Malta's heritage, architecture, culture and gastronomical delights are being featured in a 200-page magazine, which is distributed and sold in shops and news stands across Italy.

The magazine, Qui Touring Speciale mondo - Malta, is the result of an initiative between Dominic Micallef, the Malta Tourism Authority's representative in Milan, and Italy's Touring Club.

The Touring Club (not to be confused with the motoring organisation) was founded in 1894 to promote cultural tourism and today boasts 500,000 members across Italy.

A free copy of the 200-page full-colour glossy magazine will also be distributed to all the club's members.

Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech and Mr Micallef, who was accompanied in Malta with the magazine's editor, Marco Berchi, and membership representative Fabrizio Galeotti, presented a copy to President Guido de Marco.

It features Corto Maltese on the front cover, the gentleman traveller created by Hugo Pratt, who sailed all around the world.

Peppered with bright and colourful pictures, the magazine also includes an interview with President de Marco.

It delves into Malta's historical gems, main events, traditions and the film industry.

Mr Micallef said the main aim behind this magazine was to expose Malta's cultural treasures and holiday possibilities to the Italians.

"We are trying to revamp Malta's image in Italy. At the moment 100,000 Italians visit Malta, 25,000 of whom come only in August. The perception among Italians is that Malta is a summer destination and we are trying to change this," he said.

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