L-R: Monsignor Liberio Andreatta, Director Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi and Dominic Micallef, MTA Segment Head History & Culture.

JOSP FEST Journeys of the Spirit Festival

The MTA Tourist Office in Italy and the MTA History & Culture Segment set up a stand at the second edition of JOSP FEST Journeys of the Spirit Fair which was held in Rome from 14-17 January 2010. JOSP FEST represented a journey across continents and cultures through faith bringing together all the diverse religious realities of the world, focusing on their unique character, as well as ethics and values which they share.

This specialised fair – created by the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi and organized by Quo Vadis, the Vatican’s Pilgrimage Travel Tour Operator – was the ideal venue to promote pilgrimage travel to Malta. The themes which were highlighted during the fair included: a) the Papal visit scheduled for 17/18 April of this year, b) the arrival of St Paul in Malta in 60 AD and all the shrines dedicated to Malta’s patron saint, c) Caravaggio in Malta and the two masterpieces at the Oratory of St John’s Co-Cathedral this year being the 400th anniversary of Caravaggio’s death 1571-1610. The MTA History & Culture segment also participated actively in a workshop for specialised pilgrimage travel tour operators from around the world which was held during this year’s edition of JOSP FEST.

The Malta stand was manned by Ester Tamasi, MTA Italy and by Dominic Micallef, MTA Segment Head History & Culture.