The Ministry for Tourism and Culture, in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority, the Malta Council for Culture and The Arts and Heritage Malta, is organising another series of four educational and cultural tours this autumn on Sunday mornings. They will focus on prehistoric temples, magnificent palaces, and chapels around Malta.

The first tour starts on 16 October, visiting Naxxar, Mosta and Burmarrad. The second cultural tour will visit heritage sites in Xemxija, Selmun and Mellieha on 6 November. On 4 December, visitors will be taken to Ghar Dalam, Il-Maqluba and Hagar Qim. A special tour of traditional Christmas cribs in various localities will be organised on 18 December.

The 2005 autumn tours will showcase some splendid palaces, such as Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar and Selmun Palace. Other places of interest include Xemxija tombs, Ghar Dalam, Hagar Qim, medieval chapels in the northern part of Malta, and Popeye’s Village, among others.

All cultural tours will be accompanied by a guide and watch an enactment at one of the sites visited. The price of block tickets for the four tours is Lm14.50 for adults and Lm12 for pensioners and children (aged between five and 12). Alternatively, those who wish to pay for each tour separately, the price is Lm4.20 for adults and Lm3.30 for pensioners and children.

Details of each tour will be announced in the coming weeks. In January a new series of cultural tours for winter and spring 2006 will be launched.

Tickets are available from the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, 230 Republic Street, Valletta. Further information is obtainable from Noel D’Amato on 2123 2515. Bookings and payment must be made by not later than noon of Wednesday 12 October.