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Malta, Keystone of Mediterranean History |
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Program Number: |
3215RJ |
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| Start
and End Dates: |
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| Duration: |
11 nights |
| Location: |
Malta
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| Price starting at: |
$3,314.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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Activity Level: |
t (see description) |
| Meals: |
23;
10 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners |
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| Meal
Options: |
Vegetarian |
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The tale of 7,000 years of human history is told in the honey-colored limestone of Malta, fashioned into architecture dating from prehistory through the Bronze Age and into Roman, medieval, Norman, Baroque and British colonial times. Examine World Heritage monuments, the world's oldest free-standing buildings, palaces of noblemen and knights, and modern war rooms on a journey from incredible past to vibrant present. Lingering echoes of the days of British occupation keep this delightful destination comfortably foreign but easy to navigate, with signs and newspapers in English. The abundant use of Malta as a location for the filming of major motion pictures also make many parts of it seem somehow familiar. Myths and legends of the distant past rise from the pavements to enhance a full course of lectures by various experts in their fields.
Highlights
• Explore the fantastic 5,000-year-old underground Hypogeum.
• Share meals with local residents.
• View Malta's incredible collection of archaeological treasures, from ancient megalithic temples to artifacts of the Phoenician and Roman eras.
Activity Particulars
Walking indoors and out, sometimes unpaved terrain, hills, steps; strong sun, frequent winds.
Date Specific Information
10-19-2013, 3-8-2014, 10-11-2014
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
Itinerary Summary
Arrival Sliema, 10 nights; departure.
Overnight flight from the U.S.A. | 1 night | Arrival Sliema | 10 nights | Departure |
Lectures address the Maltese language, the cultures of Malta’s prehistory and the sophisticated temples they constructed in almost complete isolation. Learn about the painter Caravaggio and his captivity in Malta, the island’s strategic role in World War II, its religious landscape and the Maltese economy. Historians put the British colonization of Malta into perspective with that of other colonies and you visit the capital city of Valletta to learn the history of this baroque jewel, including the Hospitaller Order of St. John that transformed Malta into its impregnable headquarters, the siege of 1565 and the lifestyles of ordinary folk during the time of the knights. Ferry to the island of Gozo to visit the oldest freestanding buildings on earth and the walled hilltop citadel. A curator takes you into the underground Hal-Saflieni Hypogeum, a world wonder reopened to the public after a decade of preservation initiatives.
Malta
This tiny island just off Sicily boasts a unique though varied culture having been the target of conquests of all the major European and Arab powers. The small country features the oldest known human constructions in the world. The temple Magar Qim’s sacrificial alters and limestone decorations were all carved using only determination and flint tools in 3600 B.C.
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Accommodations
Four-star hotel noted for its blend of Victorian décor and gracious Mediterranean hospitality. Superbly located on a quiet street in the heart of the fashionable town of Sliema and close to popular restaurants and night spots in St.Julians.
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| Road Scholar Instructors | | These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur. | Claude Gaffiero
| | During his distinguished military career, Gen. Claude Gaffiero served as aide-de-camp to two governors general and three presidents of the Republic of Malta. A graduate of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, Gen. Gaffiero was later appointed commander of Malta’s Armed Forces. Since retiring, he has applied himself to enlarging his personal store of knowledge of Malta’s history. He is a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John and a published author. | | | | Marius Zerafa
| | “St. Jerome” was painted in Malta by Caravaggio when he was a killer on the run. In 1984 it was stolen, and Father Marius Zerafa, then Director of Museums, was contacted for the ransom. Now retired, Father Zerafa shares his personal story of the theft, intrigue and ultimate recovery with participants, all the while presenting a vivid portrait of Caravaggio, his time in Malta and his pivotal place in the evolution of art in the period. | | | | Lawrence Ancilleri
| | Recently retired from teaching at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, Lawrence still lectures part-time at the University of Malta. Lawrence is the co-founder of a non-government organization caring for children with learning difficulties and ex-convicts. He has also stood as a candidate for the Maltese Parliament in two consecutive elections. A graduate of the University of Malta, Lawrence holds degrees in history and Mediterranean and diplomatic studies. | | | | Joseph Brincat
| | Professor Joseph M. Brincat teaches Italian linguistics and medieval literature at the University of Malta. He holds degrees from the universities of Malta, London and Florence and has published books on Italian philology, a history of linguistics and a linguistic history of Malta in Italian. His research interests include linguistic contacts and language acquisition through foreign television programs. | | | | Charles Dalli
| | Charles Dalli studied history at the University of Malta and received his master’s in medieval history at the University of Cambridge, England. He lectures full-time in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Malta, where he teaches medieval history. He has researched medieval Maltese history in archives in Sicily and Spain, and has published two books on the subject. | | | | Joseph Magro
| | Dr. Magro Conti is an archaeologist who studied at the University of Malta. He now works for the government in the National Planning Authority, and is responsible for evaluating potential archaeological sites before permits can be issued for new buildings. | | | |
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