In recent history, the castle has formed part of a hotel, the Selmun Palace which has even seen several ugly accretions in the form of nondescript buildings spring up behind it. The hotel was for a few decdaes the property of the Maltese national airline, Air Malta but after several years of running at a loss, it is now for sale although the asking price which is reputed to be several million Euros has not brought forth any offers.

The castle also includes a garcious chapel close by which is contemporaneous to the castle and is still in relatively good condition. There is also a restauarant named De favray which is renowned for its excellent cuisine although it is not known if this is still in operation. The castle is popular also as a wedding venue with several high profile weddings having been held there and with its luscious grounds and wonderful atmosphere, it is surely a beautiful event for those lucky enough to enjoy it.

Unfortunately, the castle is in dire need of proper restoration as it has been left to its own devices in the past months and has undoubtedly suffered from exposure to the elements. It is a monument which is crying out for restoration as it is one of the most important prevailing castles in the Maltese islands of which there are percious few.

Master Magician, Mr. Matthew Wright (former Magic Circle Magician of the Year and current International Champion of Close-up Magic) is set to amaze tourists and residents alike in an all-new Maltese showcase to be held in the old cellar dungeon beneath famed restaurant Razzett L-Antik 1743 in Qormi.

After enjoying a delicious three course meal of the finest traditional Maltese cuisine accompanied by free-flowing wine the evening will finish with a truly astonishing display of magic, mind-reading, illusion, comedy, singing and puppetry- all in the intimate setting of the custom designed mini theatre.

Matthew, who is a student of Las Vegas headline magician Jeff McBride, said, “I have performed at many of the greatest magic venues in the world and I aim to take that experience and put it all together to create one of the greatest close-up magic shows in the world. As soon as I came here to Malta and walked into what has now become known as the “Chamber of Secrets” I knew that it was possible. I have been amazed by how generous and supportive the people of Malta have been about the whole thing.”

The Chamber of Secrets is a small intimate 36 seater theatre allowing for a real up-close experience for everyone. Some of the amazing feats you are likely to witness include, dazzling sleight-of-hand card and coin tricks, lottery predictions, items levitating, money materializing right before your eyes and Eugene- the world’s greatest mind-reading puppet!

Reservations are now being taken for the summer of 2011. Please visit www.chamberofsecrets.eu or contact magic@chamberofsecrets.eu for more details.

There are several popular locations throughout Malta and Gozo, but facilities are few and far between, so if you’re going camping, it’s best to be prepared.

Spring and Autumn are the best months to indulge in the outdoor life, as Summer can be too hot to bear sleeping in a tent, and Winter can be, at times, too windy especially in more exposed, remote locations. Apart from some rudimentary washing facilities at Santa Marija bay in Comino, there is little in the way of camping facilities in the Maltese Islands, and campers will need to take along a barbecue or cooking facilities, water and their own sanitary equipment.

On the Maltese islands there are several locations to camp out. The Ta’ Cenc area close to the village of Sannat in Gozo is a protected site, but often you will see tents pitched high on the cliffs. L’ Ahrax peninsula in the north of Malta has many spots ideal for pitching a tent, with lots of shaded woodland. The area beyond Bahrija in the west of Malta is quite remote and has some impressive bays and dramatic scenery. The island of Comino is virtually uninhabited and provides many opportunities for getting away it all, and as previously mentioned, there are basic facilities at one of the sandy bays. It’s not possible to camp just anywhere in Malta, and you will need to look out for signs, but in the more remote areas, pitching a tent in the wild is quite easy.

The Top Ten main climbing areas in Malta are as follows:

1. The Victoria Lines, limits of Gharghur. 230+ routes with Trad Climbing and Bouldering available.
2. Wied Babu, limits of Zurrieq. 130+ routes covering Trad and Sport Climbing, Bouldering and Deep Water Soloing.
3. Ghar Lapsi, limits of Siggiewi. 100+ climbs, mainly Trad Climbing and Bouldering, with limited Sport Climbing options.
4. Fomm ir-Rih, limits of Bahrija. 70+ routes including Trad Climbing, Bouldering and Deep Water Soloing.
5. Wied il-Ghasel, limits of Mosta/Naxxar. 60+ climbs, mainly Trad Climbing and Bouldering.
6. Hamrija Tower Slabs, limits of Siggiewi. 60+ climbs restricted to Trad Climbing and Deep Water Soloing.
7. Ix-Xaqqa, limits of Siggiewi. 60+ routes comprising Trad Climbs and Deep Water Soloing.
8. Mellieha area. 40+ climbs, restricted to Trad Climbing in this area.
9. Ghar Hasan and nearby Wied il-Bassasa , limits of Birzebbugia. A selection of Trad Climbs and Bouldering. Some spectacular Deep Water Soloing routes.
10. Weid Qirda, not far from Luqa/Qormi with a selection of Trad Climbs and limited sport facilities.

Malta’s sister island of Gozo is also worth exploring, and has some spectacular climbs in Weid in Ghasri, Mgarr ix-Xini and Dwejra.

Two of Malta’s most popular climbing clubs are MCC and MRCC.

MCC (Malta Climbing Club) has over 70 paid up members including both local climbers and others of about 10 different nationalities, including some of the best climbers on the island. Among the members are climbers who formed part of the Maltese Everest team that reached the summit of that mountain in 2010. For more details, you can contact MCC using this email address.

MRCC (Malta Rock Climbing Club) offers free membership. For more information, click here to email them. They have also published a book called Malta Rock Climbing, The Comprehensive Guide, which contains over 1200 climbs in Malta and Gozo.

The pastime became so popular in Europe that Emperor Rudolf II of the Roman Empire had an ice carnival constructed in his court for all to enjoy. Interestingly, the construction of modern ice skates has remained fundamentally the same: right into the 21st century.

To date however; ice skating does not seem to be a very popular pastime in Malta. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that there is only one, small rink currently available for use. In 2001 there was a real ice arena: “The Eden Ice Arena”, which initially opened its doors with the view of introducing recreational ice skating and ice sports to Malta. However, the initiative was fairly short lived and the ice rink closed its doors in August 2003.

Although it may sound surprising in such a Mediterranean climate, one can now indulge in an exciting ice skating activity when temperatures soar in Malta. How could they ever maintain ice in such a hot and dry environment, you may think? The answer is this: a synthetic rink; Malta’s own little taste of winter.

The first and only one of its kind on the island, Ice Magic Malta in Hal Farrug Road, Siggiewi now offers the opportunity to “ice” skate on a “rink” with flooring that feels and acts just like “the real thing”. Synthetic rinks are constructed from a solid polymer material designed for skating using metal-bladed ice skates, and are a brilliant alternative when real “ice” is not practical. Synthetic ice is also great for those whom are conscientious about looking after the environment.

The skating shoes are similar in shape to normal ice skating boots, so although the owners describe it as “a bit of a challenge” for beginners; both experienced skaters and novices alike are certainly guaranteed an entertaining and exciting time.

So although it is unlikely to cool you down, it is surely a great change of scenery!

“A welcome addition to the numerous choices of Malta’s activities” (Mr A Zammut, father of 3, Mosta)
“Just like the real thing” (Miss A Borg, ice skating enthusiast, Siggiegi)

Further information about Ice Skating in Malta.

Opening times:
Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays – 4:00pm till 10:00pm (open for all ages)
Thursdays – Closed
Fridays – 6:00pm till 11:00pm (between 6:00pm and 8:00pm – open for all ages;
between 8:00pm and 11:00pm – open for adults only)
Saturdays & Sundays – 11:00am till 11:00pm (between 11:00am and 8:00pm – open for all ages;
between 8:00pm and 11:00pm – open for adults only)

Sessions:
1 session every hour … on the hour (duration 45minutes)

Price List:
Children: €3.00 per session, inclusive of skating shoes (children 8yrs – 12yrs accompanied by a guardian)
Adults: €5.00 per session, inclusive of skating shoes.

There are some famous and spectacular dive sites all around the coastal waters, and here is a list of just some:

• Wied Iz-Zurrieq (Blue Grotto – Zurrieq). Enter the water via the slipway on the headland and head out of the mouth of the bay and turn right to follow the cliffs. 23m down, you’ll find the first cave on the right. Keep going and and more, larger caves are just around the corner.
• HMS MAORI – Dockyard Creek, St. Elmo, Valletta. This is an 18m dive on the wreck of the ship that sunk the Bismarck. The ship went down in 1942, and there are plenty of entrances and exits for divers.
• Qawra Reef – Qawra. 500m off Qawra point is a reef that has many caves and a variety of sealife. This site is safe for divers of all levels.
• Tugboat Rozi – Cirkewwa. This boat was scuttled in 1992 and sits upright. This is one of the best dive sites in Malta.
• Caves and the Madonna – Cirkewwa/Marfa. Spectacular drop-off with a cave containing a statue of The Madonna.
• Ahrax Point – Marfa. One of the most spectacular dive spots with crystal clear water and massive Posedonia meadows home to over 300 species of marine life. There is an impressive drop-off.
• Santa Marija Caves – Comino. A number of caves with some swim throughs, and one has an open shaft making for some excellent photography. The caves are literally teeming with sea bream. This dive is accessed by boat.
• Dwerja – Gozo. With such natural features as the Inland Sea, the Azure Window and the Blue Hole, this is arguably the best dive site in the Maltese Islands. There are several dives in this location.

Outside the USA, drive-in theatres aren’t very common, although they are found in parts of South Africa – there isn’t one in the Republic of Malta. As the movies are watched after dark, for reasons of visibility, they tend to be open only in the summer months, when evenings are warmer. Typically, a Drive-in theater has a soda bar, selling snacks such as hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hotdogs, chili-dogs, fries, pizza and popcorn and a range of soft drinks.

The Malta Drive-in is found in the State of New York in the United States, and has been in operation since 1949. Located on Route 9, 1 mile south of exit 13s on the Northway, the venue is open for the whole summer from the last weekend in April until September.

The drive-in has two screens and entry charges are $8.00 for adults and children over 12 and $3.00 for children of 12 and under. The theater charges $5.00 to any car where the occupants have brought their own food and drinks. There is a concession stand at the Drive-in selling snacks and beverages. There is a newsletter that patrons can subscribe to find out what’s showing each week.

Malta Drive-In Theatre
2785 Route 9
Malta, NY 12020
(518) 587-6077

This maritime graffiti is thought to have been left by sailors about to embark on a trip on the high seas, and perhaps it was done to bring good luck for the impending journey – after all the Mediterranean was infested with corsairs and pirates back then. The oldest church in Malta is that of St Lawrence in Vittoriosa (Birgu). It’s widely believed that it was a donation from Count Roger the Norman, who visited Malta in 1090. The present building dates back to the 17th Century and was designed by the Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa. The Knights of the Order of St John used the parish church of St Lawrence as their Convent Church, in the days before Valletta was built and became the capital city.

One of the older small chapels is that of Santa Marija ta’ Bir Miftuh, now situated in the limits of Gudja very close to Malta International Airport. It was built approximately in 1430 and is probably one of the best examples of a fifteenth Century parish church surviving on the islands today. Declared a parish in 1436 by Bishop Senatore de Mello, the chapel wasn’t located in a village centre but served as parish church to several outlying, more remote villages. Bir Miftuh remained the parish church for the area until 1676, when the parish church of Gudja was built. The chapel is now under the care of Din L’Art Helwa and is open on the first Sunday of every month from 9.30 am until 12 noon.

Having been at the crossroads of the Mediterranean since time immemorial, Malta has a wealth of history spanning thousands of years, and these historic monuments and buildings attract visitors to the islands from all over the world.

On Malta and Gozo, there are a number of temple sites, dating from centuries BC. Ggantija Temples in Gozo are reportedly the oldest man-made structures in the world. Found just outside the village of Xaghra, they were built during the Neolithic Period, (Approximately 3600, 2500 BC). These Temples preceded the Pyramids in Egypt (the first built around 2750 BC) and Britain’s Stonehenge (Built between 3100 and 1500 BC.). At Qrendi in Malta, there are two other major temples – Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, both are atmospheric sites overlooking the remote island of Filfla, and at Tarxien there is the most complex temple structure on the islands.

Another major ancient attraction are the catacombs found at Rabat. St Paul’s Catacombs are a complex of underground cemeteries that were in active use up to the 4th century AD. They are located on the outskirts of the old Maltese capital, Mdina, as the laws at the time prevented burial inside the city walls. There is a good audio presentation on site, and they are open 7 days a week.

For more information about the temples, catacombs and other historic attractions, contact:

Heritage Malta
Old University Buildings,
Merchants Street,
Valletta VLT 1175
Malta
Tel: (+356) 22954000
Fax (+356) 21222900

Coming forward in time, The Knights of Malta built several outstanding forts, watchtowers and other historial buildings. In fact they built the city of Valletta, which is in itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a tourist attraction in its own right. In Valletta, you will find The Sacra Infermaria, which was the Knight’s Hospital (now the Mediterranean Conference Centre), St John’s Co-Cathedral and other attractions such as The Great Seige of Malta Experience.

For more information about Knights-era attractions contact:

Din l-Art Helwa
133 Melita Street
Valletta VLT 1123
Malta
Tel: (+356) 21225952
Fax: (+356) 21225952

As South Africa is in the same timezone as Malta during summer (GMT +2), matches played can be enjoyed sociably. Games are played at 1.30pm (on days with three games), 4pm and 8.30pm.

There will be many venues showing World Cup 2010 games on the big screen, and this is often a preferable option to staying at home. All across the island, bars will be full to capacity with fans – both tourists and locals – watching their country play. In the north, the tourist resorts have many bars where you will be able to watch games whilst having a drink or two. In Mellieha, there are four main sports bars: Billys Bar and Billys Music Club are next to each other on Main Street, 120 bar is opposite the Maritim Hotel on Gorg Borg Olivier Street, and Reflections Sports Bar is in Misrah is-Salib, just behind Shoppers Supermarket.

In Bugibba/Qawra, there is a myriad of bars and pubs that will be showing live games. Fat Harry’s and Rookies are both popular sports venues just off the main square. On Triq Halel you can find O’Reilly’s Irish Pub that also shows games on the big screen. Bugibba/Qawra will probably have the most venues showing World Cup games.

Further South in Sliema, there are a number of bars that will be showing games. Two of the main ones are Black Gold and Portside, both situated on The Strand.

Football is a really popular sport in Malta, so you can expect to find live games being shown at even the smallest village bars and all the band clubs.