Limestone Heritage combines education with recreation

If you are at a loss what to do today or this weekend, you might consider a spot of archery. Or abseiling, perhaps.

The Limestone Heritage, in Siggiewi, has expanded its cultural attractions to include recreational activities for families and is holding open days with reduced prices between today and Sunday.

"We set up Limestone Heritage six years ago as a tourist attraction. Tourists who come to Malta admire our heritage in stone and we have been showing them how it came about through the ages. But we would also like to see more Maltese appreciating this heritage and the skills that went into it," the managing director, Manuel Baldacchino, said. Mr Baldacchino himself used to work in the construction industry for 28 years before his fascination with the history of the industry led him to convert a disused quarry into the popular attraction it has now become.

Some 70,000 tourists visited Limestone Heritage last year, not to mention the many school groups. While the number has continued to ase over the past few months, the facility has been developed into a multi- purpose park, hosting several team-building events and a number of meetings and parties.

Mr Baldacchino said he would now like to see his pet project serving as an educational and recreational outing for Maltese families.

One side of the large quarry features an extensive paved and covered walk-through exhibition of the construction industry through the ages, including ancient and modern tools and equipment and models showing how stone was quarried, carved and used for building.

A video presentation takes place in one of the 150-seat halls, in several languages (including Chinese and Polish).

Visitors can also try their hand at stone carving.

The other half of the quarry includes an orange grove, a turfed area and an open space for sports activities and a home for various animals including mountain goats, peacocks, chickens and rabbits.

Visitors can even see two prehistoric graves on the site. Detailed studies about them are still under way.

Mr Baldacchino said there will be archery sessions between today and Saturday, with abseiling reserved for Sunday.

Films for children will be screened in one of the halls, allowing some free time for their parents.