Curtain up for Valletta!

Malta's capital is European Capital of Culture 2018

Valletta, the capital of the fashionable Mediterranean island of Malta
surprises with some superlatives: not only is it the smallest capital city in the EU and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980, it is also the first city in Europe ever to be planned entirely on the drawing board.


This year in particular
it's "off to the island and on to Valletta", because Valletta is the European Capital of Culture 2018! The colorful 2018 program is packed with art, music, theater, film, literature and dance. A grand opening event on January 20 will mark the official kick-off - music, theater, modern ballet, video art and digital installations will be presented in the heart of the city. Another Valletta 2018 highlight will be the maritime spectacle "Valletta Pageant of the Seas" on June 7 in Valletta's impressive large harbor. Spectators can look forward to a regatta with self-built boats and the "L-Għawma Toni Bajada" happening, in which hundreds of swimmers cross the Grand Harbour. From September 11-15, classical music fans will get their money's worth at the "Opera Spanga": a modern open-air adaptation of the opera "Aida", which will be performed in both Valletta and Valletta's "twin cultural capital" Leeuwarden. The new Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Valletta's city center, designed by Renzo Piano, will serve as the stage.


Thanks to its geographical location
south of Sicily, Malta can be reached non-stop in less than three hours by plane - a fantastic fall and winter destination with over 300 days of sunshine a year. Here, the lively island life continues even after the summer - all hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs and sights are open as usual. You can stay overnight in elegant hotels or in creatively restored designer apartments in historic buildings.


Further information can be found at
www.valletta2018.org,www.visitvalletta.de
and
www.visitmalta.com