Academic, researcher and Heritage Malta’s senior curator at the National Museum of Fine Arts Alexander Debono – who is currently leading MUŻA, the new national museum of art for Valletta’s European Capital of Culture 2018 – shares insights on his travels.

Tell us something about yourself (what you do, hobbies etc.)

I’m an art historian, academic and curator currently leading the MUŻA project, the new national-community art museum and flagship project for Valletta 2018. I’m very keen on anything related to art, which is my passion. I’m into academic writing and publishing and spend my little free time reading. Travelling is one of my hobbies.

How often do you travel?

I travel frequently abroad on self-funded trips for the purpose of research and study. My other travels concern family holidays, which I look forward to even if my two children are now young adults.

Do you remember your first time abroad and can you tell us about it?

I remember my first trip to Tunisia with a student group way back in 1982. I was then a 12-year-old and everything felt so exciting. I do remember the places we went to, the hostel where we slept and the experience – which includes very bad memories of the food!

Best holiday ever and why?

My best holiday was in Venice with my family in 2013. We usually go on family holidays during the summer months, but Easter proved to be a great time to travel for us. Venice was not that crowded with tourists and we had all the time on our hands to discover the city on foot.

With the director of the train museum in Utrecht, Holland.With the director of the train museum in Utrecht, Holland.

Which place would you never visit and why?

I don’t really have any reservations about travelling to practically anywhere as long as it is a safe place.

Best travel companion?

I’m frequently travelling alone except when on family holidays. It’s also great to travel with colleagues on those rare occasions when I’m abroad on official duty.

And what’s the worst a travel companion could do?

I tend to adapt to circumstances...

What do you usually look for when you travel – culture, clubbing, beach, food, etc.?

Museums and cultural heritage attractions would be at the top of my list. Food and culture in general too, but I’m usually also keen on meeting people and professionals with whom I enjoy good discussions. I’m always surprised how small the world of academia and museums is, and it does happen frequently that I discover common friends and acquaintances half-way through a conversation.

Family holidays tend to be slightly more negotiated and shopping would have to come into the picture in one way or another.

My best holiday was in Venice with my family in 2013

The perfect holiday would be…

A fortnight in Italy travelling from one city to another. I look forward to going for it in the not-too-distant future.

What’s the furthest you’ve been from home?

America... and would like to go back there soon.

Package tours or DIY?

Defnitely DIY. You can manage your time more effectively and get to see the not-so-popular attractions off the beaten track.

A 16th-century monastery in Scicli.A 16th-century monastery in Scicli.

What’s the best travel advice you can give?

Plan your trips in advance but keep your plans as your guide... you will never know what lies nearby ready to be discovered.

And what’s the worst piece of advice you’ve been given?

Taking a taxi in Naples. It ended up being a very expensive trip as the driver kept going around in circles when the place I had to be was just around the corner.

Flying – hate it, love it or neutral?

Love it... but I prefer trains.

The one place you never get tired of visiting?

London – it is such an exciting place to be and so many things are happening there.

Describe one memory that stuck with you from a place.

Sila Piccola, Calabria. It feels very much like the Swiss Alps and boasts the purest air on earth. It certainly does not match with the stereotype impressions of southern Italy. The place has huge potential as a tourist attraction, but is not well connected to airports and train stations. A self-drive car is a must.

You met the coolest people at ...

Museums. Indeed, there are cool people working in museums, even if they are different from those you meet at parties. The

former director of the Dutch National Railway Museum in Utrecht is one of them. I still remember the good discussions we had and the tour he gave me of the site – the ninth most visited museum in the Netherlands.

Your best budget tip to save money on holiday?

Plan your trip in advance as much as possible. Internet is a very useful tool to plan ahead and you can save money on discounts and special fares. You can travel to almost anywhere on a pre-set budget.

If you actually had to live away from Malta where would you pick?

I would certainly pick a Northern European country. I do have a soft spot for Sweden, where I’ve also been on various occasions.

Sila Piccola, Calabria in February.Sila Piccola, Calabria in February.

What’s the one thing you would never do in a foreign country?

I would never let go of visiting a museum or a heritage attraction. That is a must even on family holidays, although my personal travels are usually planned for that very purpose.

Anything on your travel bucket list?

South America, definitely! Never been there and colleagues have been urging me to go for quite some time. I believe that South American museums and heritage in general are a rewarding experience.

Why is travel important to you?

It is an absolute must for a heritage professional to travel and keep abreast with what is happening around us. You get to meet people and discover

cultures which make you think about who you are and what is your purpose in life. A formal education without travel has a very important missing link. Luckily my parents were staunch believers in travel for the purpose of education and I too did my best to transmit this value to my children.

What has travel taught you?

Travel has taught me how to open up to new ideas and challenge myself to think beyond stereotypes and templates. It has enriched my understanding of heritage and museums and I’m always keen on sharing with students and colleagues all my experience and knowledge.

Where would you retire and why?

I look forward to continuing on my travels, meeting people and working on projects beyond Malta, but I also look forward to retiring here. We tend to forget about the beauty of this place, and that does not concern just the climate. Malta is a nice place to live in!

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