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PAGE02.pdf
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3600 BC
750 BC
The Temple Builders Die Tempelbauer Les constructeurs des temples I costruttori di Templi
218 BC The Romans Römer Les Romains I Romani
The Phoenicians Die Phönizier Les Phéniciens I Fenici
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MILESTONES MEILENSTEINE ÉTAPE IMPORTANTE PIETRA MILIARE
*
60 AD
870 AD
Christianity Christentum Le Christianisme Il Cristianesimo
1090 AD
The Arabs Die Araber Les Arabes Gli Arabi
The Norman Conquest Die normannische Eroberung La conquête normande La Conquista normanna
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1565 AD
1530 AD
1798 AD
The Great Siege Die Große Belagerung Le Grand Siège Il Grande Assedio
The Knights of St. John Die Johanniterritter Les Chevaliers de St. Jean I Cavalieri di San Giovanni
1800 AD
1974 AD
Republic Republik La république La Repubblica
* Image:Heritage Malta • Bild: Heritage Malta • Image:Heritage Malta • Foto:Heritage Malta
The French period Die französische Periode La période française Il periodo francese
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Arrival of the British Ankunft der Briten L’arrivée des anglais L’arrivo degli inglesi
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*
1940 AD
World War II Zweiter Weltkrieg La deuxième guerre mondiale La Seconda Guerra Mondiale
2004 AD
EU Accession EU-Mitgliedschaft L’accès à l’UE L’accesso all’UE
1964 AD
Independence Unabhängigkeit L’indépendance L’Indipendenza
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The Equinox and Solstice at Óa©ar Qim and Mnajdra Prehistoric Temples
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Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Temples are found along one of the most picturesque parts of Malta’s coastline, giving them a special charm not to be found in any other of the large-scale megalithic buildings of the Maltese Islands.
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Ħaġar Qim Temples consist of the remains of four buildings built during the Ġgantija phase (3600-3200BC). At Mnajdra Temples the oldest building is the small trefoil structure dating to around 3600-3200BC, whilst the Lower and Middle Temples were erected during the Tarxien phase (3200-2500BC). The Lower Temple at Mnajdra has a particular astronomical alignment. At the Equinox, on the 20th March and 22nd September, the rays of the rising sun pass directly through the main doorway, straight down the central axis, and reach the innermost, central apse.
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On the 21st June, during the Summer Solstice the first rays of sunlight light up the edge of a megalith found to the left of the central doorway connecting the first pair of chambers to the inner chambers. On the 21st December, at the Winter Solstice, the same effect can be seen on the corresponding megalith on the right hand side of this doorway.
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Although it is not known for certain whether these orientations were intentional, they are so systematic that this is very probable. In prehistoric agricultural societies, observation of the motion of the stars, the moon and sun could have been related to the changing seasons and times of planting and harvesting crops.
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At dawn on the 21st June, sunlight passes through a hole, known as the ‘oracle hole’ which opens onto a chamber on the northeast side of the structure. Here the sun’s rays project a disk of light onto a stone slab at the entrance to the apse. As the minutes pass the disk becomes a crescent, then elongates into an ellipse, then elongates still further and finally sinks out of sight as though into the ground.
Images: © Heritage Malta
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14 l 15
MTA Star Awards The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) STAR Awards are an important initiative through which the Authority is able to give public recognition to all those who work directly or indirectly in the tourism industry. The scheme has been running for the past ten years and various employees, ranging from food and beverage servers, taxi drivers, tourist guides, frontline managers and many others have been recognized for their excellent hospitality and service in the tourism industry. The process is completely tourist-driven and as an incentive for tourists to participate, the MTA offers a free holiday back to Malta to one lucky winner and his/her guest. There are various ways to nominate a deserving person, namely through a nomination form which can be collected from a tourism establishment, or online by visiting star.awards.visitmalta.com or by scanning the QR code through a smart phone. We encourage tourists to the Maltese Islands to nominate a person or persons who offered an excellent service and hospitality that helped make the stay a more enjoyable one. The persons for whom we receive the highest amount of valid nominations are then recognized at the prestigious annual event held in February of each year. We also encourage companies and the self employed to participate in this scheme with the aim of awarding more people working in this dynamic industry. C
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For more details please visit www.mta.com.mt/star-awards or contact Andre Arciola on andre.arciola@visitmalta.com
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LIVING IN MALTA & GOZO A PLACE IN THE SUN Malta and Gozo are becoming increasingly popular locations for the purchase or rental of second homes. Situated at the very heart of the Mediterranean Sea, with easy access from all major cities in Europe, North Africa and neighbouring states, the Islands have many advantages to offer, including the following:
WHY MALTA
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• An excellent climate with pleasant all year round weather. • Genuinely friendly and hospitable people who will make it easy to integrate within the local community. • Very low levels of crime which make Malta one of the safest places in the region. • A member of the European Union since 2004, Malta is an independent republic enjoying political stability. • English is one of the two official languages of the Islands and is spoken fluently by everyone. • The Island boasts a high standard of hospital and medical services, both private and public. • Excellent schooling, often exceeding international standards, with a choice of English-speaking schools and University. • A relatively low cost of living. • A stable property market offering a wide variety of properties in all price ranges, and good prospects for capital growth. These, together with an abundance of historical and cultural attractions, crystal clear seas, a variety of sporting facilities (including world class diving) and a lively calendar of events, make these Islands a favourite for those seeking their dream ‘Place in the Sun'. Moreover, the residency conditions are very attractive and include a favourable tax regime and the absence of Rates or Council taxes.
FLYING TIMES Malta – London 3.05hrs Malta – Frankfurt 2.35hrs Malta – Rome 1.15hrs
Malta – Amsterdam 3.05hrs Malta – Paris 2.35hrs Malta – Cairo 2.25hrs
PURCHASE OF PROPERTY BY NON-MALTESE BUYERS It is quite easy for a non-Maltese to purchase property in Malta and Gozo. Naturally, some conditions apply including certain restrictions regarding the minimum value of property that can be purchased and the use that the buyer will make of the property. Some buyers may also require a special permit.
MORE INFORMATION For further information and assistance, we recommend that you contact one of the excellent local Estate Agents who can offer professional guidance and advice to help you make the best choice.
If you are an expatriate living in Malta or Gozo...
you may regularly receive a link to the online version of this monthly magazine in your email. Simply e-mail us on: info@impactpr.com.mt
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MAL MAL TA&GOZO TA&GOZ 16 l 17
D A Y B Y D A Y
Besides the local village festas, there are others which are celebrated on a national scale. The most colourful and boisterous festa in Malta is the Mnarja; A typical Maltese folklore festival with plenty of music, folk dancing, feasting as well as horse and donkey races. The Imnarja (a corruption of the Italian luminara - illumination) is centuries old tradition and is referred to as a harvest festival which is celebrated on June 29th, the feast of St Peter and St Paul. It is characterised by a nightlong picnic at Buskett Gardens, Rabat, on the eve of the feast during which the native dish fenkata, stewed rabbit, is consumed in large quantities accompanied by equally large volumes of locally produced wine. Exhibits of local produce, marching bands, decorated carts and folklore singing competitions enliven the night-long proceedings.
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The traditional singing g˙ana is spontaneous songs of the Maltese peasantry sung by the village bards in which two peasants often carry on a conversation in rhyming quatrains chanting lampoons with speed and ease producing roars of laughter from the crowds, an evidence of native skill and humour. The singers, called g˙annejja, are accompanied by the trilling of guitars. The festivities last until the early hours of the morning.
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The following day in the afternoon, the festivities reach a climax with bare-back donkey and horse races, an event which traces its origin from the time of the Knights. The racecourse is a countryside road which stands at the bottom of Saqqajja Hill just outside Rabat. The prizes for the winners of these races are palji (special brocaded banners). At the winning post there is a large arched loggia built in 1696, in which years gone by the Grand Master used to watch the races attended by members of the Council of the Order. The liturgical services are held in the Mdina Cathedral and feast of St. Peter and St. Paul is also celebrated in Nadur, Gozo, this time in the usual festive manner that is normally held in towns and villages.
Image: Š IMPACT PR
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Fenkata
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Fenkati date back to the time of the knights, although back then, rabbit pies were the traditional way of eating rabbit. From then on the most important fenkata of the year took place in Buskett on the Imnarja, the eve of the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul on June 29th. Families would gather, cook rabbit, drink and make merry as they danced the night away in a midsummer folk feast. Stuffat Tal-Fenek or Maltese rabbit stew is a succulent slow cooked dish; the meat so tender it falls off the bone. Maltese families love to use the rich tomato sauce with pasta as a first course and serve the rabbit with vegetables as a main. Every country throughout the world is famous for some particular food or other. Rabbit stew is one of the many varieties of Maltese cuisine. The true Maltese way of eating rabbit is to serve the sauce with spaghetti as a first course and the rabbit joints with chips as a second one. The traditional Maltese stewed rabbit (fenkata) is often identified as the national dish. Many local restaurants which specialise in Maltese food serve rabbit as it is a most popular dish on the islands and it is not only tourists who like to savour it but also the locals, for whom any occasion is fitting to enjoy a fenkata.
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PAGE27.pdf
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