Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545062
6 COMMERCIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 MAY 2026 History in amber light: Museums by Candelight hits the capital AS night settles over Valletta and the cafés begin to emp- ty, the capital's grand façades, stepped streets and silent courtyards take on a different life. The daytime bustle gives way to a quieter rhythm, as hon- ey-coloured stone catches the last of the evening light, lending the city an almost cinematic at- mosphere. It is this distinctive ambience that Heritage Malta draws up- on for the upcoming edition of Museums by Candlelight, arriv- ing in the capital on Saturday, 6th June. Six of Valletta's historic sites – ranging from palaces and churches to museums and for- tifications – will remain open from 7:00pm until midnight under flickering candlelight, accompanied by live music and historical re-enactments. Corri- dors and spaces often crossed in haste are transformed by shad- ow and sound, inviting visitors to experience them at a slower, more intimate pace. A €6 ticket grants admission to all six sites. Among the highlights is the National Museum of Archaeol- ogy, housed within the Auberge de Provence in Republic Street, where visitors can encounter some of the islands' earliest sur- viving artistic representations, including the renowned Sleep- ing Lady and the Venus of Mal- ta. The museum traces Malta's story from the Neolithic period through to the Phoenician era, accompanied throughout the evening by violin performances from Mario Ciantar. Just a short walk away, the Grand Master's Palace – once the political and ceremonial heart of the Order of St John – now opens more than 85 per cent of its footprint to the pub- lic. Visitors may wander through the knight-guarded Piano No- bile corridors, admire the State Rooms and Perez d'Aleccio's celebrated Great Siege frescoes, before stepping into the rein- stated Palace Armoury, home to centuries of military history. Live music by Dean Muscat & the Lazarenes will complement these explorations. The recently revamped MUŻA – The National Community Art Museum, housed within the Auberge d'Italie in Merchants Street, presents works charting Malta's artistic evolution across centuries within its wider Med- iterranean context. Mark Rapa and Raquela Dalli Gonzi will fill its galleries with live tunes throughout the evening. The adjacent Church of St Catherine of Italy – designed in the late 17th century by Girolamo Cas- sar for the Italian Knights – will also welcome visitors, accompa- nied by piano performances by Clint Spiteri. At St John's Co-Cathedral, can- dlelight will cast renewed drama across the landmark's Baroque interiors, illuminating Mattia Preti's vaulted ceiling frescoes and Caravaggio's celebrated masterpiece 'The Beheading of St John the Baptist'. Last entry to this site is at 11:00pm. This year's edition also extends for the first time to Fort St Elmo and the National War Muse- um at the tip of the city – a site that has shaped some of Malta's defining historical moments. Here, Show of Arms re-enactors will recreate scenes of 17th-cen- tury military life, while The Big Band Brothers carry the rhythm of the night. Meanwhile, In Guardia re-en- actors will march from in front of the Parliament building at 7:00pm towards the Grand Master's Palace, where they will remain stationed throughout the night. Tickets, which include access to all six sites, are available on- line, from Heritage Malta mu- seums and sites, or at the door during the event – excluding the Co-Cathedral and the Church of St Catherine. Heritage Malta members enter free of charge, although pre-booking is re- quired. Further information on tick- ets, transport and accessibility is available through Heritage Malta.