Malta
CREATIVE
RETREAT
As we walk through Malta's cobblestone streets, we can hear the echoes of bygone eras in every stone and shadow. The ancient fortifications built by the Knights of St. John reflect the tenacity of human will. Join us on this extraordinary journey as we delve into stories of resilience, invaders and liberators, and feel their impact in the air we breathe.
2,600*
PER PERSON
6 DAYS
May 6 - May 12, 2024
* Price does NOT include Airline Ticket and Hotel Accommodation
Overview
Amidst the Mediterranean's sunlit embrace, Malta unveils a captivating canvas where tales of impact and memory intertwine. Join an immersive expedition to this tiny archipelago, an odyssey inviting contemplation of humanity's essence in context with surroundings.
Engage with living memories—a collective narrative bridging epochs. Delve into conversations shaping identities, unveiling influences echoing across time. From ancient merchants to present-day cosmopolitans, each interaction weaves threads of a grand human narrative.
Malta, a philosophical microcosm, beckons explorers to ponder layers of memory, identity, and enduring historical echoes. This journey transcends heritage, guiding introspection into shared humanity—a poetic exploration embracing the interwoven fabric of past, present, and the essence of our existence.
Our journey leads us to encounter living memories—stories handed down through generations, embodying the essence of transference. These tales mirror the cyclical nature of life, each ripple on the water an echo of the past. We engage in conversations with the people of Malta, tracing the lines of influence and impact on their identities. In each conversation, we find fragments of a larger narrative—of Phoenician traders, Arab conquerors, European knights, and contemporary cosmopolitans.
​
Highlights:
-
Enjoy a spectacular experience at "Valletta Resounds" with a private tour accompanied by a curator to St John's cathedral
-
Explore the historical streets of the Medina alongside an urban historian and get exclusive access to the archives
-
Discover Valletta's underground and you might hear the sirens of WWII
-
Go on a hands-on workshop with a boat builder, a guilder and a sculpture
-
Activate all your senses through a unique experience at the Salt Farm
-
Experience local food and dive into local taste with a food historian
-
Engage with locals
-
And also have lots of fun...
Itinerary Details
Day 1
Arrival to Malta and transfer to Hotel. Meet the other participants at a welcoming dinner in Valetta. If you come early, you can roam the city on your own.
Day 4
This special day will invite you to participate in hands-on workshops.
The boat builder and Guilding workshops embodies the harmony between preserving historical traditions and modern artistic expression while the limestone workshop, a fundamental material in Maltese architecture, represents the dichotomy between preservation and modernity.
You will have the opportunity to create your own piece and take it with you.
​
The day will then be concluded with a dinner in an authentic Maltese restaurant.
Day 2
On this first day, we will start our journey by decoding the imagined past, the collective memories and asking “what must be remembered?”, and “what must be forgotten?”by looking at structures, monuments, art, and narrative tales. A tour to the Medina will allow us to immerse ourselves in the living memories of Malta's past with exclusive access to the archives followed by a tour to the Rabat Catacombs and Wignacourt Museum. We will finish the day with an exclusive tour to St John's cathedral where we will attend the "Valletta Resounds" performance, an audiovisual experience that fosters an understanding of how time and history are interwoven within the city's fabric.
​
The day will then be concluded with a dinner.
Day 5
On this final day of the experience, we will visit Gozo island where we will meet salt farmers and visit the salt farms. This experience will allow us to highlight how individual interpretations can transform one's understanding of surroundings and environments.
Gozo's serene environment offers a change of peace, encouraging us to reflect on this journey and personal transformations.
​
You will have the opportunity to learn how to make Maltese bread and taste the Maltese sundried tomato and infused oils; Home made Imqaret and Gozo coffee.
​
The celebratory dinner with a food historian brings closure, emphasizing the evolving connections between memory, impact, and personal growth.
Day 3
On this day we shall reflect through time as we walk into Valletta's underground shelters and tunnels which represent the enduring strength of human will, adapted to historical events. It showcases how architecture is shaped by resilience and adaptation.
​
We will then conclude the day with a visit to the Megalithic temples that embodies Malta's ancient architectural prowess, emphasizing the impact of historical events on city structures and showcasing human conceptualization from ancient times.
​
The day will then be concluded with an authentic Maltese dinner
Day 6
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport with all the friendships, collaborations and wonderful experiences that we hope it will inspire you to be a change maker in your city.
See you in the next tour!
NOTES
-
Prices does not include Airlines Ticket fees and Hotel Accommodations
-
Sunscreen, hat and water bottle are recommended.
-
All services stipulated above are subject to availability at the time of booking/reservation. All prices are subject to change.
Any questions, connect with us by email on info@silverline.community
List of recommended hotels
During this retreat, we are offering our participants the choice to book their own accommodation. This would allow them to find the right hotel that offers the right balance between cost and amenities, ensuring that they get the best experience in Malta.
However, for logistical reasons, and to stay nearby the pick-up location , we recommend the following options:
​
1- Hotel 1 - The Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta is built within the 16th Century UNESCO World Heritage fortifications of Malta’s capital, Valletta. It is situated on the waterfront side of the city , facing the traditional Maltese harbour called “Marsamxett”, and they offers unique views whilst being in surrounded by authentic history.
2- Hotel 2 - 23 Boutique Hotel is an 18th Century villa turned into a charming boutique hotel with a magic blend of original limestone and Award-winning interior design.
3- Hotel 3 - Palais le Brun is an authentic seventeenth century
Baroque palace where you will live like a Knight of St. John.
Having hotels in close proximity to the pick-up location ensures that you can easily reach the pick up location and meet with the other participants on time without the hassle of long commutes.
​
Check the map for your reference
PRICE INCLUDES
-
Daily transfers as mentioned in the itinerary including the ferry to Gozo island
-
Entrance Tickets to all activities as per the itinerary.
-
Entrance ticket to attend Valletta Resound performance
-
Workshops fees and materials
-
Lunch and dinner are included throughout the journey
PRICE EXCLUDES
-
Accommodation, including airport transfer from and to the hotel upon arrival and departure
-
Airline Tickets
-
Visa fees
-
Travel Insurance
-
High-Season supplements
-
Personal gear
-
Meals and special orders not mentioned above
-
Optional activities
-
Tips and gratuities
-
Personal expenses
Image credit Geotourism Dahar website
In Partnership with
IMPORTANT: The host, itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to availability, weather, road conditions and operating conditions. At any moment, the guide has the RIGHT to change the program for the safety and convenience of the travelers.
Previous Creative Retreats
Tunis
May 3 to May 8, 2023
Our cities and towns are densely packed with portals to the past in the form of museums, ruins, cathedrals, mosques, castles, palaces, and a variety of other structures. Our lives are also filled with portals to the past through family stories, food, fashion, ceramics, textiles, music and so on.
So how can we maintain this portal open for future generations to experience their past, which is now? How can we use technological advancement to preserve our traditions and crafts for future generations?
During this retreat, we explored through a journey of four days various places, techniques, and crafts utilizing ancient and new approaches to challenge ourselves, learn and connect. We also explored and engaged with a culturally vibrant city that has too many tales to tell through the eyes of its creatives, historians, craftsmen and explorers.
​
The Experience:
Day 1 – Transformation – Be a Changemaker
Day 2 – Experimentation – Be a Local
Day 3 - Conceptualization– Get Messy
Day 4 - Application – Become the Artist