Gozo’s Cittadella visitors’ centre scoop another international industry award

Hot on the heels of winning Best Visitor Attraction Project at the UK InstallAwards this Summer, Gozo’s very own Cittadella Visitors’ Centre was awarded Entertainment Venue of The Year on Friday at the prestigious AV Awards ceremony in London’s West End.

The attraction, on Malta’s sister island, beat off competition in its category from projects around the world, including London, Dubai, Belgium, France and Germany.

The Awards, which recognise best practice, reward innovation and celebrate excellence across the global audio visual industry, endeavour to find the best products, companies, projects and people. The 19th annual AV Awards ceremony took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, with over 1,100 key industry representatives in attendance.

The walled ‘Cittadella’, recently underwent a major revamp through two restoration and rehabilitation projects co-financed by the European Union.

Leading international creative design and AV installation company, Sarner, was instrumental in bringing 2000 years of Gozo’s history to life with a visually captivating and immersive journey in an all-embracing visitor experience located within the historical walls of the island.

Sarner worked closely with the Ministry for Gozo’s John Cremona, Project Leader for the Cittadella Rehabilitation Project, to deliver this double award winning attraction.

Sarner’s Managing Director, Ross Magri, collected the award from the host. Ross comments: “It’s an honour to collect this award on behalf of the Cittadella Visitors’ Centre. Thank you AV Awards for such a great night but the biggest thanks for us must go to the Ministry for Gozo for trusting us with this historic project. The Cittadella Visitors’ Centre encompasses some impressive AV technology and takes the visitor on an immersive journey through thousands of years of Gozo’s history. It was a fantastic project with many challenges, but to receive this, our second award, is an amazing accomplishment and recognition must go to our extremely passionate and hardworking team at Sarner.”

Gozo’s rich history and natural beauty, woven in with local customs and traditions, were key factors in creating this award winning tourist attraction. Sarner utilised the architecture of the former water reservoir – ably converted into a Visitors’ Centre on the design of Architect Martin Xuereb - to create a visually striking walk through exhibition that draws the visitor deeper and deeper within the building, and into the story, whilst highlighting the characteristics of this unique site.

Sarner used drama to add to the tension by building on the interactivity and technology within each of the nine multilanguage zones. And the visitors’ journey culminates in the dramatic 360° Cittadella Show set within an impressive theatrical space created by the reservoir.