FIRST May 2023

ISSUE 342 MAY 2023

A CAPSULE OF THE WORLD

SUPERBLOOM

“It was good, really, that this external world still existed, if only as a place of refuge.”

Patrick Suskind

ROOM FOR BEST FRIENDS

“This scent had a freshness, but not the freshness of limes or pomegranates, not the freshness of myrrh or cinnamon bark or curly mint or birch or camphor or pine needles, not that of a May rain or a frosty wind or of well water... and at the same time it had warmth, but not as bergamot, cypress, or musk has, or jasmine or daffodils, not as rosewood has or iris... This scent was a blend of both, of evanescence and substance, not a blend, but a unity, although slight and frail as well, and yet solid and sustaining, like a piece of thin, shimmering silk... and yet again not like silk, but like pastry soaked in honey-sweet milk - and try as he would he couldn't fit those two together: milk and silk! This scent was inconceivable, indescribable, could not be categorized in any way –it really ought not to exist at all. And yet there it was as plain and splendid as day.”

PAGE: California Superbloom April 2023. Photography Mason Field. THIS PAGE: California Superbloom, Carrizo Plain, Santa Margarita. Photography Tim Mossholder.

“Odours have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odour cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it.”

Patrick Suskind

PATRICK SUSKIND, PERFUME

THIS IS WINE. Super Tuscans II: The Story of Masseto, the Petrus of Italy. Ornellaia vineyards in Bellaria. Photography courtesy Ornellaia.

LA DOLCE VITA. Magnificent Como. Inside the Passion Project of the De Santis Family – Passalacqua. View over the pool at Passalaqua and Lake Como. Photograph © Stefan Giftthaler.

[ISSUE 342. MAY 2023]

California wildflower superbloom. Photography Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via AP.

INTERIORS. Dive into Roberto Cavalli's Glamorous Interiors. Photography © Lorenzo Scaccini, courtesy Vendome Press.

TEA. Photography Anita Austvika.

CORONATION OF A KING. Britain’s Princess Elizabeth with Prince Charles, April 10, 1949. Photo AP Photo, File.

MELITENSIA. Splendour & Devotion. Les Teintures des Indes: Le Chasseur Indien, tapestry. PhotographyDaniel Cilia, courtesy Kite Group.

“O lovely scenes, again I see you, where in serenity I spent the calm and happy days of my earliest youth. Beloved places, I have found you...”

PASSALACQUA

Last June Passalacqua, one of Lake Como’s most spectacular private homes, opened its doors as a 24-suite retreat after three years of restoration. Standing above the village of Moltrasio, with 7 acres of terraced gardens, sweeping down to the lake’s shore, this magnificent 18th Century Villa is steeped in history, having played host to some of the world’s most brilliant minds in music, literature, art and politics from Napoleon Bonaparte to Winston Churchill, and Vincenzo Bellini, who made Villa Passalacqua his home in 1829, composing two of his most famous operas, Norma and Sonnambula. Photography courtesy Passalaqua.

Vincenzo Bellini, La Sonnambula

This page: The hotel, restaurant and gardens are open exclusively to guests – as is Passalaqua's bright orange Spiaggina, a cute vintage open-top Fiat 500 used to whisk guests around the property. Photograph © Ruben Ortiz.

Built on land originally owned by Pope Innocent XI, the Villa Passalacqua was built at the end of the 18th century by Count Andrea Lucini-Passalacqua, scion of one of Como’s leading noble families, who worked with leading Milanese architect Carlo Felice Soave and Swiss designer Giocondo Albertolli to bring his vision of making one of the largest villas on Lake Como come to life. In the years that followed, the villa became a gathering place for some of Italy’s most prominent figures.

A magnificent music room – today brought back to vibrant life – formed the centerpiece of Soave’s grand neoclassical edifice. It was put to good use under Andrea’s heir, Count Alessandro Lucini Passalacqua, a passionate music lover who was also a friend and patron to composer Vincenzo Bellini. Bellini made Villa Passalacqua his home in 1829, composing two of his most famous operas, Norma and Sonnambula. After 1890, on the death of Giovanni Battista heir to Count Alessandro, the villa would still host famous people, from the journalist Eugenio Torelli Viollier (founder of Corriere della Sera ) to Winston Churchill.

This page: A 5-metre chandelier by Barovier & Toso, a Venetian company established in the 17th century and renowned for its handblown Murano glass chandeliers, serves as a dramatic centrepiece in the Sala della Musica in the Bellini Suite in the Villa. Top photograph © Ruben Ortiz, bottom © Stefan Stefan Giftthaler.

After the last of the Lucini Passalacquas, Gian Pietro, died in 1914, Villa Passalaqua would change hands a few times, until finally, in 2018 a new chapter would begin when the villa was acquired by one of Italy’s leading hoteliers, the De Santis family, Lake Como natives andowners of the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

Passalacqua became a passion project for the De Santis family whose goal was to bring the villa and its sprawling grounds back to life with love, respect, and thoughtfulness recreating the unique timeless charm of ‘Vivere Italiano’. Every single aspect of the property’s interiors including the meticulous restoration of the frescoes, handblown glass chandeliers to mirrored secret mini bars, has been personally overseen and curated, with not one suite being the same.

Above: Sala delle Dame. Photograph © Stefan Giftthaler. Bellow left: Sala Ovale. Photograph © Stefan Giftthaler. Bottom right: La Double J lounge. Photograph © Ruben Ortiz.

This page: Pool area by La Double J. Photograph © Mariela Medina.

The 21st-century iteration of Passalacqua features 24 suites spread across three accommodation offerings – each with their own distinctive character and charm. The main historic residence, the Villa, features 12 sumptuous suites, which celebrate the grand Italian baroque style and original frescoes, including a doubleheight balustraded music room, where Bellini played the piano. The Palazz or ‘ancient stables’, comprises 8 suites as well as a spa, while down by the lake, the intimate Casa Al Lago is ideal for exclusive use, with four suites, each appointed with a private garden.

The De Santis family has worked tirelessly with local artisans and small, generations-old Italian companies to ensure that a sense of place, heritage and high-quality craftsmanship resonates throughout. For the lighting, the family sought the skills of Barovier & Toso, a Venetian company established in the 17th century and renowned for its handblown Murano glass chandeliers – standout pieces include a five-metre tall chandelier in the

Sala della Musica and a special installation comprising six chandeliers for the entrance of the main staircase. Metal artisans, Il Bronzetto from Florence handmade brass lamps, while Fortunycreated traditional silktiered lampshades within the Palazz. More than 20 different types of Italian marble were sourced from caves in Verona and Carrara to clad the bathrooms including the unique Breccia Pontificia also used in The Vatican, which looks more like art than stone. The impressive salons of the villa have been restored in the original Terrazzo Veneziano style using marble dating back to 1787. The bedroom floors have been laid with traditional Cotto Lombardo tiles or restored original wood. All mirrors have been individually made by Venetian glass specialists – Barbini, a small familyrun company dating back to 1927, that has also custom-made mirrored chests to reveal secret in-suite minibars. For the interiors the De Santis family has painstakingly trawled through local markets and auction houses to source antique furniture, precious prints and artworks and vintage carpets, to suit the character of each space.

Top left: Spa lounge room. Photograph © Ruben Ortiz. Top right: A lake view from one of the rooms in the Villa. Photograph © Enrico Costantini. Above left: A Junior Suite in the Villa. Photograph © Stefan Giftthaler. Above right: Inside one of the rooms in the Villa. For the interiors the De Santis family trawled through auction houses and local markets sourcing antiques and artworks to suit the character of each space. Photograph © Ruben Ortiz.

First laid out in the 18th century, the majestic gardens, which overlook Lake Como are simply extraordinary, full of centuries-old trees considered to be some of the most historic, beautiful and wellmaintained in all of Italy, with private hideaways and more than 15 enchanting water fountains. Descending on a series of terraces the gardens are an extension of the Villa, a series of ‘green rooms’ designed, in the great tradition of the Italian country house, beginning with the Italian Gardens located at the highest point of the estate with the vantage point of spectacular lake views.The kitchen garden co-exists with a bocce court and an ancient pergolatrained vine of sweet table grapes, and guests are invited to collect freshly laid eggs from the chicken shed and forage for fruit – cherries, apricots, kiwis, dependent on the season in the fruit garden.

Passalaqua can be reached both by Lake Como and from the Moltrasio road. Arriving by car, the bell tower of the medieval church of Sant’Agata and the majestic building emerge after an avenue of cypresses.From the waterfront and Passalacqua’s private dock, a cobbled path leads up to the villa through the ascending garden terracesunder the shade of majestic centuries-old cedars of Lebanon, with wafts of jasmine in the air–“All gardening is landscape painting,“said English poet Alexander Pope, and here, you become part of the painting.

Rates at Passalacqua start from €1500 per night on a B&B basis, excluding taxes. By air – 45 minutes drive from Milan Malpensa International Airport. By train – 40 minutes from Milan Centrale or Milano Central Station to Como San Giovanni Station Lake Como. By boat -15-minute boat ride from Moltrasio to Como.

Above: Surrounding Passalaqua, the majestic gardens, which overlook Lake Como are simply extraordinary, full of centuries-old trees considered to be some of the most historic, beautiful and well-maintained in all of Italy. Photograph © Giacomo Albo. Left: Inside a Grand Junior Suite in the Villa, crowned by elaborately stuccoed ceilings and illuminated by magnificent Murano chandeliers. Custom-made mirrored chests reveal secret in-suite minibars. Photograph © Enrico Costantini.

“La Stamperia – the printing house – is my kingdom … La Stamperia is the place where I get my hands dirty with colours… where the anonymous fabrics are embellished by my colourful prints… where we create your dreams with colours.”

Roberto Cavalli

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE OF HOME DECOR WITH THE UNASHAMEDLY GLAMOROUS FUSION OF FASHION AND INTERIORS FROM LUXURY ITALIAN BRAND ROBERTO CAVALLI.

CASA CAVALLI HOME

Take a deep dive into the exciting and glamorous world of Roberto Cavalli homewares and interiors with CASA CAVALLI HOME.From the innovative Florentine brand that has dazzled the world with red carpet and runway sensations, this new ravishing volume by Vendome Press celebrates the company’s home line ten years after its initial launch at Milan’s renowned furniture fair, the Salone del Mobile, in 2012. CASA CAVALLI HOME celebrates a wilder side of home decor, embodying the idea that our homes can be our most personal connection with the natural world, with designs that embrace the company’s pioneering use of animal prints, sensuous textures, and vivid colors. Each piece, from Florentine leatherworks to Murano glass creations, is handmade by experienced Italian artisans – with an attention to detail and dedication to craftsmanship that has earned them the coveted “Made in Italy” merchandise mark. Mixing audacious glamour with urban chic, and organized by their signature themes, this stunning volume is a celebration of Cavalli’s iconic, inimitable style, and the luxurious magic that can happen when home interiors meet couture. Photography Roberto Cavalli S.p.A., courtesy Vendome Press.

Over the past fifty years, Roberto Cavalli has become a global fashion and lifestyle powerhouse, with signature designs that have dressed celebrities and the jet-set the world over. In 2012, the company expanded its luxurious sensibility to interiors, launching Roberto Cavalli Home –the dedication to beauty and unapologetic sensuality for which the company has always been known. Under the new creative director Fausto Puglisi, who joined in 2020, the company has introduced new limited-edition pieces alongside their iconic tableware, tiles, furniture, linens, and wallpaper. Whether gold-encrusted or leopard-spotted, Cavalli has become a lifestyle- one that is instantly recognizable, thanks to the brand’s commitment to unrivaled quality and gorgeous prints. The story of how this came to be began in Florence, with Roberto Cavalli himself, the “Artist of Fashion”.

Though born to a family of tailors in Florence, Roberto Cavalli initially followed his grandfather Giuseppe Rossi into painting. Rossi’s early impressionistic canvases can be seen in the Uffizi Gallery, and his use of a light and dark patchwork to create scenes was of enormous influence on the young Cavalli. But it was textile design that became the catalyst for his transformation from artist to fashion designer. Initially, Cavalli started painting flowers on knits, which caught the eye of several producers. Following early successes, he continued to innovate, patenting a new method of leather intarsio–a patchwork technique similar to marquetry– created with dyed and printed leather, which appeared in Cavalli’s first fashion show at the Paris Salon du Prêtà-Porter in 1970.

When Roberto Cavallibegan designing, it was nature that relentlessly took his breath away. He began to see flora and fauna as the subjects of an almost divine designer: as he famously revealed to Vogue in 2011, “God is really the best designer, so I started to copy God.”

By continuing to create new patterns– especially animal prints, jungle scenes, and other designs inspired by Cavalli’s own photographs taken on safari and books on the natural world– and printing them on everything from silk to leather and denim, Roberto Cavalli has remained an innovative industry leader. Today, the Roberto Cavalli fashion house boasts a rich and storied archive of fabric prints, many of which were hand-painted by Roberto himself. With every new collection, these designs still inform each individual piece.

Emily Paula’s Home Masterpiece

“This armchair was the first thing that I found for this house and Humphrey here was the last. I loved the idea of a four-poster bed and panelling for the bedroom which I then paired with this perfect shade of paint. I love the result!

Emily Paula

The process of translating elements of the fashion line into furniture, interiors, and objets d’art is realized with Cavalli’s talented team in collaboration with artisans from across Italy. Through these partnerships with skilled craftsmen and women who have an inherited knowledge passed down through generations, Roberto Cavalli produces sumptuous, exquisite pieces that uphold the tenets of their “Made in Italy” certification.

At Cavalli’s Tuscan glassworks, traditional techniques are used to hand-make crystal champagne flutes with gold engraving, while milky-white porcelain is detailed with animalier prints and floral motifs. Along Lake Como, the skilled hands of world-renowned weavers create stunning linens and tailored cloth robes, while in nearby Brianza exquisitely hewn chairs are sculpted and upholstered. This localized artisanship is what “Made in Italy” signifies, and the talented touch of Roberto Cavalli’s production team, from the creation of porcelain tiles with wild spirit to spotted wallpapers studded with jewels, has the power to transform any room into a manifestation of glamourous elegance.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS. ROBERTO CAVALLI is a high-end luxury Italian brand renowned around the world for its iconic animal prints, patterns, and textures. Launched as a fashion label in 1970 by Roberto Cavalli, the lifestyle brand has since become synonymous with glamorous urban chic, expanding to include furniture and interior design accessories with the launch of Roberto Cavalli Home in 2012.

Award-winning designer to the stars FAUSTO PUGLISI took the helm as creative director at Roberto Cavalli in 2020. Having launched his eponymous fashion label in 2010, finding success under the wing of Dolce & Gabbana via their retail project Spiga 2, the Sicilian-born designer became creative director of Emanuel Ungaro in 2012, before taking the reins at Cavalli. His celebrity clients famously include Madonna, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyoncé, among others. He lives in Milan.

CASA CAVALLI HOME by Cavalli Home.Epilogue by Fausto Puglisi.

Published by Vendome Press. Hardcover with cloth case – EACH COPY IS BOUND IN ONE OF FOUR CAVALLI HOME FABRICS.304pages, 250 colour illustrations.

With Fausto Puglisi at the reins, new pieces are being created through the filter of fifty years of history, reinterpreting many of the company’s classic animal prints with designs that have added a new spirit to Roberto Cavalli Home. And, as the company looks to the future, this iconic design empire with the power to animate any interior is now setting its sights on leading the field for the next fifty years – and beyond.

Image credits: all images are copyright © Roberto Cavalli S.p.A, except: page 16, 17, 18 top, 23 top and bottom right, 24 left (main) © Lorenzo Scaccini; page 18 bottom, 23 left, 24 right © Max Zambelli.

Sunday 28th May 9am to 5pm

KING CHARLES III

THE CORONATION OF A KING

The coronation of Charles and Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, took place on 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey. Charles became king immediately upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, on Thursday 8 September 2022. The Coronation ceremony was centred around an Anglican service of Holy Communion and included Charles taking an oath, being anointed with holy oil, and receiving the coronation regalia, emphasising his spiritual role and secular responsibilities. Charles was crowned with St. Edward’s crown, his mother wore the same crown at her coronation in 1953. The crowning moment of King Charles III’s coronation ceremony occured, literally, when the Archbishop of Canterbury placed St. Edward’s Crown on King Charles’ head. Because of its significance as the centerpiece of the coronation, this is the only time during his reign that the monarch would wear the solid gold crown, which features a purple velvet cap, ermine band and criss-crossed arches topped by a cross.

This page: This page: King Charles III is crowned with the St Edward’s Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, during the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey this May. Photography Victoria Jones/Pool via AP.

“Stand firm, and hold fast from henceforth this seat of royal dignity, which is yours by the authority of Almighty God. May that same God, whose throne endures forever, establish your throne in righteousness, that it may stand fast for evermore.”

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, placing the crown on King Charles’ head

LOOKING BACK: QUEEN ELIZABETH II SEVENTY

YEARS AGO

Queen Elizabeth II (b.1926) on her Coronation Day, June 1953. She holds the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross and Orb. She is wearing an embroidered and beaded dress by Norman Hartnell (1901-1979), a crimson velvet mantle edged with ermine fur, the Coronation ring, the Coronation necklace and the Imperial State Crown. She poses against a backdrop depicting the interior of Westminster Abbey. In 1953, London was still recovering from World War II. The city was pockmarked with bomb damage, food supplies were tight, but the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II helped lift the gloom.

Photography this page Cecil Beaton (1904-80), source Wikipedia.

CORONATION PORTRAITS

HIS MAJESTY THE KING

last year. Breaking from tradition, Charles’s coronation vestments were largely reused from previous coronations instead of being newly made, and while it is customary for the supertunica and robe royal to be reused, Charles also wore vestments first used by George IV, George V, George VI, and Elizabeth II.

The official portraits from The Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla were taken by Hugo Burnand in the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace following the Coronation Service. King Charles III is pictured in full regalia in the Throne Room, and is wearing the Robe of Estate, the Imperial State Crown and is holding the Sovereign’s Orb and Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross. He is seated on one of a pair of 1902 throne chairs that were made for the future King George V and Queen Mary for use at the Coronation of King Edward VII. These throne chairs were also used in the background of the 1937 Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Hall to receive addresses from the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament

Photography this page and facing: Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023 via AP.

“We now rededicate our lives to serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and Commonwealth.” King Charles III

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

Similar to Charles, Camilla reused vestments, including Elizabeth II’s robe of state, but also wore a new robe of estate featuring her cypher, bees, a beetle, and various plants and flowers. She also wore a new coronation gown, created by Bruce Oldfield and embroidered with wildflowers, the United Kingdom’s floral emblems, her cypher, a pair of dogs, and her grandchildren’s names. Camilla was annointed and crowned in a shorter and simpler ceremony after Charles’ crowning. She was crowned with Queen Mary’s crown, the first time an existing crown was used for the queen consort’s coronation. “May thy servant Camilla, who wears this crown, be filled by thine abundant grace and with all princely virtues; reign in her heart, O King of love, that, being certain of thy protection, she may be crowned with thy gracious favour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen,” said the Archbishop of Canterbury as he placed the crown on Camilla’s head.

Queen Camilla in The Green Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace. The Queen is wearing Queen Mary’s Crown and Robe of Estate.

ANNOINTING WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Westminster Abbey has been used as Britain’s coronation church since William the Conqueror in 1066, with the exception of Kings Edward V and Edward VIII, who were not crowned. King Charles III became the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned there. The Ampulla and Coronation Spoon (also used at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953) play a central role in the anointing at the coronation. For the anointing Charles removed his robe of state and was seated on the Coronation Chair. He then was anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury, using the Ampulla and Medieval Coronation spoon (the latter being the oldest part of the coronation regalia). The anointing emphasises the spiritual role of the sovereign, and in it the Archbishop of Canterbury rubs oil onto the King’s hands, breast and head. It was a private part of the service, and as in 1953 it was not televised, and Charles was concealed by a screen. During this the choir sang the anthem Zadok the Priest.

Top: Inside Westminster Abbey. Photography Dan Kitwood/Pool Photo via AP. Bottom: Matt Dunham, Pool, File Photo AP.

MELITA Gold MALTA

This issue is available in four denominations; 1oz-€100, 1/2oz-€50, 1/4oz-€25 and 1/10oz-€10.

Melita coins are legal tender and classed as investment gold, and their price is based primarily on the spot price of gold on the international markets. These bullion coins are exempt from any Value Added Tax.

Each coin is set in an individually numbered sealed card that certifies the coin within.

STATE PROCESSION

WESTMINSTER ABBEY TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE

At the end of the coronation service King Charles changed into the Imperial State Crown, and then he and Camilla proceeded to the west door of Westminster Abbey as the national anthem, “God Save the King”, was sung. For the procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, The Coronation Procession, the King and Queen were carried in the Gold State Coach, drawn by eight Windsor Grey horses, with other members of the royal family in other vehicles. The armed forces of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and the British Overseas Territories played a significant part and over 5,000 members of the British Armed Forces and 400 Armed Forces personnel from at least 35 other Commonwealth countries were part of the two processions, while 1,000 lined the route. The Sovereign’s Bodyguard, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Royal Watermen also took part in the procession, and the Royal British Legion formed a Guard of Honour of 100 Standard Bearers in Parliament Square. The Princess Royal and the Commander of the Household Cavalry served as the Gold Stick-in-Waiting and Silver Stick-in-Waiting, respectively.

This page: King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the Gold State Coach, pulled by eight Windsor Greys, in the Coronation Procession, returning along Whitehall to Buckingham Palace following their coronation ceremony. Photography Danny Lawson, Pool via AP.

THE CORONATION QUICHE

Following the Coronation “Coronation Big Lunch” street parties (more than 3000) were held across Britain. Coronation quiche was chosen by Charles and Camilla as the official dish of the Coronation Big Lunch, a deep quiche with a spinach, broad beans and fresh tarragon, which can be eaten hot or cold. Photography Hanna Balan.

FOR PASTRY

125g plain flour, pinch of salt, 25g cold butter, diced 25g lard, 2 tablespoons milk or 1 x 250g block of ready-made shortcrust pastry

FOR FILLING

125ml milk, 175ml dairy whipping cream or double cream, 2 medium eggs, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon, salt and pepper, 100g grated cheddar cheese, 180g cooked spinach, lightly chopped 60g cooked broad beans

FOR BAKING

a 20cm tin

1. PASTRY. Sieve flour and salt into a bowl; add butter and lard, rub mixture with fingertips to a sandy texture. Add milk slowly –as needed – to bring ingredients together to a dough. Cover and refrigerate, allow to rest 30-45 min.

2. Flour work surface lightly, roll pastry to a circle slightly larger than tin diameter and about 5mm thick. Line tin with pastry – seal any holes in pastry to prevent leaking. Cover and refrigerate, allow to rest 30 min.

3. Preheat oven to 190°C. Line pastry with greaseproof paper, add baking beans and bake blind for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and remove greaseproof paper and baking beans. Reduce oven to 160°C.

4. FILLING. Beat milk, cream, eggs, herbs and seasoning. Scatter 1/2 grated cheese onto pastry base, top with chopped spinach, beans and herbs. Pour over liquid mixture. Sprinkle remaining cheese. Bake until set and golden, about 20-25 minutes.

TASTE THE QUALITY

This page: Alof de Wignacourt with a Page, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), oil on canvas, 194 x 134cm, 1608,Musée du Louvre, Paris. Courtesy of the Musée du Louvre, Paris, Photography Daniel Cilia Facing page: A Knight in Armour, Domenico Tintoretto (1560–1635), oil on canvas, 75 x 63.5cm, MUŻA, Valletta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta, Photography: Daniel Cilia.

THE ART COLLECTIONS OF THE ORDER OF ST JOHN

Splendour & Devotion

The rich history of the Order of St John is often told through descriptions of important battles and heroic deeds. The loss of Rhodes, the granting of Malta to the Knights by Charles V, and the Great Siege, are perhaps the most significant markers in the history of the Order in the early modern period. It is therefore exciting to discover an alternative approach to the history of the Order through the lens of art appreciation, collecting, and display. Splendour & Devotion: The Art Collections of the Order of St John, by Dr Theresa Vella is the most recent title published by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti and Kite Group. The lavishly produced coffee table book, which includes photographs by Daniel Cilia, draws the reader into what it was about the Knights’ experience that was distinctive and specific to them, while also placing them in the larger framework of European elite culture. Elegantly written and thoughtfully conceived, this lavish production is grounded in scholarly research but accessible to a wide readership. To read it is to enter a fascinating world. Photography Daniel Cilia, courtesy Kite Group.

What makes Hospitaller art collecting interesting? Theresa Vellasets out to answer the questionby showing how art collections which were built up and subsequently dispersed during the lifetime of individual knights of

St John, present an uncommon perspective in the history of art collecting in early modern Europe. Knighthood meant adherence to rules and regulations which were founded on the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Despite these determining principles, art patronage and collecting were also considered the norm within the life of the young noblemen who took those vows.

Above: Les Teintures des Indes: Le Chasseur Indien, The Gobelins Manufactory after drawings by Frans Post (1612–1680) and Albert Eckhout (c.1610–1665), tapestry, 470 x 359cm, 1708, Palace of the Grand Master, Valletta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta, Photography: Daniel Cilia.

Top: St Jerome, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571- 1610), oil on canvas, 117 x 157cm, 1608, St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta. Courtesy of St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, Photography: Daniel Cilia.

Above: The Baptism of Christ, Matteo Perez d’Aleccio (1547 - before 1616), oil on canvas, 390 x 280cm, 1576-1581, St John’s CoCathedral, Valletta. Courtesy of St John’s CoCathedral Foundation, Photography: Daniel Cilia. Right: The Risen Christ, Guido Reni (1575– 1642), oil on canvas, 260 x 169cm, c.1620, MUŻA, Valletta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta, Photography: Daniel Cilia.

The statutory rules of the Order of St John did cause tensions in the acquisition and disposal of works of art, rendering art collecting as much a communal matter as a private one. Yet, Hospitaller knight collectors succeeded in accumulating magnificent collections within the parameters established by the Order’s regulations. Hospitaller art collections offered a highly visible means of communicating a multifaceted and nuanced statement of masculinity through the competing rivalries of magnificence reflecting on the collector’s erudition and connoisseurship.

According to Vellahospitaller collections were unique in that they were knowingly ephemeral and, as necessitated by their vow of chastity and poverty, bound to be dispersed upon a knight’s death. This is in contrast to those belonging to secular collectors, whose collections could plausibly be kept intact by heirs, thereby lasting long after the collector’s death. Only the magistral collection remained intact and cumulative and was enjoyed (but not owned) by successive Grand Masters who resided in the magistral palace.

Conversely, the dispersal of Hospitaller collections is also extraordinary for the efficiency of its execution and the resultant geographic spread by which Hospitaller works of art came to inhabit other collections. The movement of works of art of the knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes, and Malta, reflects a geographical model which mirrors the travels of these Hospitaller knights to and from the Order’s headquarters in Malta, or returning to the Continent to head a commandery or priorate. In fact, paintings that once formed part of Hospitaller collections have continued to hold interest for art collectors and museums in the Western world up to the present day.

Dr Tatiana String in the foreword to this book maintains that Theresa Vella’s book elegantly

1652), oil on canvas, 152 x 206cm, c.1650, Palace of the Grand Master, Valletta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta, Photography: Daniel Cilia. Left: Cain and Abel, Attr. Giuseppe Vermiglio (c.1585–c.1635), oil

canvas, 199 x 163.5cm, first half of the 17th cent., MUŻA, Valletta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta, Photography: Daniel Cilia

situates the collections and collecting practices of the Knights of Malta in the wider European context, while identifying the ways in which the Order’s priorities and tastes were distinctive. She concludes that Splendour & Devotion: The Art Collections of the Order of St John “is an elegantly written and thoughtfully conceived analysis, grounded in scholarly research but accessible to a wide readership. To read it is to enter a fascinating world.”

Splendour & Devotion: The Art Collections of the Order of St John, by Theresa Vella with photography by Daniel Cilia. Produced by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. Published by Kite Group. 304 pages. Signed copies are available from www.kitegroup.com.mt, or leading bookstores.

Above: The corridor trompe l’oiel ceiling painting, Nicolò Nasoni (1691–1773), oil on canvas, Palace of the Grand Master, Valletta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta, Photography: Daniel Cilia. Far left: Jacob’s Dream, Jusepe Ribera (1591–

on

The sixteenth chapter in This is wine: its storied place and taste.

SUPER TUSCANS –TUSCANY –ITALY

SUPER TUSCANS II: THE STORY OF MASSETO, THE PETRUS OF ITALY

“Above, around, and below; sea. Without it, Masseto would not exist.” Masseto

“Fruit of the earth, work of human hands, blessed be God forever”

This page: The natural park of Maremma, also known as Uccellina Park, from the limestone rocks descending steeply to the sea, covers a coastal area of about 10,000 hectares. Both the Tyrrhenian Sea and the tracts of coastal forest and mountainous land have an essential and beneficial effect on the climate and terroir of Bolgheri (that lies in between), famous for being the birthplace of the Super Tuscan wines. Photography Martin-Zangerl.

n April of this year a new record was set at Sotheby’s when a nine-litre Nebuchadnezzar bottle of Masseto 2010, direct from the cellars of the winery, sold for around 60,000 dollars, pricing it within the same range of a good vintage of Petrus; which in itself is the highest priced Bordeaux wine. A crowning achievement for a winery and a wine relatively young in the history of winemaking (their maiden vintage was 1986); made like Petrus entirely of the most generic of grapes, Merlot, and grown in a region, Bolgheri, which, while not totally unfamiliar to Italian aficionados was more or less unknown to the wider wine-drinking world until recently, and very far from the Bordeaux and Burgundy celebrity status so enshrined in collectors’ minds, writes Kris Bonavita.

Over and above its international acclaim this also further establishes Masseto as one of the most highly appraised wines coming from Italy and, while most other famous Italian labels are centred around the Piemonte region of Barolo with the somewhat more intellectual or sophisticated Nebbiolo grape (Conterno, Rinaldi and Gaja come to mind); Masseto has the humble origins of being, for all intents and purposes, legally just a table wine with the IGT status of being born in Tuscany.

Tuscany of course has the unique privilege of being famous for its stunning medieval landscapes and bejewelled Renaissance cities and within that setting Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino take pride of place as being hugely enjoyable on an international level. Within this conservative setting, it would take a lot of gumption and uphill regulatory legal manoeuvres to refuse the comfortable status quo of established wine producers and turn to non-native grapes and French-style winemaking methods and blends to produce wines beyond the fiercely traditional milieu. This almost maverick philosophy led to the birth of the affectionately coined Super Tuscans as wines breaking the norms, but put together purely on the principle of intuition and technical expertise, to get the best expression of a land based on the choice of which variety to grow where, and blending or not blending accordingly. Hence the rise of Tignanello, Sassicaia, Solaia and Ornellaia in order of conception as some of the wines which now command healthy prices and get international critic ratings and popular acclaim to vie with Bordeaux first growths and Burgundy top grand crus.

Following this pattern Masseto has its own fairy tale origin in the early 80s when, against the common knowledge of the time, and far from the bustling wine centres of Chianti’s Siena and Brunello’s Montalcino, an abandoned quarry tract of slopes rich in blue clay, a stones throw from the Tyrrhenian sea, blessed by cool summer breezes and bright sun sea reflection and likewise milder balmier winters; was entirely planted with the commonest of grapes Merlot to produce a wine of such elegant and silky expression and depth of power and tannic structure that Masseto is now known as the Petrus of Italy, such is its commanding stature as one of the most beautifully opulent wines in the world.

With the help of the Russian American oenologist André Tchelistcheff, Lodovico Antinori, a member of one of the largest land-owning wine-making families and inspired by the success of his cousin’s table wine Sassicaia, established the Ornellaia winery next door (with land inherited from his mother). The intention was of creating a Bordeaux style blend and all went to plan, except a tract of newly acquired almost

rock-hard land with heavy boulder-like clay did not fit with the general character of the style Ornellaia was to mimic, and thus Masseto (masso is rock in Italian) was born from the order of rejection as a single variety wine in contrast to the blend style more favoured by other Super Tuscan go-to names.

Merlot of course can be hugely enjoyable as simple table wine with generous flavours and a smooth palette loved the world over in its humble form, but on the right soils and with the right expertise the grape can rise from its more basic profile to a wine of huge complexity and broad-shouldered structure and strength with good cellaring potential and maturing levels of layered finesse over above its general advantage of requiring less aging than Cabernet-based wines.

For the tech curious: Masseto yields are relatively low at around 30/35 thousand bottles produced a year from circa seven hectares of land (Petrus comes in at 30 thousand from around 11 hectares). The vines are planted in three plots divided according to their specific terroir of unique soils and elevations but for the most part grown on ancient (Pliocene) seabed clays rich in minerals and calcium-giving fossils. The highest plot, Alto, comprises of clay, sand and pebbles; the central part of the hill, Centrale, has the richest concentration of blue clay and is what gives Masseto its distinct strength and power; while Junior, forming the lowest part of the holdings, is made of clays, pebbles and sands.

The coastal nature of the site and surrounding forests help in creating a unique micro-climate to Bolgheri and its vineyards. The difficulty in growing vines and healthy grapes in these soils cannot be underestimated and require extreme expertise coupled by serious precision work in the vinification process and blending stage. Harvesting itself takes about a month and grapes from each plot are vinified and barrelled in new oak for one year separately, before being selected for blending and barrelled for a further two years prior to bottling. The FrenchGerman winemaker Axel Heinz, who until recently was at the forefront of this endeavour, is sort of a celebrity in his own right.

Wine critic scores are high even in difficult years, I’ve never come across bad reviews except for ones where more aging was required before opening (ideally a minimum of five to ten years); in fact, every vintage of Masseto is stellar. In general, the recent 2015, 2016 and 2019 are the most acclaimed, while older vintages such as 1998, 2008, 2010, 2013 command higher prices dictated by limited availability. Masseto often features in the top ten Winesearcher most investible and sought-after wines. The winery is now owned and managed by the Frescobaldi Family Group.

Ornellaia

Bolgheri

Ornellaia has been around since the early eighties and is now under the prestigious Frescobaldi Family Group which also owns Masseto. Next door neighbours to Sassicaia, their vineyards extend in two holdings between Bolgheri and the Tyrrhenian coast. Some of the soils are fossilrich ancient seabed sands and marls, with clays and limestone pebbles becoming the norm in the higher altitude hills.

Ornellaia 2019 opens up with a bouquet of black forest berries and cherries, rhubarb, and some fig. The attack is dark plums and black cherries with creamy elegant textures throughout intertwined with undergrowth, vanilla, cinnamon and anise ending in a treacle and wet stone finish. There is a levitating lightness coupled by a medium-bodied high

Superiore 2019

intensity at the heart of this wine with equal measures of energy and finesse. The balance is astounding with wonderful volume and pitch and yet there is a slow unravelling of depth and reticent richness to match the poise. Day two and three of drinking: newfound layers of fruit, a secondary profile of red geraniums, tobacco leaf, sage, juniper, rosemary, cedar, white game, fennel, coffee, chocolate, nutmeg, molasses and burnt caramel being the most pronounced. Incredible complexity and yet the same outstanding finesse, the wine is viscerally or texturally almost transparent and yet sports the same huge soft power, to use a Byzantine phrase close to touching the purple in its perfection. Cheers to the winemaker Olga Fusari.

2019 is a fantastic year in Tuscany with across-the-board high wine critic scores to vie

with 2016, my only caution is to hold off from drinking your best wines to not lose out on their careering richness. The vintage is characterised by climatic extremes with alternate periods of cold and rain broken by long bouts of drought and heat resulting in both a ripeness and freshness that is a signature of the year.

This blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc.

Supplier details: Charles Grech has a vast selection of Italian and French wines. In the Ornellaia portfolio there is also Le Serre Nuove, Le Volte and Ornellaia Bianco.

Charles Grech, Palazzo Ca’ Brugnera, Valley Road, B’Kara. Tel: 00356 2144 4400 (Sliema 00356 2132 3731, Ibragg 00356 2137 8609, Ta’ Xbiex Seafront 00356 2131 5064). Web charlesgrech.com

2137 8609,

Above: Canopy management in May at Ornellaia. Photography courtesy Ornellaia.

Supplier details: Charles Grech has a vast selection of Italian and French wines. In the Ornellaia portfolio there is also Le Serre Nuove, Le Volte and Ornellaia Bianco. Charles Grech, Palazzo Ca’ Brugnera, Valley Road, B’Kara. Tel: 00356 2144 4400 (Sliema 00356 2132 3731, Ibragg 00356

Ta’ Xbiex Seafront 00356 2131 5064). Web charlesgrech.com

€218.18, exclusively represented by Charles Grech Ltd

Gaja Camarcanda Bolgheri 2017

€199, exclusively represented by Mirachem

The eponymously named grand vin Camarcanda is a Bdx style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc grown on the top edge of their estate just at the foothills of the Bolgheri ridge. Angelo Gaja of Piemonte fame was one of the first to see the full potential of Bolgheri as a fine wine-making region when he established a foothold in the DOC of 80 hectares in vineyards in the 90s with the same fabled philosophy and fine winemaking skills.

Camarcanda 2017 is walnuts, fig, garrigue

herbs; thyme and rosemary; on the nose with an entry of red cherries both wild and sweet, liquorice, wrapped in a secondary sweep of tobacco, leather, all ending in a sleek schist and red flowers, rose and sandalwood finish. Upon breathing robust bramble berries, fennel, carob tree syrup, deep spice, wood bark, orchard leaves and dry earth all make their mark with a touch of candied peel and mint for good measure.

The essence of this wine is Gaja to the core, you get a Burgundian feel to its ersatz of bright and fresh primaries matched perfectly by

minerals and woods to give this both an austerity and finesse very different from what one would expect from a Bordeaux-inspired blend.

But equally with time, the silky tannins unfold to show a more decadent side to this wine than initially imagined. Concentrated yet buoyant, a silky palate throughout with lighthanded aromatics untypical of the usual 2017s boisterously fruit forward tannic fare with enough gravel, flowers, crystalline fruit from the limestone, sandy aromatics and clayish textures for precision and elegance.

Supplier details: Mirachem has a vast selection of Italian and French wines. In the Gaja Camarcanda portfolio there is also Magari, Promis and Vistamare (Bianco). Mirachem, Mira Building, Triq Kan K Pirotta, B’Kara. Tel 00356 2148 8590. Web wine.mt

Above: The Camarcanda vineyard is one of the stoniest sites of the Ca’Marcanda estate, 100% terre bianche. Photograhy courtesy Ca’Marcanda.

Macchiole Messorio 2015

Messorio (meaning harvest) is boldly and unapologetically 100 percent Merlot grown on two carefully selected plots (Puntone and Vignone) from the diverse holdings of Le Macchiole featuring clayey alluvial soils. In a true Super Tuscan buccaneer spirit, the cuvee was created with the judicious ambition of taking a popular grape variety and producing something more akin to the famous heavyweights.

Le Macchiole is one of the more historical wineries in Bolgheri founded in the early 80s and was at the forefront of discovering the region’s potential due to its ideal location on the Tuscan coast and varied and rich geology (27

soil types have been identified within the appellation). The Mediterranean Sea has a beneficial effect on the Bolgheri terroir in contrast to the hinterland with milder summers, cool night sea breezes and likewise more balmy winters with good sun sea reflection.

Le Macchiole Messorio 2015 is pressed violets, olive grove, dark stoned fruit, liquorice on the nose. Tertiary and secondary aromas and flavours abound in the entry of fig, walnut, plum and Amarone cherries with a mid-palate plush core of silky textures ending in a treacly molasses, astringent grenadine syrup and tar finish.

With a good few hours, a cream pastry

torrefaction of date, praline, desert spices, clove; cardamon and juniper; beef suet, browning sauce, chicory, coffee and dark chocolate all melded together like some Victorian Christmas pudding. There are layers of leathery fruit, animal scents, hide and delicious malt barnyard fodder adding an intensity with length and breadth worthy of the big tannin Goldilocks vintage of 2015. You get all the plush comfort of Merlot grown on clay, but more arrestingly, the broad-shouldered deep and brooding savoury aromatics are due to the Bolgheri gravels, calcareous rocks, and ancient alluvium. One big wine with a still waters run deep ethos at the beginning of its splendid aging trajectory.

Above: Le Macchiole’s history is entirely linked to its vineyards. The winery only works with grapes, which come from vineyards that have been scrupulously selected over the years, now totally 86 acres located in various areas of the appellation. Pictured, the Casanuova 3 vineyard –soil type: clayey with skeleton of sandstone origin. Photography courtesy Le Macchiole.

Lodovico Antinori Tenuta di Biserno Bibbona 2020

€145.74, exclusively represented by S. Rausi Trading Ltd

The Lodovico Antinori family of Masseto founding fame chose to create Tenuta di Biserno in the 90s based on its excellent terroir. In his words “Bibbona and Bolgheri hark back to St Emilion and Pomerol” in their expression of Merlot and Cabernet. Biserno is their flagship wine. Biserno Bibbona 2020 opens up to a bouquet of dark undergrowth perfectly paired with dense aromas of strawberries both tart and fresh, ripe and preserved. The attack is more

red fruit, cherries and raspberries, laced in baked apple pie spices, vanilla bean, cinnamon and clove, with leathery gamey notes of mushrooms, foie gras and iron-rich blood-red meat all wrapped up in a red flower and anise fragrance yet almost saline raw cedar, celery and mocha finish.

This is full-on primary with a tertiary profile in quick succession. Strawberries and cream textures with gracile concentration and power, yet somewhat linear in focus but effusive. I would say soaringly monolithic with a

luminosity, breadth and depth that sport a dynamic streak making this fun to drink now. The energy, ripe tones and racy signature is all 2020, but the rich terroir of limestone, clay and some gravel silts is what gives this wine gravitas.

Biserno is equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon with a dash of Petit Verdot grown on calcium-rich clays, alluvium and gravel rocks in the somewhat stonier and hillier countryside of Bibbona neighbouring north of Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast.

Above: Tenuta di Biserno is located in the commune of Bibbona in the Alta Maremma, bordering the historic village of Bolgheri to the north. The exceptional terroir, the unique Bolgheri Conglomerate soil, the natural conditions, the wind exposure, and the microclimate combine to allow vines of exceptional quality to grow. Photography Enrico Parrini, courtesy Tenuta di Biserno.

Supplier details: S. Rausi Trading has the full portfolio of Lodovico Antinori Tenuta di Biserno, including Il Pino di Biserno, Insoglio Del Cinghiale and Occhione Bibbona (Bianco). S Rausi Trading Ltd, Empire Stadium Str, Gzira. Tel 00356 2131 6210. Web srausi.com/shop

“My hour for tea is half-past five, and my buttered toast waits for nobody.”

Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White

AFTERNOON TEA

“Those dripping crumpets, I can see them now. Tiny crisp wedges of toast, and piping-hot, flaky scones. Sandwiches of unknown nature, mysteriously flavoured and quite delectable, and that very special gingerbread. Angel cake, that melted in the mouth, and his rather stodgier companion, bursting with peel and raisins. There was enough food there to keep a starving family for a week.”

PINK

COCKTAIL

Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca

Pour Champagne, soda and elderflower liqueur into a large pitcher. Stir gently to combine. Serve in decorative wine glasses over ice, top with edible flowers.

1 bottle Brut Rosé Champagne or dry sparkling wine, well chilled 2 cans chilled club soda or sparkling water 1 cup elderflower liqueur ice

ELDERFLOWER CHAMPAGNE

Elevate an afternoon tea with a refreshing sparkling cocktail.

PHOTOGRAPHY ANITA AUSTVIKA.

ITALIAN TEA BISCUITS

An easy recipe for classic light Italian tea biscuits, they can be garnished with melted chocolate or candied cherries.

300g butter, softened (not melted)

150g icing sugar, sifted

2 eggs

1 pinch salt

1tsp baking powder

1 almond flavour vial, or 1 drop almond essence

450g flour, sifted candied cherries - optional to decorate dark or white chocolate melted, to decorate

1. Pour softened butter into a bowl and beat with an electric mixer to a frothy mixture.

2. Incorporate icing sugar a little at a time while whisking. Add eggs and continue whisking.

3. Add salt, almond essence and baking powder. Continue whisking and add flour slowly.

4. When half added and mixture is stiffer continue to add flour and mix with a mixing spoon until all flower combined.

5. Transfer dough to a piping bag and pipe tea biscuits to a greased baking tin lined with parchment paper (pipe shapes as desired –rounds, U-shaped, cats' tongue shaped, etc). At this stage top half biscuits with a candied cherry if desired.

6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180C until golden brown, roughly 15-20 minutes. When cooled, dip any plain biscuits halfway in melted chocolate and allow to set. Drizzle biscuits dipped in dark chocolate with white chocolate, and vice versa for effect.

LIGHT MERINGUES

These mini meringues are simple to make. They can also be made into Meringue Kisses by sandwiching together with a good chocolate spread or chocolate ganache.

FOR 36 MINI MERINGUES

3 eggs at room temperature

caster sugar (same weight as egg whites) icing sugar, sifted (same weight as egg whites)

1ml vanilla essence

a drop of natural red food colouring to make pink (as shown) if desired chocolate or hazelnut spread to make kisses if desired

1. Separate yolks from whites. Weigh egg whites and weigh same amounts caster sugar and icing sugar.

2. Whisk whites until fluffy. Add granulated sugar a little at a time whisking constantly.

3. Add icing sugar a little at a time while whisking, and add in vanilla.

4. Line a lightly greased baking pan with parchment. Add meringue to a piping bag with a star tip and pipe.

5. Bake in a preheated oven at 110C for about 90 minutes (or at 100C in a fan-assisted oven).

6. Let meringues cool completely to serve.

7. For meringue kisses simply pipe or spoon a thin layer of chocolate cream on the base side of one meringue, and seal with base side of another.

WHITE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CUPCAKES

Easy to prepare and easy to decorate, piped with frosting. Decorate with edible flowers for dramatic effect, or raspberries and white chocolate bits.

MAKES 12 CUPCAKES FOR CUPCAKES

150g caster sugar

130ml milk (room temperature)

80ml sunflower or seed oil

220g plain flour, sifted

8g baking powder, sifted

1/2tspn vanilla essence

100g fresh raspberries

100g good white chocolate, chopped

FOR FROSTING

80g icing sugar

120g mascarpone cheese

100ml fresh cream

1. Whisk eggs and sugar in a bowl. Add oil and then milk and mix.

2. Add flour and vanilla and mix to a creamy texture.

3. Add in baking powder and mix.

4. Using a spatula, gently incorporate white chocolate and raspberries. Don't overmix. 5. Spoon mixture into baking cups in a cupcake tin, bake in a preheated over at 180C for 25 minutes (170C for fan assisted).

6. Remove and cool.

7. FOR FROSTING. In a bowl whisk cream cheese, mascarpone, icing sugar and fresh cream to a smooth consistency. Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Decorate with edible flowers or fresh raspberries and bits of white chocolate.

SUNKISSED IN CRETE, HARVESTED BY HAND

This olive’s “natural juice” has all its ingredients intact thanks to the diligent process it undergoes from cultivation to pressing. Cultivated in Sitia, on the island of Crete, in an area world-famous for the quality of its olive oil, the olive trees grow in excellent soil conditions and in a special microclimate. Obtained through cold extraction and solely by mechanical means a few hours after harvest, this Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced exclusively from the superior “Koroneiki” variety which offer a superb balance between bitter, spicy and fruity flavours and a distinct emerald shade.

KEEPING THE MOMENTUM ON THE CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICES OFFERED AT ST VINCENT DE PAUL

After ending 2022 with several projects at St Vincent de Paul seeing their objectives realized at record-breaking rates, this year we hope to keep the momentum and focus our efforts more firmly on the consolidation of the services offered.

Geriatrics Day Hospital

The launching of the Geriatrics Day Hospital ensured a better-integrated service delivery between the various healthcare entities and proved extremely successful. We now offer fully equipped outpatient services, complete with new, state-of-the-art clinics that operate under various specialties.

These services, provided to our residents and to elderly people living in the community and in institutional care, include but are not limited to geriatric medicine, ophthalmology, dentistry, cardiology, vascular care, pain management, and more recently, the new women’s wellbeing clinic. Between January and April this year, a total of 3,460 medical appointments have been made at the Geriatric Day Centre.

Frailty Hub

This May we also launched the Frailty Hub –the first of its kind on our islands. The Frailty Hub supports a more preventative approach to care. It is to be viewed as a resource for elderly persons who may need interim care but don't necessarily need to be admitted to hospital. The Frailty Hub will drive more sustainable utilization of resources across healthcare settings. This has strategic significance for Malta’s National Healthcare System. It was a pleasure for us to host Prof Ann

Hendry, Head of the International Foundation of Integrated Care – Scotland and honorary secretary of the British Geriatric Society. Her attendance at the launch, celebrated six years of work and research performed at St Vincent de Paul in the European field of frailty. Prof Andrew Elder, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and himself an expert geriatrician, also attended the event, marking this event as not only distinguished but international.

St Joseph Ward 1

This May we inaugurated the newly refurbished St Joseph Ward 1, which will now be hosting couples in an environment that has been specifically designed like a home to improve the personalisation of service.

With an investment of one million euro, considerable works have been done in this ward, such as new water services, electricity and drainage systems. Nurse call systems have been installed, and lights, fire and emergency systems and medical oxygen have been introduced. Each room has a private accessible bathroom, and the lounge is suitable for people with dementia. The air conditioning and ventilation systems are new and efficient. All medical equipment is new. The courtyard of this hall was also changed to a more accessible and safer one.

Above: Recently, Minister for Senior Citizens Jo Etienne Abela launched the national ophthalmic screening programme. Bottom left: This May the Frailty Hub was launched, supporting a more preventative approach to care. Bottom centre: The newly refurbished St Joseph Ward 1, which will now be hosting couples. Bottom right: This year an open space area is being converted into a dementia-sensitive garden.

National Ophthalmic Screening Programme

Recently, Minister for Senior Citizens Jo Etienne Abela launched the national ophthalmic screening programme, targeted at persons aged between 60 and 80 years. Eligible persons will be invited to participate in this national programme. They will be tested by professionals trained at the geriatrics day hospital, which is equipped with the necessary specialised technology.

Dementia-Sensitive Garden

Moreover, works have been ongoing this year to convert an open space area into a dementia-sensitive garden. The project, which is expected to positively impact our residents’ well-being, is expected to be ready in the coming days.

While in the last years, St Vincent de Paul has witnessed over 100 million euro worth of investment projects and initiatives which have consolidated this entity’s services significantly, this year we will be extending the geriatric day hospital by more clinics, thus ensuring the delivery of more community services to our older population offered by St Vincent de Paul Long-term care facility.

Hollywood's latest fad weight loss drug Ozempic –an injectable medication called semaglutide that was approved in 2017 to treat Type 2 diabetes –may actually also treat dementia. Until the research is finalised, there are more immediate lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of developing the condition. These include keeping active, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking.

WEGOVY AND OZEMPIC COULD THE NEW WEIGHT-LOSS DRUG ALSO TREAT DEMENTIA?

DEMENTIA: LOOKING FOR THE SOLUTION

Over 55 million people worldwide have dementia. This mind-robbing condition has a huge impact on society and the economy, so scientists are working hard to find ways to treat or prevent it. One of the avenues being explored is the new weight-loss jab, Wegovy. Although age is by far the greatest risk factor for dementia, obesity and Type 2 diabetes are also major risk factors for developing the condition. This is where Wegovy and its sister drug, Ozempic, come into the picture. Wegovy and Ozempic, a drug to treat Type 2 diabetes, both contain the same active substance called semaglutide, write Tim Viney, Career Development Fellow and Barbara Sarkany, DPhil Candidate –Alzheimer's, at the University of Oxford. Photography Steven Lelham.

Semaglutide mimics the action of a hormone, GLP-1, that is normally released from the gut after a meal. The hormone latches on to receptors in the pancreas that stimulate the release of insulin, which helps lower blood sugar levels.

However, these receptors are also in “reward centres” of the brain, including in areas controlling eating. Given that semaglutide is able to cross the blood-brain barrier (the protective layer around the brain), it is likely to directly modify brain activity to make people feel less hungry.

A Danish study that followed people with Type 2 diabetes for five years found those on semaglutide or liraglutide (another diabetes drug) had a lower incidence of dementia. Type 2 diabetes is more strongly associated with vascular dementia and not Alzheimer’s disease (the most common form of dementia), so only certain forms of dementia might be reduced by semaglutide.

Nevertheless, two clinical trials which began in 2021 are testing whether daily oral doses of semaglutide will slow disease progress in people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Since it takes a long time to develop the disease, trials are expected to be completed in 2026.

Alzheimer’s disease is thought to originate in specific regions of the cerebral cortex – the region responsible for memories and spatial navigation. But receptors for GLP-1 were not detected in the cortex, making it unlikely that semaglutide directly activates memory networks. So how might the drug treat the disease?

The brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients accumulate sticky plaques of amyloid-beta as well as clumps of tau proteins inside brain cells. These are thought to disrupt cognition.

A clinical trial is underway at the University of Oxford that will specifically examine tau levels in people who have high levels of amyloid-beta but have not (yet) developed dementia. It is hoped that semaglutide will reduce cortical tau levels, leading to reduced rates of cognitive decline.

Drugs recently approved in the US to treat Alzheimer’s target amyloid-beta plaques. But these drugs have proved controversial, with patients requiring hour-long infusions every two to four weeks.

These types of drug probably also target amyloid-beta around blood vessels, leading to potentially life-threatening side-effects such as bleeds in the brain. Alternative strategies are therefore desirable, and this is where semaglutide may shine.

INFLAMMATION

The key link between semaglutide and reducing Alzheimer’s disease might be neuroinflammation – a state in which the brain is chronically inflamed. Neuroinflammation damages the blood-brain barrier, which is disrupted in both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The Oxford trial examining tau is also looking at how semaglutide affects neuroinflammation (there are suggestions that semaglutide is antiinflammatory in people with obesity).

It also reduces neuroinflammation in the brains of mice, and restores glucose transport across the blood-brain barrier (something that is disrupted in people with Alzheimer’s).

Another drug, memantine – originally developed to treat diabetes – was repurposed to ease symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, and is still prescribed for that use today. Now we eagerly await the results of the next-generation of diabetes and weightloss drugs to see if they can prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease.

In the meantime, there are lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of developing the condition. These include keeping active, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking.

This article first appeared on The Conversation.

VILLA ANNA TERESA

HARMONY DEMENTIA ACTIVITY DAY CENTRE

Having received musical training from a very early age, I tend to think of the reality around me in terms of sound. Sometimes life hits with one climax after another, barely giving us the time to recover from the crashing cymbals and tumultuous intrinsic weave of the rest of the orchestra. Sometimes I stroll along the coast in Spinola Bay and watch people as they walk by – similar hairstyles, beards, bags, and clothes. They all look lovely by the way. Lovely like a wonderful choir singing in perfect unison. Sometimes though, life forces us to drift away from the unison sound of that pitch-perfect choir, and throws in a dissonance that pains our very core. Dementia has been described as a very cruel silent thief, robbing an individual of independence, and a family of someone they loved dearly but can barely recognise any longer. It causes untold stress on families, who often feel helpless in the face of a relentless enemy who is robbing them not only of the future but also of the present, where the spark they loved in their loved ones’ eyes seems dull and dead, writes May Caruana, Home Manager at Villa Anna Teresa.

And yet, somewhere inside this almost unrecognisable theme, there still lives a person, who can find joy, serenity, and pleasure in small everyday things. It may be a song from the past that we listen to, or indeed sing along to, together. It may be the sense of achievement watching a seed grow into a pretty flower, or baking cupcakes together. It may be working out to a Chair Yoga session or dancing to an Elvis hit. It may be spending time in our sensory room, watching soothing lights changing colours slowly, smelling the unmistakable sweet smell of lavender and feeling the comforting touch of velvet and silk beneath one’s fingers, while Mozart washes over one’s senses like a soothing wave.

All this, and more, we offer at Harmony Dementia Day Centre, by Villa Anna Teresa, where every individual is the reason for our existence. Where we understand the pains families experience. Where we value the smile on a client’s face. Where we do not try to make our clients fit in, but where we value the beauty of diverse needs as one would value the beauty of complex harmony - many voices, many notes all blending together to create a unique inimitable sound.

At Villa Anna Teresa we celebrate our clients in all their unique beauty. We do not look to make them conform, but rather, through multidisciplinary collaboration and the use of various creative approaches to care, we focus on their holistic well-being and bask in their contentment and achievements, however each individual displays it.

HARMONY –SCIENCE MEETS CREATIVITY

Harmony, where science meets creativity to deliver a service as special and unique as each of our clients, who together create the harmony that enriches their reality, but also that of their loved ones, our staff and society itself.

Despite the palpable suffering that dementia brings, we can still choose how to react to this reality. Focusing on our loved ones’ right to happiness, even if the source of happiness has changed over the years, can be a source of comfort in the more difficult moments.

If you or your loved one needs the support of a professional day-based service that uses evidence-based practices combined with a holistic approach to health and happiness, book an assessment with us, and let us help you or your loved one smile at the Harmony that life

does have for each and every one of us. Harmony Day Centre is open Monday to Friday between 8 and 5, with options for early drop-off and late pick-up, with clients able to avail themselves of breakfast, lunch and high-tea, depending on their choice of hours of attendance. Daily activities are adapted to the needs of clients on the day according to their individual care plans, but focus on cognitive stimulation and holistic well-being through a range of group activities such as memory and reconnaissance, arts, crafts, gardening, cookery, socialisation and leisure activities. The specialised sensory room or snoezelen is a controlled multi-sensory environment where light, sound, smell and touch are brought together to increase functionality and soothe the individual user.

Call us on 2712 3456/7 or send us an email on info@villaannateresa.com to book an assessment and reserve a place for you or your loved one.

The Link Between Dementia and Diabetes

Dementia and diabetes are two chronic health conditions that have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, posing significant challenges for individuals, families, and healthcare systems worldwide. While both conditions are distinct in nature, a growing body of research suggests a potential connection between them. Understanding the connection between dementia and diabetes is crucial for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and individuals, to develop effective prevention and management strategies writes

Alex Gobey, Director Dementia Care Directorate, Active Ageing & Community Care.

Dementia is a term that describes a range of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and behaviour. There are different types of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Diabetes is a condition that affects how the body uses glucose, a type of sugar that is the main source of energy for cells. Diabetes can cause high blood sugar levels, which can damage various organs and tissues in the body, including the brain.

Recent research has indicated that there is a link between diabetes and dementia, especially type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes are more likely to experience cognitive impairment, which means having problems with mental functions such as attention, memory, learning, and decision-making. Cognitive impairment can affect the quality of life and increase the risk of developing dementia.

POSSIBLE WAYS THAT DIABETES CAN HARM THE BRAIN

The exact mechanisms that explain how diabetes leads to dementia are not fully understood, but there are several possible ways that diabetes can harm the brain:

Diabetes can affect the heart and blood vessels, which can increase the risk of stroke. A stroke is a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain, which can cause brain damage and cognitive impairment. Stroke can also lead to vascular dementia, which is caused by reduced blood supply to the brain over time.

Diabetes can cause chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, which are processes that can damage cells and tissues in the body. Inflammation and oxidative stress can affect the brain by impairing its function and structure, and by triggering the accumulation of abnormal proteins such as amyloid and tau. Amyloid and tau are the main components of the plaques and tangles that are found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia.

Diabetes can cause hypoglycaemia, which is a condition where blood sugar levels become too low. Hypoglycaemia can cause symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, weakness, and seizures. Hypoglycaemia can also affect the brain by reducing its energy supply and causing neuronal death.

Diabetes can directly influence the development of Alzheimer's disease by interfering with insulin signalling in the brain. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and plays a role in brain function. Insulin helps neurons to communicate with each other and survive. Insulin resistance, which is a condition where cells do not respond properly to insulin, can impair neuronal function and survival, and increase amyloid production.

WAYS TO PREVENT OR DELAY ONSET OF DEMENTIA

The association between diabetes and dementia is influenced by several factors, such as the age of onset of diabetes, the duration of diabetes, the control of blood sugar levels, and the presence of other risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and physical inactivity. The good news is that there are ways to prevent or delay the onset of dementia in people with diabetes. Some of these strategies include:

Maintaining optimal blood sugar levels by following a healthy diet, taking medications as prescribed, monitoring blood glucose regularly, and avoiding hypoglycaemia.

Controlling other cardiovascular risk factors by managing blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and quitting smoking.

Engaging in regular physical activity, which can improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, enhance insulin sensitivity, and protect brain function.

Stimulating cognitive activity by learning new things, challenging oneself mentally, and staying socially connected.

Seeking medical attention if experiencing any signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment or dementia.

Diabetes and dementia are serious diseases that can affect each other in complex ways. However, by understanding the link between them and taking preventive measures, it is possible to reduce the risk of developing dementia and improve the quality of life for people with diabetes.

For more information related to dementia care and support, contact the National Dementia Helpline on telephone number 1771.

CAREGIVERS CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ESTABLISHING A COMFORTABLE, APPEALING, LOVING, ENGAGING, AND PLEASURABLE ATMOSPHERE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA.

Empowering Caregivers

Dementia, an umbrella term for a collection of symptoms is not a singular disease, nor is it a natural consequence of aging; rather, it is the result of a variety of brain-affecting diseases and conditions that result in a collection of symptoms caused by brain-affecting somatic disorders severe enough to interfere with daily life. Empirical studies depict that Alzheimer's is a specific disease that accounts for 60 to 70 percent of dementia cases, which is the seventh leading cause of death globally and one of the primary causes of disability and dependence among the elderly. At CareMalta, we place a large emphasis on social activities for all of our residents, especially the organization of cognitively stimulating activities that enhance the quality of life for our dementia residents. As part of CareMalta's Group's 30th-anniversary celebration, a number of significant events are being organized in collaboration with the residents' families and third parties to promote recognition and dignity, writes

Claire Coldman, Facility Manager, Roseville.

Many relatives find it excruciatingly painful and upsetting to watch an elderly relative struggle with dementia since it might feel like spending time with a stranger. Sadly, this denial on the part of family members will solely result in missed meaningful experiences and quality time with their loved ones. However, since even while dementia may change the way, we communicate with an aging loved one, it does not prevent us from having meaningful experiences with our loved ones during the time spent together. Thus awareness of dementia can empower not only those living with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia but as well as their families and caregivers with the necessary knowledge.

The Health Assembly predicts that out of 8 billion persons worldwide, over 55 million have dementia, with over 60 percent living in low and middle-income countries. Annually, nearly 10 million new cases are reported. In Malta, there are approximately 7,500 people living with dementia, with a number of them requiring acute hospital care at some stage during the progression of the disease. There is presently no cure for Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, so dementia care typically focuses on enhancing the individual's quality of life. It is not always simple to evaluate the quality of existence of such individuals. Individuals living with dementia are unable to always accurately define their quality of life due to their condition and also due to the fact that not everyone agrees on how to measure the quality of life. Dementia residents, attendants, and family members may have varying criteria, which may contribute to disagreements regarding the optimal method of care. In a 2017 study, researchers found that patients typically rate their quality of life higher than their caregivers. This is partially because the caretaker's evaluation is based on clinical/health measures, whereas the patients' evaluations are broader in scope.

The ultimate goal of evaluating the quality of life should be to ensure that our residents are experiencing as little agony, distress, and confusion as possible. When assessing the quality of life of dementia residents, the following factors must be considered: physical and mental health; consistent routines, stable, secure, and hygienic environments; socialization; and being treated with decency and courtesy.

Caregivers are frequently at ease with the knowledge that they must satisfy the physical care needs of dementia patients. According to research, they can also play an important role in establishing a comfortable, appealing, loving, engaging, and pleasurable atmosphere. Although dementia presents difficult and challenging circumstances for both caregivers and those afflicted, those around them can use behavioural cues to provide activities, interactions, and environments that elicit interest and positive responses, while avoiding the triggers of agitation, anger, or other negative responses. Even though we cannot guarantee that people living with dementia will not experience perplexity or negative emotions due to circumstances beyond our control, we can still recognize when they are saddened or distressed and respond with compassion and understanding.

Caregivers can also play a crucial role in maximizing the quality of life that dementia residents can maintain despite their impairments by making simple environment modifications and providing opportunities for meaningful activities or pleasurable experiences.

A FLOOD OF WILDFLOWERS

SUPERBLOOM

Adeluge of winter snow and rain in Southern California produced plenty of flooding in 2023. But as winter turned to spring, the abundance of water also helped provoke a flood of something else across the region’s normally arid open spaces - a superbloom of wildflowers. A superbloom is a rare desert botanical phenomenon in California and Arizona in which an unusually high proportion of wildflowers whose seeds have lain dormant in desert soil germinate and blossom at roughly the same time. The seasonal spectacle was even visible from space. Satellite images of Carrizo Plain National Monument by NASA show valleys surrounded by craggy mountains with a coating of deep purple. Images of the same area from the previous year when California was in severe drought showed it was mostly brown. Superblooms often follow wet winters, and according to ecologists at the University of California 10 superblooms have occurred in Southern California’s Anza-Borrego Desert over four decades. According to National Geographic:

"Superblooms of California and the U.S. Southwest are the stuff of legend. For centuries, Indigenous communities have celebrated massive springtime blossomings of chia, desert lilies, tarweeds, sunflowers, and other flowers with edible seeds or roots. Today, these floral explosions are confined to pockets of relatively undisturbed habitats, mostly in the vast southwestern deserts of California, Arizona, and Nevada, and pop up only after a good rain year - an increasingly rare event in an era of climate change."

This page: Wildflowers bloom along the trails of Shell Ridge Open Space in Walnut Creek, Calif. A deluge of winter rain and snow set prime conditions for millions of dormant seeds to sprout, creating a colourful spectacle that was visible from space. Photography Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via AP.

at the Workplace

1

Opt for a reusable mug for your hot drink at work and avoid using any single-use cups.

If you want your lunch to stay fresh whilst also taking care of the environment, prepare your food in a sealed reusable container or lunch box and try to avoid using plastic wraps or bags.

2

3

Opt for local and seasonal food for your lunch to avoid extra plastic packaging when possible.

Re-use stationary items as much as possible and try to minimise paper usage were possible.

4

THE 2023 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CAMPAIGN #BEATPLASTICPOLLUTION CALLS FOR GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO COMBAT PLASTIC POLLUTION.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 5TH

JUNE

IT IS TIME TO #BEATPLASTICPOLLUTION. First held in 1973, World Environment Day has been a platform for raising awareness on environmental issues such as marine pollution, overpopulation, global warming, sustainable development and wildlife crime. For World Environment Day 2023 the theme #BEATPLASTICPOLLUTION is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matters. According to the UN "more than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than 10 per cent is recycled." It is estimated that every year 19-23 million tonnes of plastic ends up in rivers, seas and oceans - roughly the weight of 2,200 Eiffel Towers. Microplastics, tiny plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter, end up in food, water and air, and it is estimated that every person consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles per year - more if inhalation is taken into consideration. Discarded or burnt single-use plastic harms human health and biodiversity and pollutes every ecosystem from mountain tops to the ocean floor. With science and solutions available everyone needs to speed actions to solve this crisis. This underscores the importance of this World Environment Day in mobilizing transformative action from every corner of the world.

WORLD OCEANS DAY 8TH JUNE

PLANET OCEAN: TIDES ARE CHANGING. The United Nations celebrates World Oceans Day every year on 8th June. Many countries have celebrated this special day since 1992, following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided that, as of 2009, 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as "World Oceans Day". On this day, we have an opportunity to raise global awareness of the benefits humankind derives from the ocean and our individual and collective duty to use its resources sustainably. Future generations will also depend on the oceans for their livelihoods. The ocean covers the majority of the earth, but only a small portion of its waters has been explored. Despite humanity’s utter reliance on it, and compared to the breadth and depth of what it gives us, the ocean receives only a fragment of our attention and resources in return. But tides are changing. To celebrate the United Nations World Oceans Day 2023 theme, Planet Ocean, the United Nations is joining forces with decision makers, scientists, private sector executives, civil society representatives, indigenous communities, celebrities and youth activists and more to put the ocean first.

FIND OUT MORE AND REGISTER FOR ONLINE EVENTS AT UNWORLDOCEANSDAY.ORG

Information sources: www.worldenvironmentday.global, www.un.org/en/observances/environment-day, and www.unworldoceansday.org

This page: 2023 Spring wildflower superbloom across Carrizo Plain, California. Photography Pamela Heckel.

Customers who are being serviced at any one of Citadel’s branches in Malta and Gozo will be entitled to one free take-home plant (limited offer until stocks last).

CITADEL INSURANCE CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF ECO-FRIENDLY WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY INITIATIVES

For the tenth year, Citadel Insurance is continuing its annual tradition of celebrating World Environment Day, which takes place annually on 5th June. Throughout that week, the company will be carrying out various environmentally-friendly activities, says Angela Tabone, Managing Director of Citadel Insurance. Among these, customers who are being serviced at any one of Citadel’s branches in Malta and Gozo will be entitled to one free take-home plant (limited offer until stocks last). Additionally, Citadel Insurance will cover the cost of a return ferry ticket for the first 100 commuters travelling between the three Cities and Valletta.

To support customers in transitioning to ecofriendly practices, Citadel Insurance is also offering special incentives on home and motor insurance for those using renewableenergy solutions such as solar water heaters, PV systems, and electric or hybrid cars (terms and conditions apply).

World Environment Day serves as an important reminder to all of us about the importance of taking care of our environment. Climate change also has a direct impact on the insurance business with the enhanced risks of extreme weather which it generates, so it is also important from us from a commercial perspective to do all we can to encourage the use of eco-friendly technologies, and make changes in our daily lives to help restore the ecosystem. In line with this initiative, our customers also have access to our bespoke PV panels policy along with our exclusive eco incentives on the Eco Home and Eco Motor policies.

The theme for World Environment Day 2023 is #BeatPlasticPollution, with a focus on solutions to the global plastic crisis. Every year, over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced, with less than 10 percent of it being recycled, and an estimated 19 to 23 million tonnes ending up in waterways.

This year’s #BeatPlasticPollution theme highlights the impact of our actions on the environment, particularly the physical impact on marine life and all the consequences derived from it. Governments and businesses need to take more action together to address the issue of plastics and accelerate the shift to a circular economy.

For information on Citadel’s extensive range of quality insurance solutions, visit our branches in Mellieħa, Naxxar, Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Mosta, Ta’ Xbiex, Paola, Żejtun and Victoria in Gozo, or our Head Office in Floriana. You can also visit www.citadelplc.com or call on Freephone 8007 2322.

Citadel Insurance p.l.c. is authorised under the Insurance Business Act, Cap. 403, to provide general and long-term insurance and is regulated by the MFSA.

CED INSPECTION WITH WASTE STICKER. Presently, officials from ERA and other entities are carrying out inspections in all localities to assure that the waste that is being deposited for door-to-door collection is separated in line with the regulations, in the appropriate bag according to the national schedule of waste collection.

EMBRACING THE CHANGE WASTE SEPARATION BECOMES MANDATORY

Over the past few years, there has been significant progress in terms of domestic waste separation on the Maltese Islands, however, nearly half of organic waste is still being thrown in the black bag. This organic waste mostly constitutes of food which is supposed to be thrown in the white bag. When this happens, more waste is ending up in landfills instead of being processed for the generation of clean energy and turned into a resource. The same applies for the lack of separation of recyclables which are thrown in the black bag instead of the grey one, writes the team at the Environment and Resources Authority.

Following a public consultation process, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has recently published two legal notices, putting into effect the mandatory separation of waste. These regulations aim to mitigate the impacts of the generated waste on our environment by reducing Malta’s municipal waste that ends up in landfills. This currently amounts to up to 90%. The Mandatory Waste Separation Regulations are therefore of prime importance to decrease this figure drastically to the 10% national target listed in the Malta Waste Management Plan (2021-2030).

The mandatory waste separation came into effect last April. Waste separation is now enforceable by law for everyone, be it households, businesses, and also governmental and non-governmental entities. It is no longer acceptable to not bin your waste correctly and compliance is expected as fines will be issued as of next October. These will range from €25 for households up to €75 for businesses and will double to €150 and €50 respectively if the individual is caught repeatedly disposing of waste inappropriately.

Presently, officials from ERA and other entities are carrying out inspections in all localities to assure that the waste that is being deposited for door-to-door collection is separated in line with

the regulations, in the appropriate bag according to the national schedule of waste collection. In addition to these inspections, ERA is also staging an educational campaign to ensure compliance by delving into the importance of waste separation and the myriad benefits it brings to Malta.

Waste separation should not be looked at as a mundane chore. It should be part of our daily routines and habits, especially since it is a fundamental step toward tackling environmental challenges. By separating waste into different categories, such as recyclables, organic waste and residual waste, we can unlock numerous benefits that extend far beyond the immediate cost savings.

Through waste separation, Malta can significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

Recycling saves energy and reduces the need for resource-intensive production processes, thereby mitigating the environmental impact of waste. Waste separation opens up avenues for a circular economy, where materials are recycled and reintegrated into the production cycle. This stimulates job creation, promotes innovation and fosters a culture of sustainable consumption and production.

To ensure successful waste separation, it is essential for every household, business and entity in Malta to embrace the new regulations and to familiarise themselves with the waste categories and how to separate right. It is only by prioritising our efforts towards waste separation, that we can reach our national targets on waste management and secure a healthier, cleaner environment for all to enjoy.

SIMPLY THE BEST

Tina Turner, the unstoppable performer who teamed with husband Ike Turner for a dynamic run of hit records and live shows in the 1960s and 70s and survived her horrifying marriage to triumph in middle age with the chart-topping What’s Love Got to Do With It, has died this May 24th at 83. Physically battered, emotionally devastated and financially ruined by her 20-year relationship with Ike, she became a superstar on her own in her 40s. In the 1980s, Turner launched one of the greatest comebacks in music history - her 1984 multi-platinum album Private Dancer contained the hit song What’s Love Got to Do with It, and at the 1985 Grammy Awardswon four of the six awards for which it was nominated. Private Dancer propelled Turner into becoming a viable solo star, as well as one of the most marketable crossover singers in the recording industry. “I have always seen great value in practicing kindness. Although I had no money to buy gifts as a child, I gave my friends the gift of song to cheer them up. Depending on the situation, I’d sing to them and make up melodies and lyrics on the spot about whatever was going on in their lives. If a girlfriend was lonely or heartbroken, I’d make up a song about the handsome and adoring boyfriend I imagined coming into her life. Or if a friend felt deprived or neglected, I’d make up a song about a gift of a shiny new doll, or a velvet party dress, that I knew would make her happy” wrote Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock in a segregated Tennessee hospitalon November 26, 1939.

TINA TURNER –QUEEN OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

“At every moment, we always have a choice, even if it feels as if we don’t. Sometimes that choice may simply be to think a more positive thought.”

Tina Turner

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