The cultural links and long history that bind the islands of Malta and Sicily will be enhanced by the various activities that will be held by a European Union funded programme called Voyages & Voir.

The first part of this activity was a seminar held in Sicily under the Sicily-Malta Interreg programme. Both Maltese and Italian scholars took part.

The seminar, held in the Annunziata Church at Palazzolo Acredi, discussed various elements of the links between the two islands.

The seminar was introduced by Domenico Nigro, Mayor of the city and Ray Bondin, VRO’s executive coordinator, who also chaired the seminar.

The Maltese speakers were Anthony Bonanno who spoke on the spiral motive in prehistory, Antonio Espinoza Rodriguez who spoke on the voyage of Don Ignazio Saverio Mifsud in 1746 and Emmanuel Magro Conti on the 17th century Maltese boats that travelled between the two islands.

The seminar was concluded by Martin Micallef who spoke on present and future relationships between the two islands.

Later this year an exhibition will be held in Siracusa and Palazzolo on the theme. Next year a concluding seminar will be held in Malta and an exhibition at the Maritime Museum in Birgu. A book will also be published next year.

The Maltese partners in this programme are Heritage Malta and Valletta Rehabilitation Project of the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry.