A new website giving important information about an EU funded programme called “Voyages & Voir” was launched in Syracuse last week. The programme is part of the Interreg IIIA Italia-Malta programme to reinforce the cultural identity of the two neighbouring islands.

The local partners in this programme are Heritage Malta and Valletta Rehabilitation Project; the Sicilian partners are the Association Jean Houel and the city of Palazzolo Acreide with the backing of the Province of Syracuse.

In 2006 an international seminar was held in Palazzolo Acreide during which a number of Maltese and Italian experts presented papers on the subject and towards the end of the year two exhibitions were opened at Syracuse and Palazzolo Acreide. These exhibitions were extremely popular and drew thousands of visitors. The exhibition in Syracuse and the one in Palazzolo Acreide closed last weekend.

During the launch of the website, the president of the Province of Syracuse, Bruno Marziano, spoke about the close links between Malta and Syracuse and how attempts were being made to improve these links. He will be visiting Malta to establish further links.

Dr Ray Bondin, on behalf of the Maltese partners, spoke about attempts that have been made over the past months to increase cultural links between the two islands and on the activities that will be held under this programme in Malta in 2007.

Dott Domenico Nigro, Mayor of Palazzolo Acreide spoke about the success of the two exhibitions and the intention to continue establishing further links after the end of this EU funded programme. His Comune will maintain the website even when EU funding is no longer available.

The new website address is: www.grandtoursiciliamalta.net.

The activities to be held in Malta during 2007 include an exhibition that will be held in the Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa as from June, the holding of an international seminar and the publication of a book.