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The Mysteries of MALTA, Is-Swieqi (2026)

17/08/2026

A monument honouring the architects Francesco Laparelli (Francesco Laparelli da Cortona (1521–1570) was an Italian architect and military engineer who worked alongside Michelangelo. Renowned for his expertise in fortifications, he was sent to Malta by Pope Pius V following the Great Siege of 1565. There, he was entrusted with planning the new fortified city of Valletta, laying the foundations for one of Europe’s finest examples of Renaissance military architecture.) and Girolamo Cassar (Girolamo Cassar - Maltese: Ġlormu Cassar, c. 1520 – c. 1592 - was a Maltese architect and military engineer. He was the resident engineer of the Order of St. John, and was admitted into the Order in 1567. He was involved in the construction of Valletta, initially as an assistant to Francesco Laparelli, before taking over the project himself. He designed many public, religious and private buildings in the new capital city, including St John's Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster's Palace and the auberges. He was the father of Vittorio Cassar, another architect and engineer.) stands between Parliament House and the ruins of Valletta’s Royal Opera House. Sculpted by Maltese artist John Grima and unveiled in 2016, the monument symbolises the close collaboration between the two architects in shaping Valletta’s distinctive architectural character, portraying a sense of fusion, harmony and unity in their work.

14/08/2026

St. Lucy Chapel, Mtarfa — also known as Old St. Lucy Chapel (Il-Kappella l-Qadima ta’ Santa Luċija) — is a small rural chapel believed to date to around 1500. It stands overlooking Wied il-Qlejgħa and is considered one of Mtarfa’s oldest surviving sacred landmarks. Records indicate that the chapel was already known during the 1575 apostolic visit of Bishop Pietro Dusina.

Interestingly, devotion to St Lucy in this rural area continued for centuries, with pilgrimages recorded before 1774.

08/08/2026

Casino Notabile – Point de Vue

Standing proudly on Saqqajja Hill, just beyond the ancient walls of Mdina, the Casino Notabile, once known as Point de Vue, is a charming reminder of Malta’s Victorian past.

Built in 1887–88 to the designs of British architect Webster Paulson, this small yet ornate clubhouse was created as a place of leisure for Malta’s elite. Its elevated position offered magnificent views across the surrounding countryside, giving meaning to its evocative name, Point de Vue — “viewpoint”.

For many years, however, this elegant landmark was sadly neglected. Exposed to the elements and deteriorating badly, it eventually stood in danger of collapse. In 2016, careful restoration and structural works gave the building a new lease of life, rescuing one of the lesser-known architectural gems on the outskirts of Mdina.

09/05/2026

The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception is a small Roman Catholic chapel located in Bengħisa, near the town of Birżebbuġa in the Southern Region of Malta.
The church was originally built in 1822 by Rev. Ġakbu Gauci to serve the spiritual needs of local farmers in the area. The chapel was constructed by the mason Francis Callus.
Between 1861 and 1862, the church underwent major rebuilding and enlargement under the direction of Rev. Ġuzepp Gauci, who was the nephew of the founder. After the reconstruction, the chapel was consecrated in 1862 by Gaetano Pace Forno. Today, the chapel is recognized as a Grade 2 scheduled property on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands because of its historical and architectural importance.
Architecturally, the chapel features a simple yet elegant façade decorated with Tuscan pilasters. A small belfry stands above the main doorway, and the church bell bears the inscription “Concetta,” a reference to the Immaculate Conception. Despite its modest size, the chapel reflects the traditional rural religious architecture found in Malta during the 19th century.
The chapel is also associated with Pietru Pawl Saydon, a respected Maltese priest, professor, and translator who served there for more than thirty years. Saydon is especially remembered for translating the Bible into the Maltese language, an important contribution to Maltese literature and culture.

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