GET TO KNOW MALTA

The Southern European nation of Malta (official name: Republic of Malta) is an archipelago consisting the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. Situated in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Malta is one of the world’s smallest nations with land area of just over 316 kilometres square. Due to its strategic location at the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta enjoys a subtropical-Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm and sunny summers.

Of the three islands, Malta is the largest and most populated one. It is also where the capital city, Valletta, is located. Gozo, much smaller than Malta, is known for its greener landscape and is largely populated by fishermen and agriculturists. With its renowned beauty of mythical proportions, Gozo is believed to be the legendary Calypso’s isle mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey. Nestled in the middle of its two sister islands is the tranquil Comino, the smallest of the three and is largely unpopulated. A snorkelling paradise, Comino is today a bird sanctuary and nature reserve.

多知道一点：马耳他

马耳他 (Malta) 位于欧洲南部 (官方名称：马耳他共和国)，由马耳他群岛戈佐和科米诺组成。马耳他在地中海的中心，是世界上最小的国家之一，面积仅超过 316 平方公里。战略位置在地中海的心脏，温暖的冬季，而阳光夏天却呈现亚热带地中海气候。

三个岛屿中，马耳他占的土地面积和人口最大，并且处于首都瓦莱塔。戈佐岛 (Gozo) 比马耳他面积小，是著名的绿色景观，常住人口是渔民和农民，神话般的美丽。戈佐岛被认为是希腊史诗《奥德赛》中描述的传说卡利普索岛。依偎在这两个姊妹岛中间是宁静的科米诺 (Comino)，浮潜天堂科米诺岛目前是鸟类和自然保护区。

Heritage & History

The winding streets of Malta and its ancient islands hold secrets of the past with innumerable megaliths, medieval dungeons and picturesque towns and villages. Its Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces are some of the best in the world.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Megalithic Temples that include Ggantija, the world’s oldest freestanding temple, to the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, the ancient subterranean structures that was used for burial purposes by temple builders, Malta is steeped in ancient culture and heritage that give the island nation its mythical allure.

The capital city of Valletta itself is a museum of sorts, with the streets and structures dating back to the days of the ancient civilisations. With a rich history of over 7,000 years, Malta holds a deep treasure trove of cultural masterpieces in the museums, palaces and temples that adorn the islands.

文物与历史

蜿蜒的街道和汇集古老马耳他群岛无数秘密的巨石，中世纪的阴暗地牢和风景如画的小镇和村庄。还有珍贵的文艺复兴时期大教堂和巴洛克式宫殿。

联合国教科文组织世界遗产 – Ggantija 巨石神庙，是世界上最古老独立式寺庙。在马耳他，古老的地下结构和作为墓陵用途的寺庙建筑，令人沉浸于古老文化和遗产，也为这个神秘岛国增添吸引力。

首都瓦莱塔本身是一个巨型博物馆，各式街道和建筑可以追溯到古文明。具有丰富超过 7000 年历史，马耳他是集博物馆深刻文化宝库、宫殿和庙宇于一身的岛屿。

Malta’s amazing coastline is one of the most magnificent with its crystal blue waters and impossible rock formations that dot the sea, adding all the more to Malta’s stature as the perfect holiday destination. Of the numerous rock formations is the Azure Window – a natural arch in the island of Gozo. This table-like rock formation over the sea provides some of the most stunning views in Malta.

The Maltese coastal waters as a whole are safe for swimming. Protected from the heavy tides is the picturesque Blue Lagoon of Comino. This beautiful sandy bay is rich with marine life and is a popular spot among divers, snorkelers and swimmers.

Just as any popular beach holiday location, Malta is also packed with exciting beachfront activities such as paragliding, windsurfing, wakeboarding, water skiing and scuba diving that are enjoyed by locals and tourists. Kick back your heels and explore the amazing Malta from up in the sky or deep under the sea!

马耳他超完美的海岸线是壮观的水晶蓝海水，当然还有罕见的岩石组成地中海的点线，在众岩石围绕下的蓝窗戈佐岛的天然拱门层岩，在海面上也造就一抹惊艳的景色。

作为整体的沿海水域，游泳是非常安全的，科米诺岛风景如画的蓝色泻湖也阻挡大潮汐。这个美丽的海滩拥有丰富的海洋生物，除了是潜水的热门地点，也可浮潜和游泳。

马耳挤满了多姿多彩的海滩活动如滑翔伞、冲浪，滑水和潜水，让当地人和游客乐在其中。踢掉高跟鞋，探索令人惊叹的马耳他，无论是从高空中或深海中！

Images courtesy of Jennifer Lim

Les femmes d’Alger  (Version “O”) 

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 114 x 146.4 cm

PICASSO PAINTING FETCHES $179 MILLION AT AUCTION 2015

Pablo Picasso’s 1955 painting Les femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’) fetched $179.4 million in a Christie’s auction in New York – the highest price ever paid for an artwork at auction. The buyer was not disclosed, and the bidding for the auction – which contained a range of modern art masterpieces – was conducted entirely by telephone.

The prices art commands at auctions has been skyrocketing in recent years, thanks in part to an influx of Asian buyers, particularly from China. But they’re also climbing fast because rich investors are viewing art as a safe place to park their cash amid a crackdown on Swiss banks.

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 Reclining Nude

Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920)
Medium: oil on canvas
Size: 59.9 x 92 cm

MODIGLIANI’S RECLINING NUDE FETCHES SECOND-HIGHEST

A painting by Amedeo Modigliani has fetched $170 million, only $9 million less than Picasso’s Women of Algiers in New York auction, setting a world record for the artist.

Reclining Nude was sold at Christie’s after a protracted bidding battle. It was the second highest price ever achieved at auction for a work of art.

Christie’s said the painting was bought by private Chinese collectors. The Wall Street Journal named them as the billionaire investor Liu Yiqian and his wife, Wang Wei.

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Pointing Man

Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966)
Medium: Bronze
Height: 177.5 cm

GIACOMETTI SCULPTURE BREAKS WORLD RECORD

“L’homme au doigt” (Pointing man), a 1947 sculpture by Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966), has set a world record for a sculpture. The bronze figure was sold for $141.3 million in New York.

This was in line with the pre-sale estimate of about $130 million. Auction house Christie’s did not reveal the buyer of the 1.78-metre sculpture.

The previous record of $104.3 million had been held by Giacometti’s “L’Homme qui marche I” (Walking man) since 2010.

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Images courtesy of Christie’s