Experience Villa Frere
4 October 2026 – 9:30 – 16:30 – Entrance through St Luke’s Hospital, Villa Frere, Pieta, Malta
The blissful silence in the gardens of Villa Frere is broken only by the lapping of water in the ponds, birds chirping and insects buzzing among the blooms.
Villa Frere was created by British diplomat, poet, scholar, and philanthropist John Hookham Frere, after the demise of his wife in 1831, as a means of comfort for his sadness. From this garden, which enjoyed wide-open views spanning from Mdina to Valletta, he could also look out at the Msida Bastion Cemetery, where his wife reposed. Villa Frere became a sanctuary for numerous academics, most famously Mikiel Anton Vassalli who reportedly discussed with Frere how to establish Maltese as a written and taught language. This romantic story and Villa Frere’s garden faded away with Frere’s death in 1846. The site fell into neglect until forty years later when the villa became the residence of Captain Edward Price. A notable garden enthusiast, he gave life back to the property, earning it the title of a botanic garden. The place became a prominent attraction, both to locals and foreigners.
Today, just over a third of the original area survives (including the house), yet the mystique is still there.
NGO Friends of Villa Frere has been working hard to protect what remains and to restore the gardens with life.
Parking inside St Luke’s hospital grounds behind Karen Grech hospital. Please follow the signs from the gates of St. Luke’s.
Entrance is through St Luke’s Hospital, Pietà.
Visit our website for more information.
Echoes of Calm
10 October 2026 – 7:00 – 8:00 – St Paul’s Catacombs, Triq Hal-Bajjada, Ir-Rabat, Malta
Find your calm amidst Malta’s historic heritage!
Join us for Echoes of Calm, a rejuvenating yoga session, on Saturday 10th October 2026, from 7:00am to 8:00am, in the gardens surrounding St Paul’s Catacombs, in Rabat.
Set within these tranquil gardens surrounding one of Malta’s most significant archaeological sites, this peaceful morning session offers a unique opportunity to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with yourself in an extraordinary historic ambience.
Designed to release tension and restore balance, the session combines gentle guided movements with mindful breathing to enhance both physical and mental wellbeing.
Both beginners and regular yoga practitioners are welcome. Please bring your own yoga mat, towel, and water.
Spaces are limited. Reserve your place online through Heritage Malta’s online store or at any Heritage Malta museum or site.
Visit our website for more information.
Ask the curator
10 October 2026 – 8:00 – 10:00 – Skorba Prehistoric Site, Ta’ Ħaġrat Megalithic Site, Mgarr, Malta
Curious to know more about Ta’ Ħaġrat and Skorba? This ‘Ask the Curator’ event, taking place on 10th October 2026 from 08:00 to 10:00 at Skorba Prehistoric Site and Ta’ Ħaġrat Megalithic Site, is an opportunity to visit both sites, meet their curators, and ask questions.
Instead of a traditional guided tour, visitors are invited to explore the sites and take part in conversations about their archaeology and history, as well as the work involved in researching, interpreting, and caring for them.
Your ticket includes entry to both Ta’ Ħaġrat and Skorba. The site indicated on your ticket will be your starting point, where you will have the opportunity to explore the site and engage directly with the curator. You can then visit the other site and enjoy the same opportunity there.
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Aspects of the militia and the defence of Malta during the 17th century by Prof. E.Buttigieg
13 October 2026 – 19:00 – Fort St. Elmo, St Elmo Bridge, Valletta, Malta
On Tuesday 13th October 2026, Heritage Malta cordially invites you to a public lecture by Curtis Callus, titled ‘Their native valour’: Aspects of the militia and the defence of Malta during the 17th century. The lecture will be held at Fort St Elmo, at 7pm, and will be conducted in English.
Over the course of the 17th century, the Order of St John can be said to have developed a ‘formula’ to protect its convent-island of Malta. This consisted of a blend of Hospitaller brethren to act as the officer class, locally recruited militiamen to deal with regular threats, professional mercenaries recruited outside Malta to deal with threats of sieges, and an increasingly dense web of fortifications to enhance these human resources.
While some saw militia service as an imposition to be avoided, others thought of it as a source of social prestige. This lecture will explore some aspects of the militia and the defence of Malta between c.1614 and c.1714.
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In Guardia & Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum
18 October 2026 – 11:00 – 12:00 – Fort St. Elmo, St Elmo Bridge, Valletta, Malta
Experience a captivating historical re-enactment every scheduled Sunday at Fort St Elmo, commencing at 11:00 AM.
On these remarkable days, both Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum generously open their doors to the public at noon, inviting you to explore their rich history and exhibits.
For your convenience, we offer two types of tickets:
- In Guardia Only: This ticket grants you access to the thrilling In Guardia performance.
- In Guardia + Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum: With this ticket, you not only enjoy the In Guardia spectacle but also gain entry to the intriguing Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum.
Please take note of the following:
- HM Passports and discount cards are not applicable for these tickets.
- The entrance to this unforgettable experience is open from 10:00, giving you ample time to prepare for the day.
- The In-Guardia show commences at 11:00 in the historic Piazza D’Armi, promising an engaging and immersive experience.
- If you’re interested in exploring the National War Museum, it opens its doors at 12:00.
- For those planning to visit Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum without attending the In Guardia show, regular admissions are permitted from 12:00.
Please be aware that, in case of adverse weather conditions, the event may be cancelled for safety reasons. We recommend checking our website or contacting us for updates if you have any concerns.
Join us for an unforgettable journey through history on these selected dates, weather permitting.
Visit our website for more information.
Ta’ Mintna Special Opening
25 October 2026 – 10:00 – 12:00 – Ta’ Mintna Catacombs, Pjazza ta-Gublew tad-Djamanti, Mqabba, Malta
On Sunday, 25th October 2026, Heritage Malta is inviting you to discover Ta’ Mintna Catacombs through a curator-led tour, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the site and learn more about its archaeological features, burial practices, and historical significance.
The catacomb complex contains several distinctive architectural features. The central hypogeum is particularly notable for its exceptionally well-preserved triclinium – a rock-cut table associated with commemorative meals, together with two rows of triangular lamp niches positioned opposite it. The two adjoining hypogea are instead distinguished by the elaborate decoration preserved on some of their window tombs.
Two exclusive curatorial tours will be held: at 9:00am in English and at 12:00pm in Maltese. Each tour is limited to a maximum of 10 participants, allowing for a more personal and in-depth experience of the catacombs.
The site will also be open to the general public between 10:00am and 12:00pm at a reduced admission fee of €2.
Visit our website for more information.
Explore Ta’ Bistra
25 October 2026 – 10:00 – 16:00 – Ta’ Bistra, Triq Francesco Napuljun Tagliaferro, Il-Mosta, Malta
Ta’ Bistra Catacombs will be welcoming the general public every last Sunday of the month.
Located half way between the ancient town of Melite and the once-important harbour of Salina, Ta’ Bistra Catacombs are, so far, the largest set of tombs and catacombs beyond the confines of the ancient city of the island. They were first recorded in the late 1800s but were only investigated in 1933 by Captain Charles Zammit, before part of the site was covered over by a new road leading down to Burmarrad. Further studies in 2004, 2013, and 2014, have brought the site back to life with new discoveries and hence, new interpretations.
Acquire your admission tickets by the door on the day, and explore this fascinating site at your own pace.
Visit our website for more information.
Sleepover at The Gozo Old Prison
30/31 October 2026 – 19:30 – 8:30 – Old Prison, Cathedral Square, Victoria, Gozo
Heritage Malta invites you to experience an unforgettable overnight adventure inside The Old Prison, an authentic Knights’ Period lockup preserved within Gozo’s Citadel.
On the night of 30th October 2026, from 19:30 until 08:30 the following morning, embark on a journey into the past with a guided tour that reveals the prison’s fascinating history, its cells, wall carvings, and the lives once confined within.
As night falls, you will navigate the Citadel by torchlight in a thrilling Clue Quest, piecing together mysteries hidden within its ancient winding streets.
When the quest ends, you will settle in for the night inside the prison itself, surrounded by centuries-old stone and silence. A light breakfast awaits you at dawn, marking your release from this immersive historical experience.
Participants are required to bring their own sleeping bag, water bottle, and torch to fully experience this unique adventure.
Tickets are available online here or from Heritage Malta museums and sites.
Disclaimer: Participants need to be prepared to sleep in a confined space shared with other individuals.
Visit our website for more information.
Refrigerium
31 October 2026 – 19:30 – Ta’ Bistra, Triq Francesco Napuljun Tagliaferro, Il-Mosta, Malta
Refrigerium at Ta’ Bistra Catacombs invites visitors to explore how food, memory and burial were connected in late Roman and early Christian Malta. The evening will include a curator-led introduction to the catacombs and to the refrigerium; the commemorative meal held in honour of the dead. This will be followed by a historically informed menu inspired by the wider culinary traditions of the Roman world.