It’s been conquered time and time again, settled in by foreign inhabitants and left to fend for itself when it was given its independence by the British. And yes, you might have heard of it from others or read an article in the papers about it, but how much do you actually know about Malta and its culture? For many of you who’ve never been to the island, we can probably say, ‘Not much at all.’ And indeed if this is the case, now’s the perfect time to book your accommodation at Valletta G House and get to know about it by attending and taking part in the V18 celebrations! Why you ask? Well, Valletta 2018 or V18 as it was previously called, is Malta’s year to shine and spread its love for its culture and European culture too! So why not join in?
Maltese Culture & V18
From the Phoenicians to the Arabs, the Romans and medieval Europeans to the Turks, the Knights of St. John, the French and even the British, it’s pretty safe to say that Malta’s had quite a number of visitors in the past. Some who’ve been welcomed with open arms and others who’ve…not been as welcome to conquer our island. Yet, no matter what the people felt at the time, it’s more than evident that each society has left an impact on us Maltese and our culture as a whole.
Yes, you can see it in our ancient sites and cities. You can taste it in our cuisine. You can hear it in our foreign tongue. And you can see it in our way of interacting with others. We are Maltese and we’re a unique breed indeed. Our culture is a mixture of our native ancestors and several foreign influences which have pretty much stuck and transformed itself into something to call our own. And Valletta 2018 is a celebration of all the myriad of influences that make us Maltese.
Valletta in the Limelight
Throughout the once in a lifetime event, Valletta will be in the limelight with its multiple cultural events and festivals. Whilst walking down some of the walled city’s stepped streets, you’ll be able to see the colorful aged balconies, hear the footsteps of generations past as they paced down the stairs. And also take in the eclectic mix of well-preserved 16th century and modernist architecture that helped dub Valletta as a UNESCO world heritage site.
No matter when or where you’re enjoying your stroll in Valletta, you’ll be bound to discover a unique site or feature you hadn’t noticed before. Or better yet an event which reflects the country’s culture. In fact, during Valletta 2018, events are far from scarce. Gambling legal in Canada
If you’re in Malta during the first month of the year, you’ll be able attend the opening ceremony of the huge happening. After you’ve seen the celebrations, heading to the Baroque festival is a wise choice, especially if your taste in music is akin to the sweet sounds of the orchestra and the gracious operatic voices of some of the most talented performers. Of course, if you can’t make it to this opera in January, there are a number of others you can opt to go to instead.
Although February can be very wet at times, there’s no event in Malta’s cultural calendar that’s more colorful than Carnival. With its parade of floats, dances and marching bands, the 4 day celebration encapsulates one of Malta’s oldest and cherished celebrations. Apart from this giant festa, February and March are also fantastic for indoor activities in Valletta and around the island – especially theatre. In fact, you can expect to find ‘Hush’, Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Teatru Manoel amongst a number of other performances in other locations too! If you happen to be a photography buff who’s interested in foreign cultures, there will also be a little treat of an exhibition in Valletta too – European Eyes on Japan.
Once the days get a bit warmer after the winter season comes to an end, the weather will allow for Valletta 2018’s splendid outdoor springtime events. And three of the most spectacular events that are definitely not to be missed are none other than the Malta Green Festival, the Pageant of the Seas and lastly the annually held Valletta Film Festival.
When the 21st of June is struck off the calendar and the heat of summer’s golden rays are felt, the days get much longer. And in many people’s eyes this only means one thing – more time to enjoy going out! Amongst the largest annually held events that many flock to in summer are the Malta International Arts Festival, the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival and the Malta Mediterranean International Music Festival. However, next summer you can also expect to find multiple theatre productions such as Cendrillon, ‘La Lupa’,‘Pope Joan’ among other performances. For the youngsters, there will also be two awesome music event called ‘Malta Calls’ and BEWYLD too.
Once the autumn winds hit our shores after September is over, many typically look forward to a mix of indoor and outdoor events due to the mixed weather we have in Malta. Two cultural festivals which many locals particularly look forward to in October are Notte Bianca and Birgufest. The two festivals are famed for their nocturnal atmosphere, open museums and cultural atmosphere. Other than these festivals, you can also expect to find many locals attending multiple theatre events, exhibitions and more before the final closing spectacle!
Book The Valletta G-House today and have all this at your finger tips
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