The Tourism and Culture Ministry, in collaboration with The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, The Malta Tourism Authority and Heritage Malta, is organising another series of cultural tours to historical sites in Malta and Gozo between January and May.

Last year’s series of visits were very successful and this year’s programme includes more places of interest.

The first tour, which will be held on Sunday, 15 January, will visit Qormi, Siggiewi and Haz-Zebbug.

Participants will be visiting The Limestone Heritage in Siggiewi and chapels in Haz-Zebbug, including the Chapel of Tal-Grazzja, where a historical re-enactment will be staged by The Playhouse.

The tour will then move on to Qormi, a village that is well-known for being the centre of bread-making since the time of the Knights of St John. The group will be taken around some of the traditional bakeries and will have the chance to taste freshly-baked Maltese bread.

Other places that will be hosting these cultural tours are Valletta on 12 February, Vittoriosa on 5 March, Rabat and Dingli on 2 April and Lija and San Gwann on 30 April.

There will be a special day tour to Gozo on 14 May. All the tours will be accompanied by qualified guides

who are members of the Association of Tourist Guides.

Transport will leave Floriana (next to the Independence Monument) and Sliema (from opposite the Nazzarene Church) at 8.45am.

Bookings and payments can be made by not later than 12 noon on Wednesday, 11 January, at the offices of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, 230 Republic Street, Valletta.

Further information is obtainable from Mr Noel D’Amato on Tel: 2123-2515.

Booking forms can be downloaded from www.maltaculture.com and presented at MCCA offices together with payment.