Young participants will first learn about the legend of St Martin of Tours – the kind Roman soldier who shared his cloak with a beggar – exploring the story’s message of kindness and how it inspired beloved Maltese customs that continue to this day.

They will then roll up their sleeves for a hands-on cook along session, preparing St Martin’s traditional sweet bread, a seasonal favourite that fills the air with the comforting scents of autumn. As the buns bake, the little bakers will explore the science of yeast fermentation, watching history and chemistry come together in a very delicious way.

Each participant will receive the traditional St Martin’s cloth bag, filled with nuts, dried fruit, and their freshly baked bun.

Two sessions will be held – one from 11:00am till 1:00pm, and another from 2:00pm till 4:00pm. Tickets include entry for one accompanying adult and are available from any Heritage Malta museum or site, or online at heritagemalta.mt/store.

Important note: Children with allergies to butter, flour, yeast, dates, nuts, or eggs should not attend this activity.

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Once considered essential daily wear, hats reflected far more than style – they signalled social class, gender, and occupation. In Malta, headwear mirrored the island’s unique blend of local customs, Catholic devotion, and British colonial influence, preserving traditional tendencies well into the 20th century.

The exhibition presents a selection of remarkable pieces from the national ethnographic collection – from men’s elegant late-19th-century top hats and early-20th-century boaters and panamas to later practical fedoras and trilbies, alongside women’s cloche, pillbox, percher, and crescent designs. Hatpins and hatboxes further enrich the display.

‘Hats Off!’ runs until the end of February 2026, and admission is included in the Inquisitor’s Palace and National Museum of Ethnography experience. The museum opens from Tuesday to Sunday, from 09:00 to 17:00 till the end of October, with the last admission at 16:30. For later opening hours, visit  https://heritagemalta.mt/opening-hours/ . Persons with impaired mobility may find access to the exhibition area challenging because of stairs.

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To have survived such a war was a remarkable feat in itself but Spanish artist Goya went much further, immortalizing the brutality of that conflict with a series of 80 etchings titled The Disasters of War.

From the 4^th of November onwards, Heritage Malta is exhibiting prints of these engravings at the Grand Master’s Palace, thanks to the collaboration of Fundacion MAPFRE as well as MAPFRE Malta and the Bank of Valletta Foundation.

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) is considered to be the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
This is the very first time in Malta that an entire exhibition is dedicated to his work.

The Disasters of War series (c.1810-15) is deemed as Goya’s personal reflection on the devastating effects of the war on the people, showing scenes that are raw and unsettling in their depiction of battlefield horror and dehumanization.

With this work, Goya breaks away from a number of painterly traditions.
Indeed, The Disasters of War is the first example in the history of painting where war and its consequences are depicted not as heroic acts, but as the tragedy and barbarism that they truly stand for.

Albeit depicting the war in Spain, Goya’s images could relate to any war – which is what renders this exhibition incredibly powerful and of contemporary relevance.

The post Francisco de Goya – Disasters of War appeared first on Heritage Malta.

On Wednesday 5th November, from 9:30am till 11:00am, Heritage Malta is inviting children aged 7 years and older to learn about the messages communicated through naval flags, during a colourful and fun workshop at Fort St Angelo, in Birgu.

Young participants will explore how the different types of nautical flags, with various shapes, colours and patterns, are used to convey messages at sea. They will also get a close-up look at the Fort’s very own historic ship mast, where the Royal Navy once hoisted these flags.

Wrapping up the activity, participants will get their creative juices flowing by designing their very own nautical flag, giving a particular signal!

Tickets include admission for one accompanying adult, and they can be purchased online here or at any Heritage Malta museum or site.

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On Monday 3rd November, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Heritage Malta invites children aged 3 to 6 to step into the fascinating world of ancient Rome at St Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat – a site that once formed part of a cemetery just outside the ancient city of Melite.

This hands-on activity will let little explorers discover how Roman artists brought colour to their world. Using natural materials, children will mix their own natural paints and create bright mosaic-inspired artwork, just like the artisans who once decorated Roman homes and tombs.

After their creative adventure, the young participants will enjoy an enchanting experience where they will be able to see, smell, and sample flavours inspired by ancient feasts. As they explore the ingredients and aromas of the past, they will get a delicious taste of Roman culture. Ingredients featured in the activity include cayenne pepper, paprika, curry, turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, onion powder, garlic powder, cocoa, and parsley.

Tickets cost €7 and include admission for one accompanying adult. They are available online here and at any Heritage Malta museum or site.

Participants are to bring a bib or apron.

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Fl-għodwa tat-Tnejn 3 ta’ Novembru, qed nistiednu lil tfal ta’ madwar 8 snin biex jaħtfu l-opportunità u jużaw il-vaganzi tal-iskola biex jingħaqdu magħna f’attività ħelwa u mhux tas-soltu fis-sit megalitiku Ta’ Ħaġrat, fil-qalba tal-Imġarr.

Fl-avveniment ‘Ħudni Ta’ Ħaġrat, Nann!’, li se jibda fl-10:00am u jintemm għall-ħabta ta’ nofsinhar, il-parteċipanti se jesploraw dan is-sit ta’ Wirt Dinji flimkien man-nannu jew nanna tagħhom.

Fi żjara gwidata mill-kuraturi, bil-Malti u animata għat-tfal, il-parteċipanti se jiskopru l-ġrajja wara dan is-sit preistoriku affaxxinanti li ġie skopert aktar minn mitt sena ilu, proprju fl-1917. Wara ż-żjara, in-nanniet se jgħinu lit-tfal jiktbu u jibagħtu ittra lill-għalliem/a jew lil xi ħadd tal-għażla tagħhom, bħala attività kreattiva u memorabbli.

Bħala tifkira, kull parteċipant se jingħata ritratt speċjali tal-okkażjoni.

Il-postijiet huma limitati, biex tiġi żgurata esperjenza immersiva u pjaċevoli għal kulħadd. Il-biljetti jistgħu jinqatgħu minn hawn u mill-mużewijiet u s-siti kollha ta’ Heritage Malta.

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On Saturday 1st November, from 5:00pm till 7:00pm, young explorers aged 7 and above are invited to come and help us find the lost piggy (a soft toy version in a unique quest at St Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat. Admission will be allowed every 30 minutes.

Hera, Arachne, Persephone, a siren, Circe, Medusa, and a Harpy will appear along the way, challenging participants with tricky riddles as they journey through the site. Have you got what it takes to track down the soft toy pig and unlock the hidden secrets of the catacombs to claim your sweets?

The event will be held in both Maltese and English, and tickets include admission for one accompanying adult per child, with the option of adding an extra adult for €5.

Participants should bring their own treat bag, and we recommend wearing comfortable shoes.

The post The Lost Pig of the Catacombs – Trick or Treat! appeared first on Heritage Malta.

This mesmerising site – built over 5,000 years ago and recognised by UNESCO as one of Malta’s World Heritage sites – holds stories carved into giant stone doorways, winding passages, and mysterious animal motifs that still capture the imagination today.

Children aged 7 years and over will join a guided tour in Maltese (2:00-3:00pm) or English (3:30–4:30pm). Together, they will discover how ancient builders managed to construct these megalithic structures without modern machines, and how the site was used for different purposes across time – including as a Bronze Age cemetery!

Packed with fascinating facts and storytelling, the tour is designed to spark curiosity and appreciation for Malta’s remarkable past.

Tickets, which include admission for one accompanying adult, are available here and at any Heritage Malta museum or site.

Note: Student passports don’t apply for this event, and comfortable shoes are recommended.

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Ir-rotta se tibda minn ħdejn il-Konservatorju Vincenzo Bugeja u l-Arkata tal-Akkwadott tal-Gran Mastru Alof de Wignacourt – mibni fil-bidu tas-seklu 17 – u minn hemm nimxu tul Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp.

Se nżuru wħud fost l-aktar irkejjen importanti u kurjużi tar-raħal, fosthom il-knisja, il-Palazz tal-Gran Mastru Vilhena, Ġnien Romeo Romano, id-dar ta’ Dun Xandru Cortis, il-bini tan-NAFI, u ma tistax tonqos il-pjazza tar-raħal, u nisimgħu ġrajjiethom.

Il-biljetti jiswew €10 għall-adulti u €5 għall-anzjani, l-istudenti, it-tfal sa 11-il sena, u l-membri ta’ Heritage Malta. Erfa’ postok minn kwalunkwe mużew jew sit ta’ Heritage Malta, jew online hawn.

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On Thursday 23rd October, step into MUŻA’s back of house to see the ongoing work on the storage facilities of the museum’s collection.

Two curator-led tours with a maximum capacity of 15 persons each will be held – one in English at 9.30am and another in Maltese at 11.00am.

The curator will explain what goes on behind the scenes in the study collection and adjacent areas, covering conservation assessments, environmental monitoring, improving storage solutions, labelling, digitisation, cataloguing, as well as creating educational events using the collection. 

Coffee will be served from 10.30am to 11.30am for both groups.

Admission is free, but pre-booking is required at any Heritage Malta museum or site, or online here.

Important information: Attendees are kindly requested not to wear heels. The tour includes the use of a narrow spiral staircase.

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