sacra Infermeria, St John’s Church, the Magisterial Palace and the seven Auberges, or Inns of Residence of the Knights.

By the 16th century,Valletta had grown into a sizeable city and people from all parts of the island flocked to live within its safe fortifications especially as Mdina, until then

Malta’s capital, lost much of its lure. In the ensuing years, the serious mannerist style of Cassar’s structures gave way to the more lavish palaces and churches with graceful facades and rich sculptural motifs that we see today.

The new city, with its strong bastions and deep moats, became a fortification of great strategic importance.Valletta’s street plan is unique and planned with its defence in mind. Based on a more or less uniform grid, some of the streets fall steeply as you get closer to the tip of the peninsula. The stairs in some of the streets do not conform to normal dimensions since they were constructed in a way so as to allow knights in heavy armour to be able to climb the steps.

Fast forward a few centuries and the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen came under another siege; this time in the shape of World War II which brought havoc to Malta.Valletta was badly battered by the bombing, but the city withstood the terrible blow and, within a few years, it rose again. During the post-

war years,Valletta lost many of its citizens who moved out to more modern houses in other localities and its population dwindled to 9,000 inhabitants. However, in the last few years many individuals with a flair for unique architecture are trickling back into the city and investing in old properties.

Valletta, the smallest capital of the European Union, is now the island’s major commercial and financial centre and is visited daily by throngs of tourists eager to experience the city’s rich history.

Despite measuring just 900 metres by 630 metres,Valletta boasts over 25 churches, a testament to the centuries-old ingrained Catholic faith of the Maltese. In fact, the first building that went up in the city is the Church of Our Lady of Victories along South Street, which commemorates the lifting of the Great Siege.

ortress

City The Co-Cathedral of St John is nothing short of a gem and quite simply a must for any tourist. Described as the first complete example of high Baroque anywhere, it epitomises the spiritual and military role of its patrons.

The Cathedral is a showcase to Mattia Preti who intricately carved stone wall designs, as well as the painted vaulted ceiling and side altars with scenes from the life of St John. Among the treasures found in the Cathedral are the unique Caravaggio painting depicting the beheading of St John, the extraordinary paving of more than 300 marble tomb slabs (the burial place of several former European princes), and the splendid vaulted central nave with frescoes of Mattia Preti.

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tay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, two minutes away from Valletta, and relive the Knight’s of St. John legacy.Visit the medieval city of Mdina, one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city which is extraordinary in its mix of medieval and baroque architecture. Head north to enjoy Mediterranean sun, sand and sea. Experience Gozo where tranquillity is still a way of life. Enjoy Malta’s religious ‘festas’, adorned churches and glittering firework displays. Discover megalithic temples, rugged countryside and dramatic cliffs or submerge into a diver’s paradise. Wine and dine in stylish surroundings and party in lively evening venues.

If you have only three days in Malta, do not attempt to see it all.

Although the area covered by the Maltese Islands is just 316 km², there is plenty to see and do so we recommend you experience just a few of Malta’s highlights to get a feeling of the island’s character

300 days of sunshine, crystal clear Mediterranean waters, 7,000 years of history, thriving local traditions and laidback rural villages, delicious cuisine and a vibrant nightlife – Welcome to Malta!

Photos courtesy of the Malta Tourism Authority

Day 1 – Valletta & Sliema With the Grand Hotel Excelsior as your home the Capital,Valletta, is probably the most obvious place to start. With the entire city declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, exploring its streets is nothing short of walking through an open-air museum.

Walk along Republic Street to St John’s Co-Cathedral, the jewel of Valletta, with its gilded interior enough to make one’s jaw drop. Look out for the Caravaggio’s only signed painting, The Beheading of St John. Exit the Catheral and dive into the open-air market in Merchants’ Street. Valletta is also a great place for shopping.

Take the time to wander through the alleyways, up and down the slopes and stairways, and to sit under the sun with a coffee watching the pigeons. In whichever order you choose to do these, try to be at the Upper Barrakka Gardens at noon for the re-enactment and shooting of the cannon, and enjoy one of the most spectacular views in Malta, that of the Grand Harbour.

For the afternoon we recommend a Harbour Cruise which takes you to see the the Three Cities from a unique perspective and which offers an insight to the essence of Maltese History.

Day 2 – Gozo You cannot really understand Maltese culture without a visit to Gozo, Malta’s more traditional and peaceful little sister. Be at Cirkewwa early to take the ferry across, so as to make the most of your day. The crossing takes only half an hour and passes by Comino island and you can catch a glimpse of the Blue Lagoon.

Victoria’s main square is home to a daily market selling all sorts of things. Check out the tiny shops around the area which sell handicrafts, and make sure you get lost in the back streets! Head up the hill to the Cittadel, the Medieval walled city, and visit the Old Prisons and some of the other interesting museums it houses. Finally walk to the bastions to get a 360 degrees bird’s eye view of the whole island!

Have lunch in one of the several restaurants or cafes that offer traditional food and then head off to the village of Xaghra . Xaghra has plenty to offer, starting with Ggantija Temples, the oldest free-standing structures in the world. Not far off is Ta’ Kola Windmill which has been lovingly restored and turned into a museum, and in the heart of the village you will find Ninu’s Cave and Xerri’s Grotto with a marvel of stalactites and stalagmites.

Weather-permitting, now would be the ideal time to head to Ramla Bay for a swim. Ramla Bay is remarkable for its dark orange sand. But the real must-see is Dwejra with its Azure Window being the most photographed view in the Maltese Islands. This is the location of the Fungus Rock and the Inland Sea, as well as the Blue Hole, a worldfamous diving spot. It is really striking to watch the sunset from this point, and offers a myriad of photo opportunities!

At the end of the day you can dine in one of many restaurants in pretty

Xlendi Bay nearby, and don’t worry about catching the ferry back... it runs regularly till late and occasionally through the night!

Day 3 – Marsaxlokk & Mdina On your third day we recommend an early start to enjoy the most of Marsaxlokk fishing village and market. There you can obtain fresh local produce and hand-crafted artisanship, so it’s an ideal place to purchase souvenirs. All this to a backdrop of colourful local Luzzu’s (traditional fishing boats) bobbing up and down in the sheltered Marsaxlokk harbour.

Enjoy the fresh catch of the day for lunch at one of the restaurants lining the promenade.

In the afternoon head to the Blue Grotto for a boat trip to the caves.

Also in the area are the megaliths of Mnajdra and Hagar Qim, and further down the road still is Ghar Lapsi, a cave with two rocky beaches which offer fantastic snorkelling opportunities.

Spend your last evening in Malta wandering the streets of one of its favourites with visitors and locals alike: experience the enchantment of Mdina by night. Dine in one of its fine restaurants, wine bars or cafes to conclude an evening to remember.

At the Grand Hotel Excelsior we offer tailor-made excursions with our private chauffer service. If you would like to plan your excursions in advance kindly email us on transport@excelsior.com.mt and Chris and her team will take care of your requirements.

You can also book your excursions during your stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior.

1O Grand things

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to do at

Grand Hotel

Excelsior

1)

A Grand Private Breakfast on your room terrace

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Relaxing by the Indoor Heated Pool

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Healthy Lunch at the Admiral’s Landing

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Private Chauffeur driven tours around Malta

5)

Afternoon Tea at the Chartroom

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Spa Treatment at Le Grand Spa

7)

Cocktails in the Harbour View

8)

Themed Nights at the Admirals Landing

9)

A la Carte dining at the Admiral’s Landing

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10) Family pampering with our Royal Sunday Buffet Lunch

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Feast for Fools M

alta’s Carnival dates back several hundred years to the 16th century when the Maltese and the Knights of St John would hold a week-long event leading up to Ash Wednesday. Until 1751, Carnival was an activity exclusive to Valletta. Nowadays, revellers gather in every corner of the islands during the five days preceding Ash Wednesday from Nadur in Gozo to Ghaxiaq in the south of Malta. One thing is certain, the Maltese have had valid excuses to mark Carnival for hundreds of years and the celebrations have come a long way since.

Carnival is presented as a riot of colour, with decorated floats and extravagant costumes. It is an excuse for families to join in the merrymaking and marvel at the inventiveness of the float designers and crews. It also encourages a competitive spirit as floats are judged under several categories.

Celebrations typically include masked balls, fancy dress parties and a parade of symbolic floats presided over by the King Carnival float which is supposed to be the best and most beautiful float of them all.

Marching bands and costumed revellers make the streets of Valletta and Floriana come alive!

The carnival reaches its climax on the last day with a spectacular floats parade - a magical and fun experience for children and adults alike.

As with any celebration in Malta, Carnival is associated with lots of food and drink. Perlini are colourful sugar coated almonds and are eaten in abundance during this time. Perhaps the most popular local Carnival sweet is the Prinjolata. This is a uniquely shaped cake made from pine nuts and Madeira cake and topped with cream.

Walking Trails Malta’s central position in the Mediterranean has made the Island a hub of history-from the landing of St Paul; through the times of the Knights of St John; to the modern epic of Gallant Malta.

A cultural mix makes Malta unique. Its language is based on Arabic, but English is widely spoken. There is a rich variety of country walking allowing visitors and locals alike to explore the Island’s landscape of small ridges and valleys, seamed by tracks among stone walls and little farmsteads as well as lovely panoramic coastal paths. There are a number of attractive country walks in Malta. The ideal period for walks is autumn to spring as the weather would not be as hot and the countryside turns into a green paradise with blossoming wild flowers.

Gozo is greener, without the bustle of large towns. With some great walking across irrigated farmland, steep valleys, terraced fields and table-top hills, there is no better way of discovering the best the island has to offer. Through walking tours you may explore the hidden and secluded areas around the island and discover stunning views and hidden valleys. You may come across wayside chapels and old forts as well as villages that have remained practically untouched where elderly men and women still work the fields. There are also many historical and archaeological sites with breathtaking views.

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he Regatta, or national boat race is very popular especially with the towns surrounding the Grand Harbour, and many enthusiasts practice their boating skills throughout the year. It is held twice annually, on the 31st of March and on the 21st of September.

It is a well-awaited event that happens in the Grand Harbour. The 31st of March is a national holiday in Malta, commemorating the withdrawal of the British troops and the Royal Navy from the islands. After the ceremonial activities held at the War Memorial in Floriana; in the afternoon, the traditional Regatta takes place.

The 8th September is known as Victory Day in Malta. It is a catch-all day because this particular public holiday has several roots, not one clear-cut raison d’etre for celebration: It marks the end of the Great Siege in 1565 and the end of French occupation on Malta in 1800, as well as the armistice of the Fascist regime in Italy in 1943 which saw the close of the Italian bombardment of the Islands.

The magnificent Fort St Angelo provides an imposing backdrop to the sleek and colourful Maltese boats. Band marches, water-carnival, boat races and display of colourful fireworks are the main features attracting large crowds to the capital city,Valletta, and the Grand Harbour.

Seven rowing clubs known as Regatta Clubs participate in the event. These include Birgu (Vittoriosa), Bormla (Cospicua), Isla (Senglea), Kalkara, Marsa, Marsamxett (Valletta), and in recent years the Birzebbuga Regatta Club also started competing as well. For weeks on end, the competitors prepare for the races with fanatic zeal and rivalry. In the afternoon of Regatta day thousands of people crowd the waterfront and the surrounding bastions and craft of every description converge to the Grand Harbour to watch the races.

The first three winners in each race are awarded prizes and the club with the highest overall points wins the Aggregate Shield. Each year the different Regatta clubs do their best to win the shield, which is strongly contested.

The Regatta is a great fun event and a source of great local pride. If you are in Malta on the 8th of September make sure you don’t miss attending!

Into the

Blue W

hether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, the 5 islands of Malta, Gozo, Comino, Comminotto and Filfla offer holiday-makers a diverse and captivating experience below the water. The warm, clear, blue Mediterranean surrounding the islands beckons divers down to discover many hidden delights most of which are world renowned and frequented by thousands every year form a very special diving site at the heart of the Mediterranean.

Safe tide-less waters offer year round accessibility with each season presenting its own special character and charm.

The Islands are honeycombed with their natural harbours, bays, sheltered creeks, cliffs, reefs and wrecks, for you to explore. With dive sites just a stone’s throw away from each other, you will be able to explore a variety of underwater worlds. Some of the 34 best-known dive sites range from labyrinthine caves to reefs and wartime wrecks.

The waters here are some of the most limpid and clear in the world.Visibility is excellent down to around 30 metres therefore Malta is considered to be a dream destination for underwater photography as well as diving as marine life flourishes in a vibrant display of colours.You are likely to come across groupers, gunards, octopi, red mullet, flying fish, corals, conger eels, and even the rare sea perch which has all but disappeared from the Mediterranean.

For more excitement, try a night dive or dive deeper to 30 or 40 metres. Colours appear almost fluorescent by torchlight. For the more experienced, these dives offer a unique adventure.

Marine life here is in abundance.You will often see schools of barracuda, bream, moray eels, flying gurnards, octopus, wrasse, sea hares, Spanish dancers, john dory, groupers, sting rays, nudibanches, cuttle fish, squid, tuna, amber jacks, sea horses and the occasional sea turtle and lots more.

Most Famous Dive Sites Considering the vast amount of beautiful sites for diving in Malta it is very difficult to pick the most famous one.

Amongst the top locations are the Azure Window, Blue Hole, Tugboat Rozi, HMS Maori and Regg Point reefs which are all treasured places in divers’ logbooks. However, the Um el Faroud wreck stands out as being the most spectacular wreck dive in the Mediterranean.

The Um el Faroud is more than 100 metres/330 feet long by 16 metres/53 feet and was built in England in 1969. In 1995, in dry dock in Malta, an onboard explosion killed nine dockyard workers. The tanker was subsequently scuttled in 1998 as a dive attraction.

Upright on the seabed, the bow and stern have been separated at the bridge. The propeller and rudder lie at about 33 metres/108 feet and create a favorite frame for dive buddies to take souvenir photos. Doors, windows and other dangers were removed prior to scuttling and holes have been cut for entry and exit. However, as is always the case in an overhead environment, no penetration should be attempted without suitable training, briefing and planning.

If you have the time and the air, you can also explore the ledges and caverns on the adjacent reef. However, the current, depth, navigation and some surface traffic make this dive more suitable Um El Faroud for experienced divers.

WHAT’s on MALTA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 02/11/2012

A NIGHT WITH ALAN BATES 17/11/2012

Resident conductor Michael Laus opens the MPO’s 2012 - 2013 season with internationally-acclaimed violinist and co-leader of the London Symphony Orchestra Carmine Lauri featuring one of Bruch’s most exciting and well known works. This attractive programme opens with Beethoven’s portrayal of the ancient Roman leader Gaius Marcius Coriolanus as he leads an army of his former enemies to Rome’s gates, leading to his fatality. Brahms’ first Symphony closes this evening in style, known for its distinctive orchestral textures, delicate musings and lush melodies. Programme Ludwig van Beethoven Coriolan, Overture Max Bruch Violin Concerto no 1 in G minor op 26 soloists: Carmine Lauri Johannes Brahms Symphony no 1 in C minor op 68 MALTA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA leader Marcelline Agius conductor MICHAEL LAUS

“Incredible”... “Amazing”... “Non stop laughter”.. “A night with a difference” ...that’s what people say after seeing Alan Bates’ hypnosis show. Alan is a Master of Hypnosis and has been performing internationally and on top TV shows with the likes of Graham Norton for over 20 years. He will be in Malta for an exclusive, not-to-be missed live comedy show at the newly refurbished City Theatre, Valletta on the 17th November at 8.00pm There are many skeptics out there…but many have been converted when they see a family member or friend up on stage becoming a “star” of the show! This is a fun-filled, two hour show which guarantees non-stop laughter but always skillfully performed by Alan who is known for ensuring that the “stars” of the show are not embarrassed in any way. For more information, and enquiries, please go to: www.facebook.com/ AlanBatesinMalta Tickets on sale at www. biljetti.com and following outlets: Carlos Intimo (Hamrun), Right Deal (Bormla and Iklin), Call Zone (Paola), Telezone (Qormi), I-Centre (Pieta’), 202 Jewellery (Valletta & Sliema), Hair Excellence (Mosta) Ticket Enquiries: 356 21808080

AFM MILITARY BAND DISPLAY AND CHANGING OF THE GUARD 30/11/2012 - 11:00 The New Guard together with the AFM military band will leave city gate at 1000hrs and should take place in the forecourt (St Georges Square) of the Presidential Palace in Valletta at around 1015am. Once there a formal ceremony in which sentries providing ceremonial guard duties at important institutions are relieved by a new batch of sentries.

After the changing of the guard, the AFM Military Band will perform a display of 45 minutes and the band will then head back to City Gate together with the old guard.

REPUBLIC DAY 13/12/2012 On the 13th December 1974 the Maltese Constitution was amended and Malta became a Republic, having Sir Anthony Mamo as its first President. Activities marking this historic date take place every year, mostly in Valletta.

THE CHRISTMAS CONCERTS 22/12/2012 - 23/12/2012

IMPROVISATIONS 29/01/2013

FEAST OF ST. PAUL’S SHIPWRECK 10/02/2013

For the first time ever, the renowned singers and musicians forming Animae Gospel Choir are going to perform well known Christmas Carols and lively Gospel Classics, during this most special season!

Renzo Spiteri and Thomas Agergaard - a percussionist from the Mediterranean and a Scandinavian Saxophonist; two creative artistes bonded by the desire to express themselves with music that is warm and hypnotic at times, haunting and fiery at others. All this happens through improvised exchanges and in the most captivating of manners!

The first of the year’s major feasts is celebrated in the Parish Church of St. Paul Shipwrecked in Valletta and in the streets of Malta’s capital city. It commemorates the shipwreck of the Apostle St Paul on the Maltese Islands, an event which took place in 60 AD and which is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The feast is also a National Public Holiday.

22nd Dec - Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Paceville 23rd Dec - Good Shepherd Chapel (Taċ-Ċawla), Victoria, Gozo.

VALLETTA INTERNATIONAL BAROQUE FESTIVAL 09/01/2013 - 26/01/2013 Centering around the Teatru Manoel, one of the oldest working theatres in Europe which also happens to be the only one in Europe that also fulfils the role of a National Theatre, the Festival will also extend to the magnificence of St John’s Co-Cathedral, the atmospheric Valletta churches, the splendid Grandmasters’ Palace, the auberges and other baroque edifices. The events will be mainly musical, however, the programme will also be touching on opera and theatre.

CARNIVAL IN MALTA & GOZO 08/02/2013 - 12/02/2013 The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts organise the official Carnival festivities that take place in Valletta from Friday until the following Tuesday. Some of the events are held inside an enclosure and may be attended against a nominal fee. On the last day, a big Carnival defile ends in the main street of Floriana with a fireworks display. Some of the events are held inside an enclosure close to Freedom Square in Valletta. The events held here may be attended against a nominal fee.

The village of Munxar in Gozo also celebrates this feast on the same day.

S PA PAC K AG E S Time to relax

Glowing limbs

• Relaxing back massage • One hour facial

• Le Grand Spa Manicure • Le Grand Spa Pedicure

Price: €85 pp Duration: 75 minutes

Price: €80 pp Duration: 180 minutes

Body boost… by one or by two

Journey to India

• Full body salt scrub • Swedish full body massage • Jacuzzi session in a private candle lit room

• Indian Head Massage • Hopi Ear Candle treatment

Price: €100 pp or €180 per couple Duration: 120 minutes

Neat hands and feet

Price: €70 pp Duration: 75 minutes

Durga Mata Massage • Four handed massage

• Classic manicure • Classic pedicure

Price: €80 pp Duration: 45 minutes

Price: €40 pp Duration: 60 minutes / 120 minutes

Le Grand Spa Indulgence • Basic full body massage • Basic facial • Choose from a classic manicure or a classic pedicure

Note:

All packages can be adapted for ladies and gents.

When booking any package at Le Grand Spa you will have free use of the spa facilities. Individual attention and professional services are always guaranteed.

Price: €100 pp Duration: 150 minutes

www.excelsior.com.mt

The Grand Hotel Excelsior offers a great opportunity to discover some of the highlights of Malta, with our Executive Chauffeur Driven Service.

Discover Malta A three hour tour designed to allow you to select from the following list and encompass 3 exciting destinations of your choice.

• Mdina & Rabat • Mosta Dome • Dingli Cliffs • Ta’ Qali (Craft Village) • Blue Grotto (Zurrieq) • Marsaxlokk (The Fishing village) • The Three Cities Price 2 to 4 persons € 95.00 Price 4 to 6 persons € 115.00 Terms and Conditions: Entrance fees to heritage sites and museums are not included

www.excelsior.com.mt